[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-book-of-strange-tales":3,"chapter-the-book-of-strange-tales-the-book-of-strange-tales-chapter-585":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","The Book of Strange Tales",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2317865,4532,"Chapter 585: I Will Hold Back Fuchi Shenjun","the-book-of-strange-tales-chapter-585",585,"\u003Cp>At Fengshan’s cliffside, amidst cloud-wreathed pavilions, two Daoists sat awaiting guests; Xian Zhu, with a touch of obsessive-compulsive precision, adjusted the placement of fruit trays and snacks on several tables, leaning close to inspect, then shifting them again and again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Outside the window, a celestial steed trod through empty air, leading a fat crane and a white cloud.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Master! Master Xuanming has arrived!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Yi reined in his steed outside the pavilion’s balcony and spoke to Lin Jue inside, then bowed to the figure behind him:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Master, please enter! My master has been awaiting you for some time!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Good, good, good…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Master Xuanming stepped down from the fat crane, accompanied by his attendant, and entered the pavilion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Immediately after him, Pu Mei arrived riding a celestial steed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Master, Master Bai Luan has arrived.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Master Bai Luan rode upon the white cloud, looked up, and saw a colossal serpent’s head protruding from the mountain peak—he paused in surprise, but Pu Mei had already invited him inside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Master, Master Moyu has arrived.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Ran also rode a celestial steed, flying in from the distant sky.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Following closely behind him was none other than Master Moyu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this moment, inside the pavilion, Xian Zhu stood behind his master; every mat and table had been aligned perfectly, the distance and angle between tables and mats strictly measured, the fruit trays and snacks placed with absolute precision, each at identical distance from the table edges—so orderly that even the casually inclined immortals felt uneasy taking their seats.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Three elders, please be seated.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hehehe…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Master Xuanming sat first; his attendant stood behind him, and he glanced back involuntarily: “I haven’t seen such pure-blooded celestial steeds in many years—where did your friend find them?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“From a secluded immortal realm.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Master Xuanming saw the celestial steed, but not the Royal Serpent atop the mountain,” said Master Bai Luan. “I think I can guess where this secluded immortal realm lies.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Royal Serpent…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The three immortals exchanged glances.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Celestial steed, Royal Serpent, Yuanqiu Immortal Tree.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Where else could it be?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Jue showed no surprise, offered no evasion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These three immortals were all adept at avoiding calamity, ancient, and fond of spectacle and idle chatter—truly well-traveled; they could not be deceived.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the course of casual talk, Xian Zhu had already approached with a wine jug and cups, pouring wine for each of the three immortals in turn.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s been so long since we last gathered; it’s rare that three elders have come together here again. I toast you all.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As host, Lin Jue raised his cup first.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This time, his table held two cups—one for him, one for the fox—to prevent the fox from stealing his drink.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The junior sister raised her cup simultaneously with the three immortals.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Each took a small sip, savoring the depth of flavor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Again, this thousand-day wine infused with immortal fruit—hahaha! I won’t hide it from you, my friend: ever since that day I returned from here, I’ve longed for this taste,” said Master Xuanming. “You once asked me whether I’d ever tasted a better wine than this thousand-day wine. Hah! If it were the original thousand-day wine, yes, I had. But this cup? It is unquestionably the finest.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Master Xuanming speaks truly,” added Master Bai Luan. “If I ever get the chance, I’d truly like to meet the mountain lord who brews such exquisite wine—what a refined soul he must be.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He did not know it was a coarse boar demon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Jue said nothing, only replied:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If you elders enjoy it, please drink more today—I don’t know if we’ll ever have another chance to drink this wine again.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At these words, all fell silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They all knew why Lin Jue had summoned them—but they hadn’t expected him to skip all small talk and cut straight to the heart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That one…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Master Xuanming ventured cautiously: “That mountain lord… has also been… eradicated?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Elders need not worry. Though my place is not yet a realm beyond heaven and earth, it is half-sealed from the outside world—here, you may speak freely.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Jue then answered:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No. That mountain lord was deposed, but he was once a deity, once inscribed in the Nine Heavens’ divine registry. The Purple Emperor must preserve the dignity of the Nine Heavens’ deities—he will not lightly kill him.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Good, good…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Master Xuanming nodded repeatedly; his attendant exhaled a quiet sigh of relief.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Opposite him, Master Bai Luan and Master Moyu also relaxed, as if peering into their own fates through the fate of that mountain lord.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yet now the Purple Emperor openly exterminates demons without concealment. The deities of the Western Tian Shan never did evil—they hadn’t descended from the mountain in centuries—yet the Long She Shenjun and heavenly generals came to her very doorstep, sent heavenly troops to slaughter her guards and descendants, unleashed heavenly fire to burn her sacred grounds and Tian Shan. Had my elder brother not arrived, she would surely have been dragged back to the Nine Heavens.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Besides her, the Heishan Mountain Lord was equally benevolent and kind—hah! My junior sister and I trained on the mountain in our youth; he aided us many times. Who knew the Purple Emperor would turn his gaze upon him too?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“All because someone entered to gather herbs, fell off a cliff; someone entered seeking immortality and got lost; someone was wounded by wild beasts—these became grounds to accuse the Yishan Mountain Lord. And because an evil ghost once emerged from the mountain, frightened by the mountain lord’s authority and fled to cause chaos, that too became his crime.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They listed the reasons for attacking the Yishan Mountain God. Also, because once evil spirits had emerged from the mountains, frightened by the God’s authority, they fled and caused chaos—this too became a crime of the Mountain God.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Jue laughed softly, lifted his cup, and drank.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My Fuyao is a demon. My disciples are demons. Master Bai Luan and Master Moyu are demons. Even Master Xuanming’s attendant isn’t human. Who knows when the Purple Emperor will come knocking on our doors? Or when the wine-making mountain lord might be imprisoned? None of us know if we’ll survive this calamity—this wine, of course, may never be tasted again.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My Fuyao is a demon, my disciples are demons, Bai Luan and Mo Yu are demons, and even Master Xuanming’s attendants aren’t human—who knows when the Purple Emperor might come knocking? Or when that wine-making Mountain Lord might be taken into custody? We don’t even know if we’ll survive this calamity; after this, we may never get another chance to drink this wine.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They all loved spectacle; for decades, how could they not know what the Purple Emperor had done?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perhaps one day, others would come to watch their own spectacle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Heavy-hearted, unsure what to say, they drank.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xian Zhu’s face remained calm—even calmer than Master Xuanming’s attendant—only holding the wine jug, pouring for each in turn.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Master, if the Heavenly Emperor comes to investigate, you may hand me over,” said the attendant behind Master Xuanming suddenly. “Do not let me drag you down with me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What nonsense are you speaking?” Master Xuanming said. “This is our great calamity.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Master Lin, do you know a certain Daoist named Meng Hua?” said Master Moyu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It sounds familiar.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Master Meng Hua was also a perfected immortal who retired to the northern mountains after cultivation. He used to join us for spectacles. When the Fuchi Shenjun once fought three True Lords and several deities, he had intended to come with us—but he excelled in divination, foresaw a blade-and-war calamity for himself, and stayed away.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Friend Menghua is also one who has achieved true enlightenment. After becoming an immortal, he secluded himself in the northern mountains and used to join us often to watch the spectacle. When the Floating Pool God fought three True Lords and several spirits alone, he originally intended to come with us—but he excelled in divination and foresaw a possible calamity of weapons, so he stayed behind.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“After becoming immortal and retreating to the mountains, he lived among wild beasts, birds, and spirits—just as an ordinary person living in solitude might keep cats or dogs for company. But over a hundred years ago, one of his donkeys became a demon. The donkey was stubborn and foolish, unaware of consequences; it went out, injured people, committed wrongs, and was exterminated by a Daoist.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yet over a hundred years later, the Nine Heavens’ deities still dug him up, sent Long She Shenjun to find him, and intended to purge all his demon disciples and attendants.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Master Meng Hua tried to stop them… but he was never skilled in combat—he stood no chance against Long She Shenjun. One sword, and he was cut down.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No one knows if he foresaw this calamity.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Jue listened in silence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No wonder these three immortals had come today—they saw clearly now what the Purple Emperor had become.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There had been a precedent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No wonder these three immortals came today—they already see the Purple Emperor’s actions so clearly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Alas…” Master Bai Luan sighed involuntarily. “Demons and wild spirits are to immortals and deities as birds, beasts, fish, insects, grasses, trees, rocks, and mountains are to ordinary mortals. As long as birds, beasts, fish, insects, grasses, trees, rocks, and mountains endure, demons and wild spirits will endlessly arise. To completely eradicate them is like a mortal trying to wipe out every bird, beast, fish, insect, grass, tree, rock, and mountain in the world—how could it be done? Why must the Purple Emperor go so far?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why not face this calamity together?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Alas…” Master Bai Luan couldn’t help sighing. “Demons and wild spirits are to immortals and gods what birds, beasts, fish, insects, plants, trees, mountains, and stones are to ordinary mortals. As long as birds, beasts, fish, insects, plants, trees, mountains, and stones endure, demons and wild spirits will endlessly arise. To completely eradicate them is like trying to wipe out every bird, beast, fish, insect, plant, tree, mountain, and stone in the world—how could it ever be done? Why has the Purple Emperor sunk to this?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I am willing, of course,” said Master Bai Luan. “But how easily said? The Purple Emperor is Heavenly Emperor. Even though Fuchi Shenjun has resigned, he still commands Long She and Ju Fang—two famed Shenjuns—and has since appointed Fei Yi and Zhu Ming as two more Shenjuns—these are the Four Guardian Saints! If this were a dispute over divine incense, fine—but when it comes to exterminating demons and spirits in the mortal realm, he can mobilize the Eight Legions of Righteous Deities, the Nine Heavens’ Great Immortals and Supreme Deities—even other Emperor Lords must obey his command. How can we resist the power of the entire Nine Heavens?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Purple Emperor’s extermination of demons may be justified, but he has become fanatical. Among the Nine Heavens’ Great Immortals and Supreme Deities, many own demon steeds, pet beasts, disciples, and friends. He has already alienated them,” Lin Jue said calmly. “Besides, we have prepared.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You and Fuyao Daoist, along with your several elder brothers and mountain lords?” said Master Bai Luan. “Even if we add more, even with your skill and careful arrangements, using Qianshan—where the mountain lord resides—as a battlefield, you might hold off the Purple Emperor’s True Lords and Nine Heavens’ Righteous Deities. But Fuchi Shenjun is half the Purple Emperor’s disciple. Though he has resigned, a single letter from the Purple Emperor will surely summon him back into action. With Fuchi Shenjun’s power, how can we resist?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Purple Emperor’s campaign against demons and evil spirits may be justified, but he has fallen into obsession. Among the Nine Heavens’ great immortals and deities, many have demons as mounts, pets, disciples, or close friends—the Purple Emperor has already alienated himself.” Lin Jue spoke calmly. “Besides, we have our own preparations.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That day, when they witnessed the spectacle, Fuchi Shenjun’s invincible form had left an indelible impression.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And Fuchi Shenjun’s immortality, his flesh-made-sainthood, his inexhaustible divine power—all were true. No one could imagine who could oppose him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beside him, Master Moyu gripped his cup tightly:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I am willing to face this calamity with Master Lin. Otherwise, when Master Lin falls, I will be next.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I am willing too,” said Master Bai Luan. “But we must discuss a plan. Fuchi Shenjun cannot be ignored. Moreover, the Purple Emperor himself is a mighty Emperor Lord, renowned for exterminating demons and spirits to attain the Dao—if he personally descends to punish, even Yingshan Mountain Lord, relying on Dashan, could not withstand him. And none of us are skilled in combat.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Master Bai Luan speaks wisely,” said Master Xuanming, helplessly shaking his head. “If we wait a few more decades, perhaps when the winds and clouds rise again in heaven and earth, the Jade Mirror Emperor Lord in the south may rise once more to challenge the Purple Emperor. Then we might not only survive, but perhaps even overthrow the Purple Emperor. But now is not the right time; if the Purple Emperor uses the extermination of demons as justification to command the Nine Heavens, the Jade Mirror Emperor Lord can at best refuse to send troops.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Purple Emperor will not give us this chance,” said Master Bai Luan. “Not only has the Jade Mirror Emperor Lord been suppressed these past decades, barely holding on himself—even if he had strength left, he would likely watch us exhaust the Purple Emperor’s power, waiting for his own moment.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Better to fight than wait to die!” said Master Moyu, turning. “Master Lin, what is your plan?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Purple Emperor will never give us this chance,” said Master Bai Luan. “Not to mention that in recent decades, Jade Mirror Emperor has been severely suppressed and can barely save himself—even if he had the strength, he’d likely watch us wear down the Purple Emperor’s power and wait for his own moment.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even the calm attendant behind Master Xuanming, facing life and death, turned his head toward Lin Jue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“When soldiers come, deploy generals. When water rises, pile earth.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Daoist’s expression remained serene as he spoke:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I will hold back Fuchi Shenjun.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At these words, the three immortals were stunned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I will hold back the Divine Lord of Floating Pool.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At these words, all three immortals were stunned.\u003C\u002Fp>",2387,"2026-06-20T14:45:37.804Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","ee921c842c6c23328a3d7dc04f9dddb22cec0018d047f1069dd766bd974ceaa7","the-book-of-strange-tales-chapter-586","the-book-of-strange-tales-chapter-584",608,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-book-of-strange-tales-cover.jpg"]