Chapter 412.1: Fishing Success, Slaying the Moluo Clans Yang Spirit

Chapter 412.1: Fishing Success, Slaying the Moluo Clan's Yang Spirit

Some time passed before Qi Yuan and Ji Buping appeared in the clouds. Their auras were concealed. In front of them were several concealment arrays to mask their presence.

Ji Buping asked carefully, "Where's the fat sheep?"

"Down there, inside the array."

When the mist parted, a figure in a gray robe emerged. The array blocked much of the view, making it difficult to make out his identity, but he appeared ordinary enough. Spiritual qi churned around him. He was trapped within an ancient array, seemingly trying to break free from it.

For some reason, the moment Ji Buping laid eyes on that man, his heart lurched. It was as though his bones had just registered some enormous danger. His voice carried a note of hesitation. "Fellow Daoist, why do I feel like he is not that simple?"

"Isn't he just an ordinary guy? The only unusual thing about him is that he’s getting on in years."

Ji Buping strained his eyes again. "I don't know why, but looking at him makes my skin crawl. He can't be that strong, can he?"

Unfortunately, the array blocked his view so he couldn't tell for certain.

Qi Yuan explained, "He's average at best. I mean, look down there. That ancient array is already falling apart, yet he’s still struggling with it. A young, robust cultivator could probably tear through it in just a few hits. He pushes himself for a while, then has to stop and rest. Clearly, he’s not on our level."

Just as Ji Buping was becoming convinced, he went slack with shock. "He just tore open space with one punch!"

"The space inside that old array has become corroded with age. You could tear it open too!"

"But he's... Wait." Ji Buping's heart pounded in terror. "A Heavenly Venerable??!!"

For an instant, the aura Mochi let slip was unmistakably that of a Yang Spirit! And just now, Ji Buping had a clear look at the old man's face—he was none other than the legendary Heavenly Venerable Mochi!

Qi Yuan said seriously, "Yeah, he's a Yang Spirit, but it's fine. He's old. His legs aren't what they used to be. I am sure you can go in with a sliding tackle and take him out with a blade through his gut."

A wave of absurdity washed over Ji Buping, tangled up with sheer bewilderment. Question marks all but exploded over his head. What is wrong with this world?

His brain had stopped working. He didn't even dare move.

Qi Yuan cheered softly, "Hurry up, go slide-tackle him! Give him a scare!"

Ji Buping couldn't budge. He was fairly sure Qi Yuan had lost his mind. Only a lunatic would scheme against a Moluo Yang Spirit right in the middle of their territory. Still, anyone bold enough to scheme against a Yang Spirit had to be a Yang Spirit themselves, right?

He wants me to just walk up to a Yang Spirit big shot? Is this some kind of game of house? Heavenly Venerable Mochi could kill me with a single glance!

His expression twisted into something uglier than crying. "Senior..."

He'd already realized something.

Qi Yuan said loudly, sounding thoroughly exasperated, "What, already getting cold feet? Don't even think about it! We're ambushing him together! I've already got a plan!"

This guy is just like Qin Wuyang. [1]

Without waiting for a response, he grabbed Ji Buping by the collar. "I put so much trust in you! Don’t let me down!"

Ji Buping's thoughts were a tangled mess. What a genuine lunatic!

No matter what, if they laid a hand on a Moluo Yang Spirit, neither of them would be walking away today!

***

Meanwhile, inside the ancient array, Mochi drew a deep breath. "This is just a trifling old array. It is hardly anything."

Though he’d burned through a fair amount of strength, it was nothing compared to what he’d gain from the Violet Qi.

Gazing at the foremost qi not too far off, he drew another breath. "Who'd have thought my fortune ran so deep as to stumble upon Violet Qi. Though I wonder whose place this used to be..."

He swept his gaze around and found nothing out of the ordinary. Clearly, whoever had once owned this ancient array had long since left or died, leaving only a wisp of Violet Qi behind. Staring at that wisp, he felt a surge of excitement. He was certain that heaven favored him. Even so, he remained cautious, scanning his surroundings to make sure no other killing array lay in wait.

Just then, the Violet Qi suffused through heaven and earth stirred.

Mochi's expression didn't change. "Think you can flee?"

Although the Violet Qi had no intelligence of its own, it would instinctively flee, so he gave chase at once. Not like the qi had any chance of escaping a Yang Spirit like him anyway. A few moments later, his expression froze, his spirit lurching. Ahead of him, a door appeared—ancient, mysterious, and radiating a light of wisdom.

The moment he saw that door, he trembled uncontrollably and his expression twisted into fervor. "T-the Myriad Principle Gate!"

His breathing quickened. This door was none other than the Myriad Principle Gate, the foremost Creation Treasure in the entire immortal realm! Rumor had it that every shred of principle comprehended by every powerhouse across the Sixth Heaven was contained within it.

Apparently, whoever entered the Myriad Principle Gate and contemplated its principles would inevitably attain the Major Principle realm. If that were true, then he would become the number one figure in the entire immortal realm!

In that instant, every trace of reason abandoned him, replaced by pure fervor. "Hahaha! Heaven is mine!"

The Myriad Principle Gate was now his one and only goal. Sure, not even Major Principle cultivators could capture it, but what if he succeeded where they had failed?

Just then, without warning, the Myriad Principle Gate opened. Mochi froze. He’d never heard of such a thing before. Even Major Principle experts had failed to open it after attacking it with everything they had. Forget controlling the gate, merely entering it would already be the single greatest stroke of fortune in the entire immortal realm!

Before he could think it through, that wisp of Violet Qi shrank and shot like a shuttle straight into the gate. Space rippled around it, as if the whole thing meant to depart. Opportunity seldom knocked twice.

Without a moment's hesitation, he turned into a streak of light and plunged straight into the gate. "We cultivators must forge ahead through hardship and dare to stake everything on a single fight! I must be heaven's chosen!"

He was certain that an endless ocean of principles awaited him, baptizing him into the ranks of the strongest in the world.

***

Elsewhere, watching all this unfold, a smile crept into Qi Yuan's eyes. "Fellow cultivator Ji, the fish has taken the bait. Let's go shut the door and beat the dog!"

Grabbing Ji Buping by the scruff of his neck, Qi Yuan hauled the man into his Violet Palace.

1. Qin Wuyang was a 12- or 13-year-old assassin who accompanied Jing Ke on a mission to assassinate Ying Zheng, the king of Qin. They disguised themselves as Yan envoys bearing a severed head and a map as gifts. However, Qin Wuyang became visibly nervous and began sweating and trembling, arousing Ying Zheng’s suspicion. He was prevented from approaching the king, leaving Jing Ke to carry out the assassination alone. Jing Ke failed, and both assassins were killed. ☜