Chapter 329: I Can Transform Fire Dao—All Heaven and Earth Shine Bright! May I Ask, Sir?

Long night, a slender moon hung like a hook, stars sparse and distant.

The streetlights along Panmen Road hissed and sparked; a rat emerged from the sewer, barely showing its head before being instantly crushed into pulp by an invisible force.

Black fur mixed with thick blood dripped into the sewer.

"Tonight, nothing alive will leave this block."

In the distance, atop a high-rise rooftop, two Daoist priests in black robes each held a gun-like device—its barrel square and flat, its magazine packed with two hundred talismans.

This device, developed by Maoshan, is called the 【Talisman Gun】, capable of firing two hundred talismans in rapid succession, equipped with the 【Soul-Locking Talisman】 and the 【Golden Core Talisman】, designed to target flesh and Nascent Soul respectively, with extremely low usage thresholds—perfect for rank-and-file Daoists.

By the end of last year alone, the Jiangnan Province Dao Alliance purchased two hundred 【Talisman Guns】 from Maoshan, along with fifty thousand each of the Soul-Locking and Golden Core Talismans, for a transaction value exceeding nine digits.

This was the largest single transaction in Jiangnan Province Dao Alliance history last year.

"The heretics of Wu Wei Gate are inside this building right now."

The chilly street had already been sealed off by Jiangnan Province Dao Alliance experts; Lou Lou Hechuan sat calmly, staring at the nearby Hongri Building, yet showed no intention to act.

"Master Lou, if we capture the Wu Wei heretic, we might finally catch that rat."

At that moment, a young man beside him spoke.

He wore a sharp suit, a gold coin pinned to his chest pocket, a emerald ring on his right pinky finger—every gesture exuded aristocratic poise.

"Ge Ge Changfeng…"

Lou Lou Hechuan squinted at the youth beside him and chuckled softly: "The Ge family truly lives up to its reputation as a Pure Yang lineage—what grandeur."

"When I was young, I joined Chairman Jiang's campaign to exterminate Wu Wei Gate. That rat was cunning—through all these years, it never once slipped up."

"Even if we wipe out every Wu Wei heretic here, we won't even catch a single whisker of Ratwhisker."

Upon hearing this, Ge Ge Changfeng fell silent.

Before arriving, his family elders had repeatedly warned him: on Jiangnan soil, he must set aside the Pure Yang lineage's arrogance, especially before this man—the Chairman of the Jiangnan Province Dao Alliance.

Lou Lou Hechuan was born into the Dao Alliance's central council; in his youth, he trained at Bai He Temple, Maoshan, and even followed Jiang Your Majesty.

That's why he commands such vast connections and seniority in the Dao sects—otherwise, after so many blunders in Bai Yujing City since last year, one scandal after another, how could he still sit unmoved in his seat, his position unshaken? His power is undeniable.

"Master Lou is a senior of the Dao sects. Before coming to Bai Yujing, my elders repeatedly instructed me to learn from you in Jiangnan," Ge Ge Changfeng flattered.

"Young man, your tongue is sweet indeed," Lou Lou Hechuan laughed loudly. "What's there to learn from my meager skills?"

"I suspect the bigwigs of the Ge family merely told you not to flaunt your Pure Yang lineage's airs—after all…"

Here, Lou Lou Hechuan's gaze sharpened slightly, pausing before speaking.

"A strong dragon doesn't overpower a local snake."

"Who dares call themselves a strong dragon before Master Lou?" Ge Ge Changfeng replied without expression, revealing exceptional composure.

Lou Lou Hechuan watched him, unable to help but marvel: the cultivation of qi in disciples bred by Pure Yang lineages far surpasses their peers.

"Young Ge, your visit to Bai Yujing isn't just to deliver wedding gifts and hunt the Wu Wei heretic, is it?"

Lou Lou Hechuan suddenly shifted the topic.

By now, six squads had entered the Hongri Building through different entrances.

Ge Ge Changfeng observed them, but his thoughts remained fixed on Lou Lou Hechuan's question.

"I dare not deceive you, Master Lou. We came to Bai Yujing to inquire about an old matter."

"Nothing stirs the heart more than dredging up the past," Lou Lou Hechuan sighed softly. "Speak—what old matter?"

"More than thirty years ago, the fall of Southern Zhang…"

Boom…

Before he finished, a terrifying aura exploded around him, the ground beneath cracking in fragments, fissures spreading outward in all directions.

The commotion instantly drew the attention of all nearby experts.

Even Sui Brother Chunsheng, the officer in charge tonight, turned his gaze toward them.

"Master Lou…"

Ge Ge Changfeng's expression changed—he hadn't expected his mere opening words to provoke such a violent reaction from the head of Jiangnan Province Dao Alliance.

"What does the Ge family intend? Is that your business to ask?" Lou Lou Hechuan's eyebrows lifted, his tone growing three degrees colder.

"Master Lou, forgive me—I was merely acting on my clan's request. I heard you yourself participated in…"

"If the Ge family is curious, send someone to Shangjing to ask Chairman Jiang directly—I'm sure you'll get a satisfactory answer," Lou Lou Hechuan cut him off again.

Clearly, he found this topic intensely sensitive—even repulsive.

"Young man, if you still make it back alive, carry a message to your elders."

"This isn't just my words—it's also the will of Chairman Jiang," Lou Lou Hechuan said calmly.

"I listen with bated breath," Ge Ge Changfeng murmured.

"Don't invite disaster upon yourself!"

At these words, Ge Ge Changfeng's face darkened, then he bowed: "I was rash."

He hadn't expected such an extreme reaction from the Chairman of Jiangnan Province Dao Alliance—after all, he'd only been probing.

Lou Lou Hechuan fell silent, his deep eyes seeming to hold the endless night.

More than thirty years ago, the moment that year was spoken, his thoughts involuntarily returned to that night.

Back then, he was merely an obscure nobody.

But that night changed his life forever.

"Ahh…"

At that moment, a scream erupted from the nearby Hongri Building, instantly snapping Lou Lou Hechuan back to the present.

"Ge Zhenyan is dead!"

Ge Ge Changfeng's eyes turned icy; his fingers twisted, crushing his phone to dust.

"The heretic is about to break out."

Suddenly, a soft voice came from behind.

Ge Ge Changfeng turned to see a woman approaching—bright eyes, fair skin, ethereal aura, her long hair tied in a bun, as if stepped from a painting.

"Qiu Qiu Wanmian!"

Ge Ge Changfeng murmured her name in greeting.

The Qiu family, like the Ge family, was a Pure Yang lineage—he could be arrogant before others, but Qiu Qiu Wanmian's background, depth, and talent were no less than his own.

"Mm."

Qiu Qiu Wanmian nodded slightly in acknowledgment, then turned to Lou Lou Hechuan.

"Master Lou, the Wu Wei heretic seems unable to hold back any longer."

"He's already a fish in a jar," Lou Lou Hechuan said coolly.

"But beware of feints," Qiu Qiu Wanmian said with subtle meaning.

"Someone may come out first as bait."

"If we catch one, the rest won't escape," Ge Ge Changfeng said coldly.

Boom…

Suddenly, a terrifying aura surged skyward, materializing in midair from within the Hongri Building.

"Here he comes!"

Ge Ge Changfeng's brows lifted.

"Nascent Soul out of the body!?"

Lou Lou Hechuan, Qiu Qiu Wanmian, Ge Ge Changfeng—and countless other experts—watched as a Nascent Soul, like a fading shadow, fled swiftly from the Hongri Building, racing toward the perimeter.

"There are still people inside the building—don't let your guard down," Qiu Qiu Wanmian called out.

Hum…

At the same instant, Ge Ge Changfeng slapped his forehead, his Nascent Soul emerging, chasing after the fleeing figure.

Almost simultaneously, the Nascent Soul abruptly halted, hovering beneath the dark sky.

Black qi swirled around him like an endless abyss, completely concealing his aura, his eerie presence merging seamlessly with the night behind him.

"Not running anymore?"

Qiu Qiu Wanmian was sharp-witted, yet this sudden move by the Nascent Soul left her momentarily stunned, utterly baffled.

After all, tonight's net was complete—Jiangnan Province Dao Alliance experts had sealed the area, not to mention the watchful eyes of Ge and Qiu family experts.

In such a situation, even a suicide breakout would be a one-in-ten chance—yet here, instead of racing for escape, the Nascent Soul had stopped.

She simply could not understand it.

"Sacrifice the pawn to save the king?"

The thought flashed instantly through Qiu Qiu Wanmian's mind—the most likely explanation.

The escaping Nascent Soul was merely a minor pawn, a sacrificial decoy meant to draw fire, giving the real master a slim chance to escape.

"Surround the Hongri Building."

Qiu Qiu Wanmian called out, leaping into motion toward the building.

"I'll handle this minor one," Ge Ge Changfeng understood instantly.

A mighty aura erupted from his Nascent Soul—eight layers of luminous energy rose like ten thousand starry rays, illuminating the endless night as it crushed toward the solitary Nascent Soul.

"Eighth Layer of the Great Master Realm!"

"Just as Ge Ge Shuangxiu said."

At that moment, Zhang Fan's Nascent Soul slowly opened its eyes. Facing Ge Ge Changfeng's Nascent Soul, he took one step forward—and crossed dozens of zhang in an instant, reducing the distance to mere inches.

"Huh!?"

This move caused Qiu Qiu Wanmian's body to freeze, her head instinctively lifting to look.

"Do you think reaching the Eighth Layer of the Great Master realm grants you free rein?"

Suddenly, Zhang Fan let out a soft cry; his Nascent Soul shattered open like heaven descending to earth, blotting out the sky—this instant, moonlight shattered, starlight vanished, a terrifying aura shook heaven and earth, and even the Eightfold Yuan Light trembled uncontrollably.

"This is..."

Qiu Qiu Wanmian's face paled, her beautiful eyes filled with deep shock and doubt.

Lou Lou Hechuan's brows furrowed sharply, his face etched with confusion.

I thought he was merely bait—a minor player—but his Nascent Soul spans like rivers and seas across the heavens!?

"You want to crush me?"

Ge Ge Changfeng's eyes blazed with fierce light, his expression turning savage—he was a disciple of the Pure Yang Clan, a master of the Eighth Layer of the Great Master realm; if he were still belittled, it would become a laughingstock.

Thinking thus, he let out a soft cry; behind him, the Eightfold Yuan Light flared anew, blazing like eternal true fire, piercing straight to the clouds.

In an instant, all present were stunned—they saw above the heavens, starlight and auroras reigniting, the Eight Yuan Lights stacked, as if manifesting true mystery.

"He's trying to overwhelm with force," Qiu Qiu Wanmian saw clearly.

With Eightfold Yuan Light guarding his body, such a Nascent Soul was as unbreakable as adamant; ordinary experts' Nascent Souls shattered on contact.

Huh...

Zhang Fan's Nascent Soul stood unmoved; the murky black qi grew denser, merging inseparably with the endless night behind him.

The next moment, the two Nascent Souls slammed together.

Boom—boom—boom...

Terrifying ripples erupted like a river bursting its banks, spreading in Cengcengdiedie waves, nearly sweeping through the entire district.

"Everyone below the High Merit rank, evacuate immediately."

Lou Lou Hechuan issued a death order—but already, many had been affected, their Nascent Souls on the verge of collapse, collapsing unconscious on the spot.

The residual shockwaves from such a Nascent Soul collision were like electromagnetic storms, rendering all electronic devices in the vicinity inert.

Thud...

Beneath the vast night, the bright moon spilled its light; Ge Ge Changfeng stared ahead, his Eightfold Yuan Light behind him scattering like floating duckweed, jagged cracks visible everywhere.

"Ge Ge Changfeng's Nascent Soul couldn't match his?" Qiu Qiu Wanmian's gaze sharpened to a thread.

She looked at the murky, nightlike Nascent Soul, her curiosity deepening.

He was a master trained by the Pure Yang Clan, guarded by Eightfold Yuan Light—how strong must one be to overpower him in Nascent Soul?

"Southern Dan Tian, Crimson Emperor's Jade Script."

"Recite it ten thousand times, your body ascends in fire clouds."

At that moment, Ge Ge Changfeng formed hand seals, muttering incantations—no idle words, only slaughter erupted, only Dao art descended.

"Crimson Fire Cloud!"

Qiu Qiu Wanmian gazed upward—a crimson ray surged from the south, staining the surrounding black clouds crimson, gathering behind Ge Ge Changfeng like flames scorching the heavens, as if the Flame Emperor had descended to earth.

"The Ge family's fire arts are orthodox Daoist, yet uniquely their own," Lou Lou Hechuan said gravely.

All fire arts under heaven revere the Fire Department's True Deity.

Ge's ancestor was a terrestrial immortal, who received the orthodox Daoist transmission and passed down thirty-six scrolls of fire talismans and elixir texts; one of these arts was called Crimson Fire Cloud.

This art draws power from the essence of southern Li Fire—its mystery and might even surpass the Fire Dragon Elixir Sword.

Boom—boom—boom...

In an instant, the entire sky turned crimson, as if a great fire had stained the blue heavens, trapping Zhang Fan's Nascent Soul within.

Flames surged, true might descended, killing karma ignited, burning souls and extinguishing essences.

This spectacle bore a striking resemblance to the Nine Dragon Divine Fire Veil.

"Kill!"

Ge Ge Changfeng cried out; the fiery clouds surged downward, crushing Zhang Fan's Nascent Soul.

All looked up at the celestial spectacle, eyes filled with awe—such ferocity would reduce any Nascent Soul to ash if it fell within.

The terror of the Ge family's Dao arts was laid bare.

"I can turn fire arts—all heaven and earth shall be illuminated!"

At that moment, a calm voice emerged from the blazing clouds—then, a luminous wheel's shadow rose behind Zhang Fan, like a beacon in the dark; each rotation absorbed a portion of the surrounding flames.

Light spun, fire followed the wheel.

"The fire arts of Luofu Mountain!?"

At once, Lou Lou Hechuan clenched his fists, stepping forward, his aged eyes brimming with astonishment.

Luofu Mountain, located in the seven southeastern provinces, once ranked among the Ten Great Daoist Mountains of antiquity—but time turned, and this lineage had long vanished into history's river.

"Broken," Qiu Qiu Wanmian whispered sharply.

Ge Ge Changfeng's Crimson Fire Cloud dissolved into nothingness.

The Great Radiance Wheel ignited like a flame, glowing behind Zhang Fan's Nascent Soul, enhancing its mystery.

"May I ask your honored title?"

At that moment, Lou Lou Hechuan moved, gazing at the sky, at the figure seemingly fused with the night, and demanded gravely.

Zhang Fan looked down, his cold gaze sweeping over every face; his lips parted, and he spoke a name.

"Three Corpses!"

(End of Chapter)