Chapter 488: The Bluer Than Blue Emerges Triumphant
The plan described by Lu Heng sounds well-prepared and flawless, without any loopholes.
When Lu Heng finally imparted the essence of "Soul Seizure" to Jiu Mie and Candle Dragon, both men furrowed their brows slightly.
"This… " Jiu Mie looked at Lu Heng with a peculiar expression and said, "Old wolf, your technique is truly peculiar…"
"Too malicious, causing harm to heaven," Candle Dragon commented succinctly.
Regarding this, Lu Heng smiled and said, "That's why I am only sharing this technique with you, my two good friends. It must never be divulged to others."
Candle Dragon shook his head and said, "Although this technique is indeed malicious, it is rather complementary when used on these foreign people. The concept of an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, holds true in this context."
Jiu Mie continued, "We understand how to deal with the battle between righteousness and evil, but upon your return, old wolf, were you aware of what transpired at Hanyu Mountain?"
Jiu Mie reminded, "That peach tree you cultivated years ago has actually transformed into the All Souls Ancestral Root, and it has now yielded thirty-six divine fruits. If consumed, they will bestow immeasurable benefits. Before heading to the Arctic Skyark Palace, you should collect these divine fruits and keep them safe."
Jiu Mie's well-intentioned reminder made Lu Heng nod in agreement. "I have also taken possession of those thirty-six divine fruits; currently, I carry them with me. However, as for how to handle these fruits, I have not yet devised a plan. I wonder if my two good friends have any suggestions?"
Candle Dragon chuckled and said, "If Friend Lu Heng is undecided on how to handle them, why not let me consume them all? I am genuinely curious about this legendary All Souls Ancestral Root and willingly offer myself as a test subject."
Jiu Mie shook his head and said, "It would be better to give these thirty-six divine fruits to Lian Cangqing. In her prime, she was no weaker than that ancient demon and remains the most formidable cultivator in the Celestial Desolation Realm, closest to the realm of the Emperor, after the downfall of the Heavenly Court."
"Now, as she returns through a corporeal vessel, she is constrained by the injuries inflicted upon her physical form and soul, making it difficult to regain her former peak state. If we were to give her these thirty-six divine fruits, it would rid her of all traces of deathly aura, allowing her to once again exhibit the magnificent prowess of the Immortal of Martial Arts. In doing so, the Celestial Desolation Realm would gain another peerless master, capable of awe-inspiring dominance across realms."
Jiu Mie put forward a highly constructive suggestion.
However, when Candle Dragon heard this, a peculiar expression appeared on his face. "This… give them to Lian Cangqing? So she can regain her former glory? Friend Jiu Mie, are you suggesting a quicker death for Friend Lu Heng…? Let us not forget that Lian Cangqing once openly declared her intent to kill Friend Lu Heng. If Friend Lu Heng were to bestow the divine fruits upon her, wouldn't that be inviting his own demise?"
Regarding this, Jiu Mie chuckled and said, "Wasn't it you who said so? The Immortal of Martial Arts, Lian Cangqing, is the kindest and most gentle being in the world. If she were to regain her former state, how could she possibly cause any trouble for Friend Lu Heng? In fact, she might not only avoid causing trouble but also be willing to sacrifice herself for him."
Lu Heng's hairs stood on end as he listened to Jiu Mie's words, and he quickly exclaimed, "This is absolutely impossible! The divine fruits cannot be given to Lian Cangqing!"
After finally getting rid of the immense trouble caused by the Dragon Emperor, how could Lu Heng possibly dig another pit for himself to jump into.
In this way, the three of them ultimately agreed on Lu Heng personally consuming the divine fruits. After all, among the three, Lu Heng was the most suitable candidate to partake in these divine fruits, considering his cultivate had no bottlenecks.
The path that Jiu Mie pursues places great emphasis on one's character and enlightenment, making the benefits of the divine fruits almost insignificant to him.
As for Candle Dragon, he has accumulated countless lifetimes of cultivation through the Life Deviation Technique, thus he too doesn't require the divine fruits.
Thus, upon the Cliff of Dao, the clouds dispersed, the rain ceased, and the radiance of the heavens illuminated.
Meanwhile, the three figures who were originally engaged in the discussion of the Dao vanished without a trace.
Lu Heng and his two companions, accompanied by the almost negligible white dragon girl, headed directly north, intending to rush to the impending battle between the righteous and demonic forces.
And the sights along the road had undergone significant changes compared to their original appearance.
The tense atmosphere of the impending battle between righteousness and malevolence had completely enveloped the numerous creatures inhabiting this land.
After crossing the border of the Fire Pass Country, one could already sense the tense atmosphere within the Youxiong Country. However, this place is still quite far from the north, and the lives of most mortals remain unaffected.
Merely above the celestial dome, an incessant exchange of streaking lights can be observed. Cultivators, who were rarely seen in the past, are now busily bustling between heaven and earth, making preparations for the impending battle between righteousness and malevolence.
As they journeyed northward, the number of incessantly streaking lights increased. Moreover, upon the land, a large influx of mortals began to migrate.
In order to prevent the impact of the impending battle between righteousness and malevolence on the border's mortals, the Youxiong Country is incessantly relocating its citizens from the northern border to the south, to avoid the malevolent onslaught.
Upon the land, from time to time, large numbers of mortals can be observed migrating southward in the wilderness.
Most of them wore weary expressions on their faces, dust-covered and exhausted, occasionally casting nostalgic glances towards the north. However, the looming menace of malevolence forced these villagers, who had resided on the northern border for generations, to live in fear.
In this manner, the mortals of the northern realm continued their ceaseless migration southward.
Wherever they went, the scenes were filled with throngs of people and a widespread sense of desolation.
As Lu Heng and his companions ventured further north, the sight of ruined walls and desolate towns grew increasingly prevalent.
The monarch of the Youxiong Country intended to relocate all the citizens within a thousand miles south of the country's border, transforming all the towns into deserted ruins, thus denying any opportunity for the malevolent forces to invade the countryside.
Upon reaching the final moments, they could even catch a glimpse of the desolate and eerie sight of ten ghostly empty villages in the wilderness, with not a single living soul to be found within a thousand miles.
However, as the mortals departed, the aura belonging to the cultivators in the air became increasingly potent.
The heavenly glow, whether soaring towards the north or descending from it, weaves incessantly in the celestial realm. Righteous cultivators from the Three Sacred Mountains, the Five Sacred Peaks, and all nations across the Four Seas, have all answered the call of the Heavenly Court, gathering in the northern domain to unite against evil forces and jointly eradicate them.
Like a grand and magnificent spectacle, even when witnessed with their own eyes, Lu Heng and his two companions couldn't help but be deeply moved.
Although the righteous cultivators from the Three Sacred Mountains and Five Sacred Peaks mostly possessed ordinary cultivation levels, they have multiplied in numbers within the wilderness and various sects' gates, thanks to the support and assistance of the Heavenly Court over the past two millennia. The cultivation world's prosperity, compared to the time when Lu Heng departed, has increased manifold.
Now, under the command of the supreme god, cultivators from the Three Sacred Mountains and Five Sacred Peaks have all assembled. Such a magnificent scene evoked a sense of awe in Candle Dragon, who remarked, "Miss Xiao Ai is truly extraordinary… With so many cultivators, it can almost be said that she single-handedly supported and nurtured them. Although their cultivation levels may not be high for the most part, imagine the prosperity that awaits the cultivation world in a few thousand more years, as these mountain and wilderness sects continue to flourish…"
Although the three of them are aware that the Heavenly Court, since its establishment, has continuously supported cultivators in establishing sects and forming mountain gates. However, the vastness of the Celestial Desolation Realm, with numerous cultivators scattered throughout the heavens and earth, makes it difficult to have a tangible experience, despite knowing about many sects and schools.
However, nowadays, the Heavenly Court has issued a decree that directly summons all cultivators from the celestial realm and earthly domain.
The dense and sprawling appearance of cultivators continuously emerging within the heavens and earth finally startled these three reclusive old monsters.
Even the experienced and well-traveled Candle Dragon, who has "died" numerous times, couldn't help but marvel and be astonished upon witnessing the spectacle of such a vast number of cultivators arriving as commanded.
After exchanging sighs for a long moment, they finally turned their gaze towards Lu Heng and said, "Friend Lu Heng, your Xiao Ai truly inherits and surpasses the excellence of you."
"Much stronger than you, hahaha…"
Lu Heng's face turned dark with a wry smile upon hearing the boisterous laughter of his two mischievous comrades.
"These two scoundrels really don't miss any opportunity to tease me," Lu Heng thought with a hint of annoyance.
