Chapter 111: Junyao

"The Vulture Qu Gong is dead! Monkeys on the island, come out and face me!"

The foul snake blood cascaded like a waterfall, gushing loudly and quickly staining the surrounding seawater a deep crimson.

The ten-thousand-zhang Ba Snake let out another piercing shriek, swung its tail violently, and its grotesque, bony body writhed through the churning clouds and waters, instantly summoning thunder from the earth itself!

Vast tides roared into motion, like continuous thunderclaps!

Within a radius of dozens of li, spiritual energy became chaotic and disordered; countless fish, shrimp, turtles, and crabs were instantly stunned to death, their bellies floating white to the surface, then tossed and turned by the rolling waves before being swept away in all directions by the ocean currents.

Furious waves surged, black mists covered the sky!

Under this chaotic celestial might, the vast Linjiao Island beneath the Ba Snake trembled like a loose dune caught in a gale, perilously unstable.

It seemed that with just a little more wind, it would scatter into dust under the pounding rain and howling gales!

As Yue You grew angrier still.

Soon after, a boy clad in golden robes, holding a bronze plate, stepped forth on glowing clouds, slowly emerging from Linjiao Island.

Seeing this scene, he merely flashed a faint sneer, calmly pressed his bronze plate, and chanted a spell.

A vast, radiant light instantly spread outward like an umbrella, and within a few breaths, it quelled the raging storm and wind, calmed the turbulent waves, and forcibly subdued the chaotic spiritual energy within dozens of li.

"Uncle Yue You, you truly have a hasty temper—when you rage, you doom countless aquatic creatures of this sea."

The boy tossed the bronze plate upward and swallowed it whole, then gazed down at the still-deep crimson seawater and the dense corpses of fish and shrimp scattered between the waves.

Only then did he turn his gaze to the colossal Ba Snake coiled amid drifting clouds and flying auroras, towering and majestic, bowed respectfully, and chuckled:

"Heaven itself values life—Uncle, you’d do better to reduce your killing in the future, and recite the Pure and Quiet Huangting more often. If karmic resentment later hinders your cultivation, that would be unfortunate."

"Bullshit! You Linjiao Island are all descendants of the Monkey Clan—a bunch of mountain monkeys! Do you think putting on clothes and learning a few characters and rituals makes you truly human?"

Yue You sneered dismissively and lowered his body.

His two crimson-yellow snake eyes, like tiny suns, drew closer, casting the surrounding seawater into an eerie, hazy glow—just one glance sent icy dread crawling over the skin, making hair stand on end.

"Your Linjiao Island has such cunning and ambition—your father Yuan Ju, that old monkey, has great ambition and spirit! But you’re not foolish enough to believe that by eliminating the Vulture Qu Gong, you’ll now enjoy peace and security in the Eastern Seas, are you?"

The grotesque, coiling serpent body slowly slid down from the clouds; though its movement was slow, it carried an indescribable oppressive pressure.

It felt like a colossal dragon pillar, towering to the deepest heavens, inch by inch slowly toppling downward, crushing the chest, stifling breath.

"Even if I’ve removed the Vulture Qu Gong for you and obliterated his Ten Thousand Vulture Island, do you truly believe Linjiao Island can now firmly establish itself in the Eastern Seas?"

At this point, the enormous serpent head was now less than a hundred zhang from the boy.

As its tongue flickered, it flashed like a brilliant crimson aurora; the stench from its nostrils made one nauseous.

"The old dragons of the Eastern Seas won’t permit such a lawless rogue to arise in this sea without cause. How can one allow another to sleep in one’s own bed?"

Yue You hissed:

"The Vulture Qu Gong was a retainer of the Third Imperial Prince. By having me kill him, your Linjiao Island has shamed the Third Prince of the Eastern Seas, slapped his face! Did your father also pledge allegiance to one of the Eastern Sea princes? Otherwise, how dare you risk your life so recklessly?"

This laugh and question rang like thunderclaps colliding, echoing with deafening force.

The boy on the glowing clouds pretended not to hear, his face still smiling, yet he gave no reply.

"So young, yet so slick? Your heart is clearly not virtuous—you’re full of foul intentions."

Seeing the boy smile without speaking, Yue You suppressed his fleeting curiosity and spoke bluntly:

"When your father originally made his deal with me, he promised that if I killed the Vulture Qu Gong for your Linjiao Island, you’d lend me the 'Escape-Realm Shuttle.' Is that promise still valid?"

"My father’s word is ironclad—it’s still valid."

The boy bowed respectfully toward the north and smiled.

"The Vulture Qu Gong is dead, and even his Ten Thousand Vulture Island has been smashed to dust by my tail—all its birds and chicks are dead, swallowed whole by me."

Yue You said:

"If you don’t believe me, send a few monkeys over to check—it’s plain to see. I’ve fulfilled my end. Now it’s your turn."

The boy on the glowing clouds stared deeply at Yue You.

The ten-thousand-zhang serpent body now bore many fresh, grotesque wounds.

In several places, flesh had been torn open, revealing stark white bone fragments—terrible and gruesome.

……

"I heard my father say that Yue You is only a spiritual body here, not his true form—how could he possibly defeat the Vulture Qu Gong?"

Not to mention the Ten Thousand Vulture Island was bristling with full defensive arrays, as tightly sealed as an iron barrel, impervious to water—our Linjiao Island has been their rival for nearly sixty years and still couldn’t break their mountain gate. How could Yue You, merely a spiritual body, possess such immense power?"

"Could it be he’s taking advantage of my youth, trying to trick me? He’ll just trick me into handing over the 'Escape-Realm Shuttle' and then vanish?"

At this thought, the boy felt his reasoning made perfect sense—his mind suddenly cleared as mist and fog dispersed.

Yue You’s true body is in Nan Chan Province, inside the Heavenly Demon Sect’s "Water-Contained Life-Extending Chamber." Even if he stole the 'Escape-Realm Shuttle,' would my family dare chase him across thousands of li to that province?

Not only would Linjiao Island never dare, but even if all twenty-four Southern Sea demon clans united, and were given a hundred tiger-wolf hearts, they still wouldn’t dare.

They’d likely be turned into corpse puppets mid-journey, before even reaching him.

Unable to live, unable to die…

Thinking of this, the boy’s confidence grew by another third.

He now firmly believed Yue You’s wounds were from failing to storm the Ten Thousand Vulture Island, retreating in disgrace, then seeing only him—a child—left on the island, and deliberately deceiving him.

"I knew it! You’re just a spiritual body—how could you possibly have such power? You think I’m naive, trying to fool me?

You stupid snake, do you think I’m that easy to trick? Do you know how vast my wisdom is, Yuan Ping?"

The boy couldn’t help but sneer inwardly—he’d always disliked Yue You’s arrogant, reckless nature, finding it repulsive, but feared his power and dared not act.

Now, having guessed Yue You’s deceitful scheme, he felt he’d seized his weakness, and his inner triumph swelled.

"Uncle, have you truly killed the Vulture Qu Gong?"

Though his heart laughed wildly, the boy’s face remained expressionless; he merely bowed slightly and smiled.

"Nonsense! I already said—if you don’t believe me, send a few monkeys over to check!"

Yue You snapped impatiently:

"Hurry and bring me the 'Escape-Realm Shuttle'—I have important matters to attend to; I have no time to waste here!"

"The Ten Thousand Vulture Island lies far beyond our Linjiao Island’s territory. Myself and the clan members lack your level of cultivation—we can’t travel back and forth so easily."

The boy smiled: "My father is currently away on imperial summons. Uncle, why not wait until he returns to Linjiao Island for your discussion? As for lending the 'Escape-Realm Shuttle,' this artifact carries immense weight—I, a mere youth, cannot decide on such matters."

"Yuan Ping, didn’t your father appoint you full authority during his absence?"

Yue You frowned.

"True, but if anything goes wrong, I’m too weak to bear the consequences."

After sighing, the boy’s lips curled upward in a sly smile:

"How about I suggest two solutions for you, Uncle?"

Yue You fixed his gaze on him.

"First, you stay as a guest on Linjiao Island for a few days until my father returns, then you two can settle it yourselves. Second, I’ll make the trip myself to the Ten Thousand Vulture Island to verify the truth."

The boy sighed: "But the sea is rough and stormy—given my limited cultivation, you’d still have to wait on the island for several days."

"Of course, if Uncle is truly eager to borrow the 'Escape-Realm Shuttle'…"

Seeing Yue You remain silent, the boy grew even more triumphant; he spread his hands and said:

"Just show me the Vulture Qu Gong’s head or his personal magic treasure—I’ll verify it myself, and that’ll be fine, won’t it?"

A silence followed.

The boy sensed Yue You had no reply.

He openly sneered, gave a casual bow, then spurred his glowing clouds and ignored Yue You entirely, flying back toward Linjiao Island.

"This Yue You is so rude—he constantly disrespects our Monkey Clan, treating us as hairy beasts! Yet my father still treats him with great respect—it’s infuriating to watch!"

"Now he dares to deceive me because I’m young? Dream on!"

He felt triumphant inwardly and secretly sent several messages to trusted clan members, plotting to give Yue You a humiliating lesson.

But before any plan could take shape, the sky suddenly darkened violently!

"Yue You… how dare you?!"

The boy startled, looked up—and froze in terror.

A deafening wind surged from above—a serpent tail, wielding unimaginable force, came crashing down!

The storm clouds shattered, the tides split apart!

Though the boy barely managed to summon a small stupa to shield his face, the tail still struck him like a broken kite—his glowing clouds dissolved, and he was hurled violently into the waves.

"Damn it! Chen Yu is waiting to meet Chen Hang! Normally I might have time to play with you, but what time is this now? You brainless fool!"

The Ba Snake shifted slightly; as a gray light passed over it, it instantly transformed into a young man clad in gray robes, with a seductive, sinister appearance.

He plucked the unconscious boy from the sea, sneered coldly, and looked upward.

His sudden outburst could not escape the notice of Linjiao Island’s many monkeys.

Soon after, war drums rolled, battle cries rose to the heavens, waves of demonic light surged, and armies filled the sky—but they hesitated, fearing for the boy’s life.

"I don’t care what urgent matter he has—tell Yuan Ju to return immediately, or his son dies! Also, open the island’s protective arrays—I’m tired from fighting and need to rest inside!"

Yue You sneered:

"You hairy beasts don’t think your pathetic formations can stop Yu Shu’s Battle Talismans? If you won’t listen to reason, I’ll crush Linjiao Island to dust!"

This insult enraged the hot-tempered monkeys; their eyes turned blood-red.

They leapt and screamed in the clouds, desperate to rush forward and tear Yue You apart.

"Who are you, sir, to quarrel with a child? Though Ping is disrespectful—"

At this critical moment, several elder monkeys with deep cultivation emerged from their caves, approaching with pained smiles:

"But calling us 'hairy beasts' is too much. Our Monkey Clan has long established teachings, laws, and order—"

"Who cares about your nonsense? A few days ago, your island master Yuan Ju already promised me: if I killed the Vulture Qu Gong for your band of wild monkeys, you’d lend me the 'Escape-Realm Shuttle'."

Yue You grew impatient and lifted the unconscious boy, saying:

“Yuan Ju is currently away on imperial orders—though I don’t know whose orders—and frankly, I couldn’t care less.

But he clearly entrusted his affairs to this fool, yet this little monkey keeps stalling and making excuses—had it not been for Yuan Ju’s sake, I’d have swallowed him whole long ago!”

“Your Excellency—”

“Summon Yuan Ju here at once, or you lot of monkeys decide for yourselves and hand over the ‘World-Dodging Shuttle’—no more nonsense!”

The elder apes sighed bitterly.

After deliberation, they drove back the furious ape warriors, lifted the prohibitions, and invited Yue You into a treasure pavilion.

They seated him in the main chair, offered him fragrant tea and fruit, and dispatched a troupe of mermaid maidens to dance and serve.

“The Island Master is already on his way back. Could Your Excellency please release Ping’er? The little monkey is young and foolish—please spare him further punishment.”

After a round of eager flattery, the elder apes could no longer hold back—they raised their cups, bowed deeply, and dared to plead.

Yue You sneered, glancing at the boy lying at his feet—his body paralyzed, yet his eyes blazing with unmasked fury—and said nothing.

The elder apes felt helpless but dared not press further; they forced smiles and kept pouring wine.

Half a quarter-hour later.

As Yue You was enjoying his drink.

Suddenly a great wind surged, billowing the silken curtains and gauzy drapes.

When the wind ceased, a middle-aged man dressed as a military officer stood silently before the dais—no one knew when he had arrived.

“Father!”

The boy at Yue You’s feet, upon seeing the man, burst into joy and cried out loudly.

But before he could say more, the man cast him a cold, withering glare—and the boy fell silent, embarrassed.

“You’re here?”

Yue You set down his wine cup and sneered.

“My son’s insolence has embarrassed Your Excellency.”

The middle-aged man sighed, raised his hand, and formed a seal.

In a stone chamber on Linjiao Island, a blue light exploded through the lid of a casket, spiraled thrice like a weary bird returning to its nest, then flew straight into the hall—Yue You reached out and caught it in his palm.

“This is the World-Dodging Shuttle? A fine treasure!”

Yue You traced his finger along the brilliant blue glow for a moment, praised it, then reluctantly tucked it away—and from his sleeve, he tossed a severed head toward the man below.

“You, Yuan Ju, are clever—but your son is an idiot, unworthy of the legacy you’ve fought so hard to build.”

Yuan Ju caught the head, glanced at it, and a faint smile touched his face.

“Jiu Qu Gong! You damned bird!”

The elder apes watched this exchange and inwardly cursed.

Yue You had clearly killed Jiu Qu Gong—why not just show the head to the boy at the start? That would’ve settled everything—why make such a disgraceful spectacle?

Snakes are truly cruel and unpredictable.

“Your Excellency has rid Linjiao Island of a great threat by killing Jiu Qu Gong.”

Yuan Ju stared at the head a moment longer, then tucked it away and smiled:

“Why not—”

Before he could finish, the great hall shuddered violently—as if gripped by a giant’s hand and shaken hard.

The entire Linjiao Island trembled violently; rocks tumbled down, kicking up thick clouds of dust.

“What is this?”

Yuan Ju leapt onto a cloud in alarm, glanced outside—and froze in shock:

“A True Person on patrol? A Primordial Spirit manifestation? But which True Person’s manifestation could cause such a colossal disturbance?”

He frowned, turning to look at Yue You, about to ask for advice.

But when he turned—he saw that the once-arrogant Yue You had already transformed into a streak of gray light, desperately fleeing toward the island’s outer skies, his face twisted with a fear Yuan Ju had never seen before.

“Junyao? Damn it, Junyao!”

Yue You cursed inwardly:

“You damned short-lived bastard—again? Are you here to ruin Yu Shu’s plans again?!”

Thank you to Wanhuo_Guiyi for 7000 points, to Renjianwushu_daqi for 200 points, to BookReader for 100 points, to Jiaojiao_Bailang for 100 points, to Zun TianDi_Xuntian for 100 points,