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Book 08 Chapter 026: To Drink or Not to Drink?
Book 08 Chapter 026: To Drink or Not to Drink?
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In the void, Ji Dihong pursued the skeleton Gu Hai.
However, Gu Hai was avoiding confrontation, not out of fear but because he was worried Ji Dihong might notice something strange. After all, Ji Dihong was under the impression that Gu Hai was rapidly losing strength. However, Gu Hai’s strength had not lessened a bit.
“Gu Hai, still running? Do you even know the way back?” Ji Dihong asked, his face darkening as he stopped.
While he found Gu Hai’s escape shameless and wanted to chase Gu Hai down, he knew he would lose his way if he continued. Hence, he dared not advance recklessly.
Skeleton Gu Hai also stopped abruptly and swung his saber at Ji Dihong. “Tenth Cycle!”
Boom!
The violent collision filled Ji Dihong with frustration.
“So, you want to go back? We’ll go back too, then!” the skeleton Gu Hai guffawed.
Turning his head, the skeleton Gu Hai flew in another direction, seemingly circling back.
The frustrated Ji Dihong was not about to give Gu Hai a chance to return, so he resumed his pursuit.
Boom! Boom!
As the clashes continued, the two moved farther and farther away from the Six Paths Immortal Firmament.
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Borderless Heavenly Capital:
The churning waters of the nether river shielded the citizens.
Chen Xianer’s poison palm suppressed the Bellowing Griever Heavenly Demon’s golden net. However, at that moment, Chen Xianer, Long Wanqing, the Bellowing Griever Heavenly Demon, and all the observers were staring at the unnamed hall above the nether river.
Although only the Unrestrained Heavenly Demon’s projection had appeared, it was still the Unrestrained Heavenly Demon.
Did Gu Hai have a backup plan to deal with the Unrestrained Heavenly Demon? What a joke!
Apart from the people of the Han Nation, no one believed it. If he had such a great trick up his sleeve, why had he waited until now?
It was obvious that the Unrestrained Heavenly Demon had entered the unnamed grand hall to expose Gu Hai’s gimmick.
Did Gu Hai think he could scare off the Unrestrained Heavenly Demon? That was impossible. No one could scare the Unrestrained Heavenly Demon, and no one could stop him.
But why did the Unrestrained Heavenly Demon still not come out after so long?
The unnamed grand hall seemed increasingly mysterious.
Was the Unrestrained Heavenly Demon really trapped? Otherwise, why had he not come out yet?
“Impossible! Milord! Milord!” the Bellowing Griever Heavenly Demon shouted anxiously.
Chen Xianer and Long Wanqing exchanged looks, their eyes full of curiosity. They had trusted Gu Hai when he said that, no matter how strong the opponent, leading the opponent into this hall would be enough. However, they had never expected everything to go so smoothly.
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Deity Seizing Hall, Spirit Mountain:
Jiangchen stopped drinking tea and thoughtfully watched the unnamed hall.
“What exactly is inside? It’s really mysterious!” Jiangchen wondered aloud.
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For others, it was a mystery, but for the Unrestrained Heavenly Demon inside, it was even more than a nightmare. It was actually a hundred times worse because he had seen Long Zhanguo.
Long Zhanguo had short hair, and he looked incredibly sharp. He was playing with a golden lighter in his left hand and held a cigarette in his right. As he puffed out smoke leisurely, the Unrestrained Heavenly Demon’s hair stood on end.
The Unrestrained Heavenly Demon wanted to confirm that this Long Zhanguo was a fake, a cloud beast manifested by Gu Hai using a Go Dao ritual array. However, the Unrestrained Heavenly Demon could not find any flaw, despite searching with his own eyes.
Didn’t Gu Hai kill Long Zhanguo in the Heavenly Realm? Why is he still alive?
“Want one?” Long Zhanguo put down his lighter, took out a box of cigarettes, and placed it on the side table.
The Unrestrained Heavenly Demon: “…”
The Unrestrained Heavenly Demon was at a loss for words.
This Long Zhanguo, perhaps he is the real one…while his attire makes him look incredibly sharp, he feels extremely strange. Also, what is that smoke he is breathing in and out? What do you mean by “Want one?”
“I remember you promised not to set foot in the land of the living for a thousand years. It hasn’t been a thousand years yet, has it?” Long Zhanguo remarked coolly, exhaling a puff of smoke.
The Unrestrained Heavenly Demon remained silent.
“Sit, make yourself at home. I won’t eat you,” Long Zhanguo said casually.
The Unrestrained Heavenly Demon slowly took a seat.
Long Zhanguo and the Unrestrained Heavenly Demon sat face-to-face. There was no immediate fight, as one might expect, but a calm conversation.
“Are you…really Long Zhanguo?” Despite the Unrestrained Heavenly Demon’s calm tone, he felt like ten thousand alpacas were galloping in his heart.
Long Zhanguo did not answer, instead flicking some ash from his cigarette and quietly watching the Unrestrained Heavenly Demon.
The Unrestrained Heavenly Demon: “…”
Previously, he had come to an agreement with Ji Dihong. The Heavenly Demon Holy Land would gain all the territories of the Han Imperial Dynasty after expanding to the land of the living. Moreover, Ji Dihong would also help him clear his name and assist the Heavenly Demon Holy Land in further expanding in the land of the living.
Borderless Heavenly Capital was located in the Divine Continent’s cardinal north position, right where Long Zhanguo’s thirty-three layers of heaven used to be. It was here that the Unrestrained Heavenly Demon had once faced humiliation at the hands of Long Zhanguo. The opportunity to rule this place felt like a chance to clear his past disgrace, and that was why he had agreed to Ji Dihong’s offer.
How could the Unrestrained Heavenly Demon ever imagine that he would encounter Long Zhanguo again upon arrival?
He is supposed to be dead. Who can tell me what’s happening?
“Yes, you did banish me from the Divine Continent, but the Huang Heavenly Dynasty lifted the blacklist,” the Unrestrained Heavenly Demon retorted with a frosty look at Long Zhanguo. “And it was Ji Dihong who invited me here. We fought a battle years ago, Long Zhanguo, and I admit, you bested me. You are indeed an unparalleled genius. But times have changed. My Heavenly Demon Holy Land aims to rule the land of the living. Our millennium-long pact is already null. Do you wish to fight again?”
“Have you improved in nearly a thousand years?” Long Zhanguo asked, drawing on his cigarette with a questioning gaze at the Unrestrained Heavenly Demon, who fell silent.
Whew! Long Zhanguo exhaled a puff of smoke, an act that seemed to belittle the Unrestrained Heavenly Demon’s cultivation, leaving the Unrestrained Heavenly Demon rather vexed.
“For tens of thousands of years, you’ve failed to break through. A mere thousand years is too short for you, yet you want to fight me? I think you’d better not,” Long Zhanguo said calmly, stubbing out his cigarette after speaking.
Once again, the Unrestrained Heavenly Demon remained silent. He wanted to lash out but knew who stood before him. Furthermore, he was just a projection here, significantly weaker than his true body.
Long Zhanguo then slowly stood up, walked over to a table, and poured some red wine into two tall, crystal wineglasses from a glass decanter.
He picked up both glasses and offered one to the Unrestrained Heavenly Demon.
The Unrestrained Heavenly Demon looked at Long Zhanguo in surprise, unsure of his intentions, but clumsily accepted the glass, nonetheless.
“This 1982 Lafite has been well-aerated. Although a bit coarse, it possesses a distinct aroma. Our millennium pact is nearing its end; you ought to exercise a bit of patience,” Long Zhanguo suggested, raising his glass in a toast before taking a sip.
[TL Note: Unfortunately, I’m unable to explain much about wine, but a 1982 Lafite refers to red wine made in 1982 from grapes grown in a specific wine estate in France. This estate is a consistent producer of expensive red wines. Its 1982 vintage is considered one of its finest releases. Here is more about this wine estate: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ch%C3%A2teau_Lafite_Rothschild.]
The Unrestrained Heavenly Demon held his wineglass, immobilized. Should I drink or not?
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Xuanyuan City:
With the release of Hou Yi’s third divine arrow, the Ice Fire Divine Ritual Array shattered, leaving nearly ten thousand cracks. Even the pools of fire and ice split apart, no longer producing golden or blue crows.
“Hou Yi, one more arrow to break their ritual array,” Xingtian laughed.
Hou Yi drew his fourth divine arrow, gently nocking it on his divine bow.
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Inside Xuanyuan City:
“Mister Cangjie, the Ice Fire Divine Ritual Array is at its limit; it will soon collapse!” Lifespan Nangong said bitterly from a nearby location.
“Mister Cangjie, what do we do now?” Emperor Kong and the officials were perturbed.
Despite his anxiety, Cangjie remained remarkably composed.
“They are just two consummate Upper Heavenly Palace Realm cultivators. It’s still too early for them to destroy Xuanyuan City. They will already be fortunate to leave this place alive,” Cangjie declared confidently.
“Ah?” the officials exclaimed.
Cangjie is very confident. Does Xuanyuan City have more contingency plans?
Cangjie did not explain, muttering to himself, “It’s a pity. In order to protect Xuanyuan City, I have no choice but to do this, even though it betrays His Holy Eminence’s trust.”
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Eight Trigram Mountain:
Within the spreading fog, the space suppression in Eight Trigram Mountain was several times greater than it appeared outside.
Due to the Eyes of Life and Death, the severity of Gu Hai’s and Houqing’s injuries was worlds apart despite them trading blows. They were both covered in blood, and their clothes were mostly torn. However, most of the blood on Gu Hai belonged to Houqing, and the blood on Houqing was also Houqing’s.
“I don’t believe this! You can’t possibly beat me!” Houqing roared, charging Gu Hai.
However, reality proved otherwise, and no amount of Houqing’s protestations could change that.
Gu Hai did not use the Tenth Cycle, only the Ninth Cycle. The Tenth Cycle was too powerful and would overburden his body if he used it, severely injuring him. Furthermore, it might kill Houqing.
Gu Hai had promised Lady Houtu to spare Houqing.
During the intense battle, Houqing continuously retreated. He was now severely injured and running out of strength. It felt like Gu Hai had shattered all his internal organs, and his spiritual and physical souls were on the verge of scattering.
“No!” Houqing cried out in despair.
Boom!
After the Ninth Cycle landed, Houqing crashed into the ground. Gu Hai immediately followed up, stepping on Houqing’s chest and pinning him down.
“Finally, it’s over, Houqing,” Gu Hai said coldly.
Gu Hai held the Life Executioner Saber to Houqing’s neck. If Houqing tried to resist, Gu Hai could immediately behead him. While Houqing possessed an extremely tough body, the Eyes of Life and Death could find its weak points, so Houqing believed Gu Hai could easily chop off his head.
While holding the Life Executioner Saber with one hand, Gu Hai reached for Houqing’s forehead with the other.
“I promised Lady Houtu I’d spare your life. So now, will you voluntarily surrender the zombie ancestor seed, or should I forcibly take it from you?” Gu Hai asked ferociously.
Houqing felt a chill, and his eyes filled with despair. “No, you can’t do this! You can’t do this!”
“I’ll count to three and do it myself after that. One!” Gu Hai said coldly.
“No! The zombie ancestor seed is mine! It’s mine! Ba gave it to me! Mine!” Houqing refused to give up despite his despair.
“Two!” Gu Hai said coldly.
A chill ran down Houqing’s spine. He knew if he lost the zombie ancestor seed, he would be nothing. He could not bear to give it up.
Gu Hai stared coldly at Houqing, the zombie ancestor seed just within his reach. What he did not know was that not too far away, Long Aotian, accompanied by Dijiang, had entered the area and found Gu Hai demanding the zombie ancestor seed.