Chapter 478: Old Man Liu Chenxiang

"What are you saying?" Tang Luo slapped out with a palm, nearly scattering this incense-fire avatar.

"This poor monk and Yang Jian are bosom friends; he is still my number one die-hard fan — he chased stars for ten thousand li, a full one hundred and eight thousand li, just to get this poor monk's autograph."

"You say now that he won't let this poor monk off — that is sowing discord."

"..."

The Black Emperor's incense-fire avatar was trembling; this was the first time he had truly faced the legendary demon monk, and he felt that those who called Tang Xuanzang a demon monk were all wrong, inaccurate.

Where is there a demon monk here? He is clearly an unreasonable mad monk!

"This kind of clumsy tactic, this poor monk will not fall for." Tang Luo said.

"Hmph!" The Black Emperor sneered coldly.

Matters having come to this, because both sides made radical and violent choices, there was no longer any room for maneuver.

They had already torn face, become enemies.

Or perhaps it could be called one-sided enmity, because the Black Emperor suffered heavy losses while Tang Luo's side had zero losses.

If the Black Emperor had cooperated, Tang Luo would not have insisted on making enemies of them, would have converted them all — could convert them, but there was no need.

But the Black Emperor is not one to swallow insults; slapped in the face by Tang Luo, he still turned the other cheek.

The Black Emperor's temple was destroyed, losing a large amount of incense-fire power.

Letting the other party continue to act so recklessly, their rule as Heavenly Emperors would be severely affected.

Temples destroyed every few days — the Five Direction Heavenly Emperors couldn't bear it either; their status would inevitably plummet.

Destroy my foundation, block my divine path — undying enmity!

"Alright, question time." Tang Luo said to the Black Emperor, "Where is the Holy Mother of Three Yang Chan?"

"..."

"Looks like you know." Tang Luo said, "She was locked up by Yang Jian? Not answering is fine too — I'll take it as tacit admission."

Asking about Yang Chan, the Black Emperor showed no surprise at all; he obviously knew her.

He engaged in non-violent non-cooperation; only a wisp of consciousness had descended in an incense-fire avatar, making it hard for Tang Luo to perform soul-transcendence.

So Tang Luo simply asked, not expecting this guy to answer anyway.

In any case, from his reaction some useful information could be inferred, more or less; errors didn't matter.

No major impact.

"Liu Chenxiang founded the Overturning God Society, planning to wipe you lot out — do you know that?" Tang Luo continued asking.

"That little bastard is delusional." The Black Emperor's tone was sinister.

Confirmed some things.

For instance, they knew Liu Chenxiang, and were in a hostile state with him.

"But I'm curious — other people's family affairs, what business do you house-slaves have meddling? What are you mixing in for?" Tang Luo asked somewhat strangely.

The Black Emperor's expression changed instantly, a surge of anger rising uncontrollably: "We are not house-slaves!"

"Heh." Tang Luo chuckled lightly, "So agitated — looks like you're one of the Seven Monsters of Meishan, transformed into the Black Emperor? Stop lying to yourself; even if you become some Five Direction Heavenly Emperor, you're still Yang Jian's house-slaves."

The Black Emperor didn't speak, burning with rage.

He hadn't expected this brainless demon monk, this mad monk, could actually fish for information.

A moment of carelessness, and he was fished for some intelligence.

This is also why the Black Emperor didn't plan to send some capable "elders" to probe and make contact.

"Tang Xuanzang, I will build your corpse bones into the threshold of my Black Emperor Temple, to be trampled by tens of millions in the future." The Black Emperor dropped a ruthless line, and the incense-fire avatar instantly exploded.

Since they had thoroughly torn face, there was no need for more nonsense.

Realizing that too many words lead to mistakes, rather than continue to be humiliated by Tang Xuanzang here, better to be decisive and "self-terminate."

He had prepared before coming; this wisp of consciousness that descended, the Black Emperor could still afford the loss — after the incense-fire avatar exploded along with this wisp of consciousness, he was only lightly injured and would recover after a while.

This probe wasn't entirely useless; at least it confirmed that Sun Wukong was not by Tang Xuanzang's side.

Only the Third Prince of the West Sea Ao Yulie, and Tianpeng Zhu Bajie, those two.

Missing a Great Sage Equal to Heaven, their probability of taking down the demon monk increased greatly.

At the same time, Tang Xuanzang was indeed in a situation of total ignorance about many things.

He might possibly join forces with Liu Chenxiang and know a bit more, but that's all.

Inside the palace, the Black Emperor coughed violently, spat out a mouthful of fresh blood that turned into a wisp of green smoke and rose, a ruthless coldness appearing on his face.

Atop the already ruined Black Emperor Temple, Tang Luo dusted off his hands.

The incense-fire avatar's self-detonation still failed to cause him any injury.

"Master." Ao Yulie walked over and asked, "Who is this guy?"

"Should be one of those seven from Meishan, but exactly which one I don't know." Tang Luo said.

Incense-fire deification — these people have undergone heaven-and-earth overturning changes compared to before.

If Tang Luo were very familiar with them, he might recognize some, but they're not familiar at all; heaven knows which five the Five Direction Heavenly Emperors actually are.

"Then what about the other two?"

"Who knows, maybe they're dead." Tang Luo said.

If luck is bad, they really might be dead — the Shanhai Realm shattering wasn't a joke.

Tang Luo suspected the Seven Monsters of Meishan taking the god path might also be because of severe injuries; after all, their original strength was decent, there was no reason to suddenly take the god path.

"Let's go, first go see Liu Chenxiang." Tang Luo said, walking toward the other side.

On the other side, Luo Ze of the Overturning God Society, seeing Tang Luo and them walk over, his legs trembled, nearly wanting to leave first.

What did he see?

He saw a white-haired man calling himself a "monk" tear apart the Black Emperor's incense-fire avatar, turning the Black Emperor's temple into ruins.

Like a flash of lightning, it tore through the black expanse of sky, declaring that the lofty immortals were not invincible.

This should have been a cause for joy.

Even if they, the Overthrow Gods Society, claimed to aim at overthrowing the gods, that was their goal.

But Luo Ze knew clearly in his heart that, ultimately, the Overthrow Gods Society, to the Five Direction Heavenly Emperors, was merely a small rat in a gutter, capable of causing only minor trouble.

To disturb and displease the gods, nothing more.

Moreover, to a large extent, only those few individuals could actually cause trouble.

Even if it was the leader of the Overthrow Gods Society, facing the incense-burning avatars of the Five Direction Heavenly Emperors, he could only manage to avoid defeat—still, only part of those avatars.

If it was an incense-burning avatar descended by consciousness, merely escaping was already the limit.

Now, a true powerhouse has appeared—he tore apart the Black Emperor's avatar, destroyed the Black Emperor Temple, and his might was awe-inspiring.

Clearly, this should have been a joyous matter.

So why do I feel afraid? Why does the emotion of fear grip my whole body like a giant hand?

Luo Ze wanted to flee, yet he could not move; his body stiffened in place.

"Hey, you're back." Ao Yulie waved his hand in front of Luo Ze's eyes, "Hey."

Luo Ze's body trembled, his stiff legs went limp, he stepped back and sat down on the ground.

Since his cultivation reached minor completion, he had never been in such a sorry state.

Not even when facing pursuit by some incense-burning avatars had he been like this.

"Rest easy, as long as you keep your promise, Master will not strike you." Ao Yulie said, "We are monastics, compassionate at heart."

"I..."

"The monk has succeeded; may the donor bring the monk to meet your Overthrow Gods Society's leader?" Tang Luo said to Luo Ze.

Luo Ze nodded with difficulty.

By now, there was nothing else to do.

Ao Yulie transformed into a stream of light, directly sweeping up several people and vanishing.

Leaving behind a mess, the Black Emperor Temple reduced to ruins, and a group of frightened people around.

A place far from worldly dust, like a utopia beyond the world, nestled in a mountain valley, a small village.

Chickens and dogs heard each other, yellow-haired children with tied hair, living contentedly.

Judging by appearance alone, no one would expect this to be the headquarters of the Overthrow Gods Society; besides those villagers under ten years old, everyone else possessed cultivation.

Moreover, these people restrained their aura so skillfully that they appeared no different from ordinary folk.

Luo Ze was not a minor figure in the Overthrow Gods Society.

He brought Tang Luo and the others here; along the way, he faced no interrogation, and instead, many people greeted him with bright smiles.

As for Tang Luo and the few strangers, they were merely met with some curiosity and surprise, with only a few casting wary glances.

In contrast, they showed considerable concern for Luo Ze's somewhat gloomy expression.

"Where is the village chief?"

"He's teaching class at the schoolhouse."

Luo Ze pulled someone aside, learned the whereabouts of the village chief—also the leader of the Overthrow Gods Society—and led Tang Luo and the others toward that place.

"Is your Overthrow Gods Society's leader called Liu Shenxiang?" Tang Luo asked.

Along the way, they had hardly spoken with Luo Ze, giving this "little friend" a moment to breathe and compose himself.

Now Luo Ze was noticeably steadier: "Yes, the leader is called Liu Shenxiang."

"What is his father's name?" Tang Luo asked, curious.

Liu Xi, Liu Xiang, or Liu Yichang?

"I don't know." Luo Ze shook his head.

"You don't even know that? Well, then do you know who his mother is?" Tang Luo asked again.

Luo Ze still shook his head, his expression strange.

From Tang Xuanzang's behavior, it seemed he knew, was aware of the leader, but why would he ask such a strange question?

Soon, they arrived before a simple, spacious wooden house; outside, a fence enclosed it, and inside the courtyard lay a layer of emerald grass, forming a soft lawn.

On the lawn were small wooden horses, leather balls, small wooden oxen, and similar toys, full of childlike innocence and fun.

Luo Ze approached the wooden house and pushed open the half-closed door.

Inside were dozens of children with wide eyes, boys and girls, the youngest estimated to be four or five years old, the oldest seven or eight.

They were listening to the teacher at the front telling a story.

The teacher was an old man dressed as a scholar, tall and slender, with white hair and beard, and a tranquil demeanor.

The story's content was relatively simple, recounting tales of people resisting immortals, conveying the idea that humans can triumph over heaven, that humans are their own masters, and that immortals cannot be relied upon.

The storytelling teacher had noticed someone arrive, yet he still cast a slightly calming glance their way and slowly finished the story.

After concluding this enlightenment lesson, he walked over: "Speak outside; this is the schoolhouse."

Luo Ze nodded.

The group exited the courtyard and found a nearby small pavilion to sit in.

"I am Liu Shenxiang; have you also come to resist those immortals, for freedom?" The old man looked at Tang Luo and the others and asked.

"... Yes, may I ask boldly, what is your venerable age, Sect Leader?" Tang Luo asked.

Liu Shenxiang found this somewhat strange and replied: "I can't quite recall the exact age, but I am already over three hundred years old."

"Hmm..." Tang Luo fell into thought.

No wonder Luo Ze's expression was slightly strange when asked about Liu Shenxiang's parents.

A child, asking about parents' names is perfectly normal.

But he's an old man — who could go ask his parents? They've obviously long since passed away.

Both Zhu Bajie and Ao Yulie's expressions were a bit strange, then they understood.

Right, no one ever stipulated that Liu Chenxiang must always remain a child or youth.

He's not Nezha, after all.

He grows up and grows old too, you know.

Preconceptions really are unacceptable.