Chapter 698: Refining the Slaughter Nether Phoenix, the Wise Hou Tu

"Howl……" Gong Gong roared, his fists slamming hard into his own skull, the green snake in his hand darting into his mind. The black dragon beneath his feet coiled upward, issuing dragon roars, as if summoning something.

As expected, just as Ye Qin tried to suppress Gong Gong's soul will, a mighty aura suddenly came from Buzhou Mountain, this aura seeming to envelop heaven and earth.

A mighty giant's apparition appeared in Gong Gong's soul space; upon appearing, it was like a heaven‑standing, earth‑standing pillar. Though the figure was blurry, its aura triggered a might resonance throughout the Land of Divine Grace.

The giant swung his hand, a surge of invincible will of opening heaven and earth bursting forth, smashing Ye Qin's Carefree Wanderer Will out of Gong Gong's soul sea with the force of crushing weeds and rotting wood, and constructing a solid defense within Gong Gong's soul.

This invincible will, following Ye Qin's soul power, attempted to invade his soul sea.

"Crack!"

Before Ye Qin could mount a defense, this will of opening heaven and earth had already invaded his soul.

"Damn! This is actually Pangu's will!" Ye Qin couldn't help blurting out a curse. Looking at the illusory giant apparition before him, Ye Qin was stunned speechless.

He had long known the Zu Wu were extraordinarily powerful, and thought they could self‑proclaim themselves masters of the Land of Divine Grace merely because of their own strength.

Only now did he understand: the Zu Wu in the Land of Divine Grace are guarded by a residual will of Pangu.

Facing Pangu's will, any other living being would surely be awed by its mighty aura, for Pangu is the creator who opened the Honghuang heaven and earth.

But Ye Qin, while holding Pangu in respect, merely saw him as a sage who dared to challenge the Dao.

In Ye Qin's eyes, Pangu is worthy of reverence, yet there is no need for blind fear.

He came from later ages; to him, this Honghuang world was like a game. He regarded the various great gods of Honghuang as an onlooker, holding reverence for Pangu but not intending to yield to this trace of Pangu's will.

In his heart, the Pangu will before him was his enemy.

This is Ye Qin's Carefree Wanderer Will: it will not be cowed by powerful auras, forever pressing forward, striving to break every obstacle, seeking the far shore of carefree wandering.

"Roar! Even if it's Pangu's will, what of it? Want to suppress me? Try it! Myriad Beast True Martial Second Style, Heaven‑Opening Axe Blade of Opening Heaven and Earth—Carefree Wanderer Will!"

Ye Qin lifted his head and roared; the Soul Abyss Sea in the spirit realm surged with huge waves, and streams of spiritual power from deep within his heart poured continuously into his soul.

His aura instantly surged, a blade emanating a sharp aura slowly forming, then he fiercely chopped at the giant apparition formed from Pangu's will.

"Boom—" The mighty blade split Pangu's will in two, like shattering glass, causing it to instantly fragment.

Yet, at the instant Pangu's will perished, Ye Qin felt a strange sensation welling up in his heart, as if he saw Pangu's will, as it dissipated, reveal a faint, inscrutable smile.

That smile sent a chill down Ye Qin's spine, as if an invisible hand were manipulating his fate.

Battles of will often decide victory in an instant.

Ye Qin slowly opened his eyes; a gleam flashed in them, containing the aura of opening heaven and earth.

The power of the Myriad Beast True Martial Second Style had not yet been exhausted; its mighty aura surged toward Gong Gong like a tide.

"Even the Father God's will couldn't take your life, Gong Gong admires you. Fellow Daoist, dare you report your name?" Gong Gong asked solemnly.

This is the strongest opponent Gong Gong has ever faced!

In the Land of Divine Grace, many strong ones knew they could not match the Zu Wu in flesh and primordial spirit divine ability, so they tried to seize the Zu Wu's souls through contests of will, but all ended in failure, and some were even counter‑killed by the Zu Wu.

Yet Ye Qin actually managed to annihilate a trace of Pangu's will; to Gong Gong, this was simply inconceivable.

"Want to know my name? Beat me first. Bring out all your strength; if you can block this strike, you're worthy to hear it. Myriad Beast True Martial Second Style—Opening Heaven and Earth!"

Ye Qin gathered his whole strength, condensing into a heaven‑standing, earth‑standing pillar; his soul will turned into a blade, and with the mighty aura of opening heaven and earth he fiercely chopped at Gong Gong.

Gong Gong's face grew ever more solemn; his frenzied fighting intent gradually waned, and he began to muster all his bodily strength.

"Gong Gong's battle technique, Black Water Severing Jade Hook!"

Gong Gong's aura instantly surged; a black coiling dragon wrapped his body, mysterious runes appearing and gathering in the air, and the water essence of heaven and earth rushed toward the runes.

"Hiss—" A huge hook that cleaved the sky slowly formed, its surface rippling with light, and it fiercely hooked at Ye Qin's Heaven‑Opening Axe.

"Crack!" Space instantly collapsed, the earth violently trembling. Gong Gong was blown three thousand li away, shattering countless vast mountains; his Black Water Severing Jade Hook also shattered instantly. Yet Ye Qin's Heaven‑Opening Axe, undiminished, continued forward.

Just then, ten figures suddenly appeared, layer upon layer weakening the power of Ye Qin's Heaven‑Opening Axe.

Di Jiang appeared like lightning from the void, instantly laying down spatial barriers to dispel the Heaven‑Opening Axe's mighty force.

At the same time, the Zu Wu each employed marvelous tactics, finally succeeding in blocking Ye Qin's Myriad Beast True Martial.

"Brothers, you arrived just in time—let's all gang up and kill him!" Gong Gong shouted, still shaken.

Just now he had indeed been badly frightened; this was the first time he felt so helpless.

Ye Qin's astonishingly powerful ultimate move directly blasted him three thousand li away, and moreover, after the Heaven‑Opening Axe unleashed its power, it still had residual force to keep pressing toward him.

Had not the ten great Zu Wu appeared together to aid him, he would surely have suffered grave injury; this conclusion he drew from the opening‑heaven will contained in the Heaven‑Opening Axe.

"Shut up! Get to the back at once!" Di Jiang bellowed.

Afterwards he turned, his face earnest, and said to Ye Qin: "Thank you, Fellow Daoist, for showing mercy. Gong Gong is rash; I hope you, Fellow Daoist, won't bear a grudge. If I have offended you before, I, Di Jiang, on behalf of the Wu Clan, apologize to you, Fellow Daoist."

"Big brother, why should I apologize to him? I merely wanted to catch a black phoenix, yet he snatched it away—this is clearly bullying our Wu Clan!" Gong Gong shouted from behind.

"Huh? Gong Gong, is that true? Then let's kill him!" Zhurong, hearing this, grew excited and clenched his fists. He was naturally a battle maniac; having finally met a strong one who could thrash Gong Gong with no chance to retaliate, he could hardly wait to go all out.

"Hmph! Zhurong, Gong Gong—you two, get back and lock yourselves up!" Di Jiang shouted angrily.

Immediately he turned to Ye Qin and said, "Fellow Daoist, is what Gong Gong said true? If so, this karma, we Wu Clan accept it."

The Wu Clan represents a supremely noble bloodline. They consider themselves descendants of Pangu, naturally proud, they respect the strong yet never fear the strong. Each member brims with fighting spirit, their combat power transcending the ordinary; they dare face any challenge, and even if the opponent is a sage, they never retreat.

This is the Wu Clan's nature.

Such a nature made Ye Qin feel admiration from the bottom of his heart. Yet admiration is admiration; it does not mean Ye Qin will readily compromise. Seeing Di Jiang's demeanor now, it is clear he intends courtesy before force.

"I am the Carefree Wanderer, that black phoenix is mine!" Ye Qin waved his hand, and the Nether Phoenix instantly appeared beside him.

"Carefree Wanderer big brother, are they with that ugly monster? They look so powerful!" the Nether Phoenix exclaimed in surprise.

She is usually cold‑hearted, but in Ye Qin's presence she is forever like a child who never grows up, still that pure Nine Nether Underworld Phoenix.

"Oh? So you are the Carefree Wanderer Fellow Daoist, long‑renowned, famous as thunder! But how will you prove this phoenix is yours?" Di Jiang looked at the Nether Phoenix, his eyes flashing with barely concealed delight.

"A Nine Nether Underworld Phoenix?" All the ancestor Wu were startled, instinctively gathering around and encircling Ye Qin, forming a formation.

As Zu Wu, they innately know some information: the Nine Nether Underworld Phoenix can refine Nine Nether Underworld Fire, taking killing qi as food and thereby producing nether fire.

The Zu Wu rely on absorbing endless killing qi to shape their bodies; although their flesh is immensely strong, the killing qi continually erodes their souls, preventing them from cultivating a primordial spirit, making it hard to grasp the essence of laws, so they can only rely on their own origin bodies and wield the origin power of Honghuang.

Initially, the Zu Wu were quite pleased with their own powerful physical bodies. However, after going out to travel, they only then realized that the top experts in Honghuang were mostly Patriarchs who had accomplished cultivation of the primordial spirit.

These Patriarchs can comprehend the core principle of one of the three thousand Dao, and can even contend with the Heavenly Dao, leaving their hearts full of unwillingness.

Why is that? They are born noble, formed from Pangu's essence blood; why is the path of cultivation so arduous? Why can they not attain the position of Patriarch?

Hou Tu Zu Wu possesses extraordinary talent and surpasses others in wisdom, from which they discern the fatal flaw of their Zu Wu—the soul. Their souls have long been tainted by murderous qi, completely severing the path to achieving a Nascent Soul.

For many years they have been desperately seeking a solution, yet always came up empty. Only a million years ago did they devise a method of transferring murderous qi via wu beasts.

However, the murderous qi on the bodies of the twelve Zu Wu is a fusion of the primordial murderous qi and the murderous qi of the ancient great calamity; what beast in the world could possibly withstand such terrifying murderous qi?

Despite capturing numerous powerful beasts, they still could not solve their own problem.

Only certain exceptionally special beasts could possibly resolve their predicament. These beasts not only feed on murderous qi, but can also refine it, and will not be assimilated by it.

The Nine Netherworld Dark Phoenix is one of them.

After all, the twelve Zu Wu are also single‑minded pursuers of the Dao with firm resolve, and are living beings born of the Honghuang world. Their innate enthusiasm for the Dao is no different from that of other Honghuang beings.

When they encounter a person or thing that aids their Dao cultivation, they sometimes inevitably act impulsively, without thinking.

In the Honghuang world, there is originally no distinction between good and evil.

Ye Qin stood in the sky, gazing at the formation set up by the eleven Zu Wu, his heart full of doubt. Just moments ago, Di Jiang had been polite toward him, yet upon seeing the Dark Phoenix his gaze turned blazing hot—could it be that they all have their eyes on the Dark Phoenix?

"Carefree Wanderer Dao friend, please forgive our offense. But this phoenix is indeed related to our Dao cultivation. We wish to bring her back to the Wu tribe, with absolutely no disrespect, and we will certainly not imprison her. On the contrary, we will honor her as the Wu tribe's sacred beast and esteemed guest!" Hou Tu did not wish to be enemies with Ye Qin, and hastily explained.

"Carefree Wanderer Demon"—this epithet is known like thunder in the Honghuang. Although Hou Tu Zu Wu expresses full confidence in the Wu tribe's strength, believing that if the twelve Zu Wu unleash their ultimate techniques together, they will surely be able to detain Ye Qin.

However, if they could turn enemies into friends, it would naturally be best for the Wu tribe. After all, the Wu tribe is not yet a major clan, and there are many powerful cultivators eyeing their inheritance; having one more friend is always better than having one more enemy.

"Oh?" Ye Qin grew ever more perplexed. Although the Nine Netherworld Dark Phoenix indeed has some special qualities, how could it possibly be of such great importance to the Wu tribe that possesses Pangu's inheritance?

"As for the reason, I really cannot explain it in detail to you, Dao friend. You only need to know that the Nine Netherworld Dark Phoenix is of vital importance to our Wu tribe; no matter what, we are determined to obtain it!" Hou Tu wanted to speak but held back, appearing rather embarrassed.

"Since you say you wish to present the Dark Phoenix as an honored guest, you should first ask her whether she is willing. Your approach is hardly different from outright robbery," Ye Qin retorted.

He had always held Hou Tu in high esteem; now seeing her in person, his heart inevitably felt a little excited.

This is not only because Hou Tu's appearance is stunning, nor merely because she exudes a calm, compassionate aura, but also because of her broad‑mindedness in sacrificing herself for the world, and her great will to pity all beings and willingly incarnate in the cycle of rebirth.

Although Hou Tu at this moment does not yet know what rebirth truly is, the compassionate quality already shows in her brow; this is her innate nature.

"This…" Hou Tu was momentarily at a loss for words, a flush of shyness spreading across her face, which greatly surprised Ye Qin.

"I suppose you must be Hou Tu Zu Wu. The earth nature is pure and unceasing, and your innate disposition is compassionate. But how can your current actions still be considered compassionate?" Ye Qin pressed further, and these words made Hou Tu's flush deepen.

"Hmph! You, Carefree Wanderer Demon, don't think we're afraid of you. Even if it's outright robbery, so what? In this land of divine grace, it's the Wu tribe that calls the shots. Everything here, including all living beings, belongs to the Wu tribe!" Zhu Rong had long been impatient; he harbored affection for Hou Tu, and seeing Ye Qin thus "make things difficult" for Hou Tu, he instantly flew into a rage.

"Hmph! Zhu Rong, are you trying to outnumber me? Very well!" Upon seeing Zhu Rong with his red‑haired face and explosive temper, Ye Qin's anger flared uncontrollably. (End of chapter)