Chapter 529: Swift Pursuit: Heaven and Hell

The cowboy is busy—no, Su Su Tuoni Stark is busy, busy building models with JARVIS, studying materials, and rehearsing the scripts for Avengers 2, 3, and 4.

Hmm. He even wondered whether he should create an actor version of Ultron to fake a match.

"This production line's optimization is done, but I haven't deeply researched the parts involving mystical concepts—I can only rely on you and those puppets."

"Scientific and Technical Advisor Mr. Su Su Tuoni Stark has arrived at the Ye Zhetian Trading Association's magical artifact production workshop, promoting synchronized improvements in output and quality, enhancing production efficiency, and alleviating market demand across all Tianchengs."

——Recorded by the Office and Publicity Department's special edition of Ru Hua.

"What's this thing even for?" Su Su Tuoni Stark asked, pointing in confusion.

"It's for internal newspaper promotion, to inspire enthusiasm and creativity among cultivation disciples." Ma Xianhong scratched under his armpits, his spirits lifting slightly:

"The association's alchemy disciples aren't just me and Emiya—plus, some Hun Tian Di thinks this version of Ru Hua is great and plans to introduce it to the Heavenly Court, so it's still in testing."

Okay, Stark felt he didn't quite get it, but hoped that Hun Tian Di wouldn't introduce it to Heaven.

Just imagining waking up in Heaven after snapping his fingers, sipping coffee, then opening the Heaven's Doomsday Horn Daily and hearing this news—probably would make him feel weird all day.

Su Su Tuoni Stark shrugged, collected his payment, and walked to his shop.

"whafu"

He took off his sunglasses, squinting, wondering if he'd misread.

A shield-man in red-white-blue uniform with bright stars, a spider-man in tight red-blue suit, and a red-black clad dual-blade jerk.

"I thought Iron Man had come, but it's just a costume pretending to be armor—no JARVIS, but the performance isn't bad." The shield-man asked Ge Xiaolun: "Can you lower the price? I'd use it for cosplay."

Upon closer look, the shield-man's butt wasn't round.

Su Su Tuoni Stark tore his gaze from the man's butt, patted his chest, and exhaled a deep breath.

"Buy it or leave. If not, get lost." Ge Xiaolun lay on his chair, flipping through the latest issue of Playboy Su Su Tuoni had brought him, not looking up:

"This price is already low. If you, a die-hard fan, can't accept it, sorry—I'm running a small business."

"What kind of attitude is that? How are you even doing business? Tsk. You damn nerd, just take the money." The shield-man sneered at the magazine in Ge Xiaolun's hand, then suddenly noticed his companion 'Deadpool' crouching beside Ge Xiaolun.

"I've read this issue. The cover girl married a rich sugar daddy, then got photographed checking into a hotel with her ex-husband at the Empire State Building." Deadpool swallowed hard: "Later, someone posted a ten-million-dollar bounty on the dark web to make her disappear."

"How do you know so much?" Ge Xiaolun glanced sideways.

"Because I took the job." Deadpool flipped to the next page with intense focus, waving off the other two companions: "So hot—I need to join a Hehuan Sect to train."

"Let's connect another day. Hope you don't die on those demon women's bellies." The spider-man sprouted six giant wolf-spider spears from his back, shot silk from his navel, and dragged the shield-man away.

Stark watched this, put his sunglasses back on, sighed helplessly—but secretly felt relieved.

Whether this sale happened or not didn't matter—he wasn't short on money—but at least it proved Ge Xiaolun's sexuality was normal.

The stone hanging in Su Su Tuoni Stark's heart finally dropped. He'd just stepped into the shop when Deadpool looked up, glanced at him, then lowered his head for a moment.

"Su Su Tuoni. Shida Ke?" Deadpool suddenly stared at Stark, voice full of shock: "Wait—you're really here?!"

Stark raised an eyebrow: "I'm Little Radish Tang Ni. Want an autograph?"

"Then I'm Green Lantern—want to see my power ring?!" Deadpool jumped up and pointed at his crotch.

Though Stark had never met the real Deadpool, he already sensed a ridiculous madness from this cosplayer.

"Listen, buddy—it's just a resemblance."

Stark's words cut off abruptly.

Right before him, the man removed his black-red leather mask, revealing a face covered in scars.

"Green Lantern shines eternal, illuminating ten thousand ages." The man poked Stark's chest: "Do you believe you're a Hollywood actor—or believe I'm Green Lantern? Hmm? Which universe are you from, buddy?"

Damn.

An actual real person slipped into the anime movie expo.

"Wait, bro—where's that sexy thing on your chest?" Deadpool changed his poke into a rub, instantly making the already stressed Su Su Tuoni Stark slap his hand away.

"Aaaah!!"

He dangled his fractured hand.

"I'm Robert Downey Jr."

"Why did this comic pick a Hollywood actor?! Fuck, you're strong."

凸(艹皿艹)

Deadpool gave an international greeting gesture, cracked his wrist back into place: "Swear it?"

"I swear to God—I'm Robert Downey Jr."

Su Su Tuoni Stark decided that after returning, he must immediately develop an anti-Deadpool armor.

"Tang Ni, give me two suits of armor."

Su Lin walked into the shop, grabbed two suits, and walked out: "I saw that DC sucker—I'll take two to make some extra cash."

Watching Su Lin walk away, a metal plate labeled 【Wade Winston Wilson】 suddenly blocked his view.

"Want to exchange contact info? Next time you co-shida ke to my place, let's have an Avengers civil war." Deadpool said.

Stark: "."

"Bro, I've still got business to do."

Su Lin said to Fang Zheng behind him: "Why not sit in the private room under the Wudao Ancient Tea Tree and cultivate?"

"Yeah, isn't it nice?" The Skin Scripture asked.

Fang Zheng's face was expressionless, but his eyes were dead.

The Skin Scripture's effects remained normal—except occasionally it would jump out of his chest, perform the Demonslaying Golden Fist and Wind God Leg kicks on passing ghosts, and unconsciously repeat others' words.

Completely! Normal!

"Can't find him." Su Lin scratched his head, slightly disappointed.

"Fang Yuan, bro, don't you explain?" Fang Zheng held up the wriggling Skin Scripture before Su Lin: "What's going on here?"

Su Lin studied it carefully: "Did you bathe in the sea of Japan, bro? You've got radiation."

Skin Scripture: "It's got spokes now!"

Seriously, it's got spokes now.

How stupid was I that night to dare elbow it?

"I'm not joking with you anymore—it's boring." Su Lin pointed a finger at the Skin Scripture, preparing to reclaim the residual law energy upon it: "I told you not to act in haste back then."

"Wait—can you just make it shut up?" Fang Zheng said.

Any technique Fang Zheng had ever used it to deduce, this Skin Scripture could now use—it felt powerful, and could deliver unexpected effects when needed.

"You've got high demands." Su Lin said.

Skin Scripture: "Yeah, high demands indeed."

Fang Zheng: "Please restore its original state. Thank you."

Fang Zheng, his hair standing on end, wiped sweat from his brow as he held the now-normalized Skin Scripture, when a female cultivator in elegant robes and a silver face mask approached him.

"Esteemed cultivator, the Azure Dragon Tower of Tiancheng offers wondrous items from all realms."

The female cultivator lifted the red cloth covering her tray, revealing a purplish-red pearl: "If you do not refuse, I offer you this trial medicinal pill—it reverses yin and yang to replenish the Three Souls and Seven Spirits. Even if parts of the soul are missing, it can still be used, though its effect is weaker than when the soul is whole."

Fang Zheng frowned, sensing she had come deliberately, as if she knew he was searching for this exact thing.

Had he exposed himself by pulling out the Skin Scripture in public?

"I am Gu Yue Fang Zheng."

"Greetings, Elder Gu Yue."

The female cultivator extended the trial medicinal pill, her smile unwavering.

But several onlookers who had gathered to watch, upon hearing the conversation, stared at Fang Zheng with strange expressions.

"Wind fills the stone as the reed mat opens; rain adds spring to the flower pool as the bowl is washed." Inside a Yunyue Tea House near the Enlightenment Tea Tree.

Zhongli set down his teacup; the fresh aroma of Enlightenment Tea filled the air, mingling with the profound Dao rhythm that saturated the quiet space.

"Isn't Young Lady Yi Leina with you?" Zhongli asked.

Su Lin stopped Xiao from placing several cultivation manuals on the table, pointing at Zhongli—the man with dragon horns and a black robe edged in gold thread—and asked seriously: "Hey, young man, wait a moment—do you acknowledge that the Golden God Morax has peerless beauty?"

Xiao looked at Zhongli, lips parting but no words coming.

"Just now, an envoy from the Azure Dragon Tower came here, presenting me with a Dragon Robe, so I gifted him several leaves of Enlightenment Tea and a box of Immortal Realm rare tea in return," Zhongli pushed forward a teacup, smiling faintly:

"The dragon qi within this item contains a thread of the Heavenly Constellations' power—exactly what I need to break through, so I accepted it."

"The form you see before you is the transformation brought by wearing this Dragon Robe. Remove it, and you return to normal."

"They seem to have come for promotion—they invited me and Elder Bai and others to visit their Azure Dragon Tower when time permits."

Su Lin, upon hearing this, exclaimed in surprise: "There's such a thing?"

No wonder Tiancheng—such a rare, conscientious enterprise with such keen eyes for premium clients, so skilled at capturing top customers.

Then why didn't anyone come to give me anything?

Even a few melons and two gourds aren't too little; purple aura of Dao Fruit is never too much. Come find me, Su, if you're going to hand out gifts!

"Strange."

Su Lin shook his head, planning to spend his share of profits and the Tiancheng currency he'd earned by wandering around, to enrich his God's Treasure Vault.

"What are these manuals for?" Su Lin picked up several cultivation texts on the table curiously.

"Heavenly Calamity Star Tribulation," "Essentials of Yin-Yang," "Lianzhen's Battle Pivot."

"I traded with celestial deities from the Western Journey Heaven's Court for some Immortal arts, and selected a few for my junior to cultivate," Zhongli answered, a smile in his eyes:

"It's been a long time since I returned to Liyue. These are gifts prepared for the disciples of Liu Yun and Xiao Ping'er, and for Hu Tao as well."

"As for the Seven Stars, they've only prepared some techniques and seeds of celestial ship grains. They hold authority over mortal realms and must not cultivate full Immortal arts, lest they clog the ascension path and solidify power. If they serve their term diligently and achieve merit, they will be welcomed into the Liyue Immortal Court afterward for other duties."

"As for the Exorcism Clans, they've established their lineage and strict transmission mechanisms—no one may use techniques to gain fame, profit, or status in the mortal world. Outstanding individuals may be treated similarly to the Seven Stars."

"Thus, even if future crises arise, Liyue will still have the capacity to respond without any Immortals managing or aiding it."

Zhongli sipped tea to moisten his throat; Su Lin fell into a daze.

It all sounds fine.

But are you sure you're not upgrading Liyue's entire hard and soft power?

"Welcoming them after retirement"? That's a system of ascension and deification!

What if one day some blond kid returns to Liyue and finds it's turned into "Liyue Heroes' Journey," "Liyue Marvelous Hero Legends," or "Sword Immortal Romance: Liyue Feuds"?

Su Lin didn't bother asking how Zhongli prevented disciples from going astray—after all, "The Emperor must have his profound reasons."

"Reliable patriarch—I'll steal Keqing away from you someday."

Su Lin smiled: "Tomorrow, I'll have the Jade Balance Star from Heaven descend to undergo tribulation and vacate the position."

"When you last went on a blind date, I should've invited the Jade Balance Star to help you out," Zhongli said, his golden eyes briefly obscured by the incense smoke from the brazier, but the curve of his lips made it clear he was joking.

"Then I'll just go on a blind date with Ah Qing directly, hahaha…" Su Lin's smile faded slowly; he propped his chin on one hand, muttering to himself: "Perfect—she loves work, and now I've become the same."

Is there any way to directly recruit the Long-Lived Minister?

Adam, Jesus Day, Luxi—now we're missing Michael and Gabriel. Though they're not from the same world, maybe crowdfunding could help manage the paradise we'll create later?

The Tianyi Sect is easy too—use shadow-recording stones to give disciples online classes?

Thinking carefully, if all this is fully implemented, the future looks quite bright.

Su Lin gradually slumped like a pile of mud onto the long bench: "Too much trouble."

Since it's all my territory anyway, why not just drag everything back to my hometown? …Wait, that scene might be a bit odd.

Su Lin sipped tea, scrolled through his group chat; perhaps because this tea house had just opened, there were few customers.

Of course, the wealthy patrons who could afford this tenfold-priced Enlightenment Tea probably aren't many.

"Exhausted, Brother John—why don't we just have some tea here?"

At the door, a greasy-haired man in studded leather armor called toward the side blocked from view: "Look what you've done to our Xia Dongqing—though we didn't get the info, we still put in effort, didn't we?"

"What kind of hard work is worth this price? You'd be better off buying a lottery ticket at the Phoenix Tower."

John Constantine stared into the shop with a cigarette unlit in his hand, his weary blue eyes dark with gloom: "Can I smoke here?"

He locked eyes with Su Lin for a moment, then stepped straight inside.

"Fu ni zhe—"

Constantine had been about to curse, but when he saw the long cylinder bearing a Level Three radioactive symbol, he shuddered.

He remembered the man had said they were all blessed.

"You came here to buy this?"

Su Lin tapped it with his index finger, utterly ignoring the man's green-faced expression: "Clearance sale—I turned it into a nuclear bomb for you."

Constantine rubbed his eyes until his other hand crushed the cigarette, scattering tobacco and paper onto the floor, before he calmed down.

"Because of the weapons you sold me," he slammed his fist on the table before Su Lin, "I'm being hunted 24/7 by Hell!"

"The holy light on those things couldn't even kill a Foundation Establishment demon—maximum effect is a bit of exorcism against demons and spiritual attacks against malevolent spirits."

Su Lin sized up the man reeking of smoke, sweat, and demon blood.

"One hundred percent pure holy light and prayer—no other ingredients. Why should I care that Hell's after you? Aren't you always being hunted?"

"Or did someone kill your dog?"

In truth, they hadn't even added holy light at first—back when he was studying abroad, he'd just joined a church to comfort his religious Italian roommate, dipping weapons in holy water to bless them.

He tossed in a Gospel Bible, recited prayers full of hopeful wishes that the souls beneath his gun would fly to heaven, and mass-produced blessed weapons were born.

Just a placebo—after all, there was no heaven over there.

"Listen, I used your weapons to send a demon straight to heaven!" Constantine said.

Su Lin: "A priest using a Bible to perform rites can send a devil to heaven too."

Could his weapons do that?

Maybe—since he used the Bible's exorcism incantations, if the access codes were universal, perhaps it worked.

"Yes, exactly," Constantine nodded at Su Lin. "But this demon turned into an angel—flew from Hell to Heaven."

"What a hellish joke," Su Lin laughed. "Did you directly strike the demon's soul origin? What idiot demon would leave its soul origin exposed to a human bullet?"

"Today's the second. On the second, I go to listen to sutras. I must return to Lei Yinsi to hear the Buddha teach."

Su Lin rose to leave, but Constantine grabbed his wrist.

"Master Constantine, what do you mean by this?"

"Gabriel is hunting me with a host of half-angels."

"So what's that to me?"

(End of Chapter)

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