"As a Chixiao person? Naturally, I come to pay homage to the Monarch. Hahaha!"
Upon hearing this, Yu Heng, normally steady and serious, suddenly burst into loud laughter before angrily rebuking, "Zhou Taihe, aren't you ashamed to say such words? Since you've already defected to the Immortal Dynasty, what right do you have to call yourself a Chixiao person!"
"I, Zhou Taihe, hail from the Crimson-Letter Sect, so naturally I am a Chixiao person—at least I once was. Even if I am no longer one in the future, the Monarch will forever be a figure I, Zhou Taihe, revere. What is improper about me paying homage to the Monarch?"
Zhou Taihe appeared composed, his expression unreadable as he lifted his foot to continue up the mountain. "No matter what I, Zhou Taihe, become in the future, I will never forget the Monarch's immense kindness and virtue towards me."
"Words sweeter than a song."
Scar-face Kui had long disliked Zhou Taihe back in the Crimson-Letter Sect days. Now, learning of Zhou Taihe's defection to the Immortal Dynasty, he found him even more grating and naturally showed no courtesy in his speech. He shouted, "Zhou Taihe, since you've already defected to the Immortal Dynasty, why put on this hypocritical act of paying homage to the Monarch? Who are you putting on this show for? For the world to see? What? Afraid people will call you a traitor who betrayed his sect and abandoned righteousness behind your back?"
"Let me tell you, a traitor is a traitor. Even if you kowtow ten thousand times before the Monarch's tombstone today, you'll still be a traitor who betrayed his sect and abandoned righteousness! Today, I, Scar-face Kui, even if I die, will slaughter you pack of traitors for the brothers who died back then, and even more so, for the Monarch!"
Scar-face Kui's words were undeniably harsh.
Zhou Taihe, who had been ascending the mountain, suddenly halted. However, he did not respond, nor did he even turn around.
He remained thus.
But the hundred Scattered Immortals, two hundred Fated Prodigies, and eight hundred Ancient Earth Immortals beside him all stirred with killing intent at that moment, as if a single word from Zhou Taihe would have them tear Scar-face Kui to pieces.
"Dog spawn! I think you've grown tired of living!"
The one who jumped out was Zhou Taihe's second son, Zhou Wansheng.
Earlier, his son Zhou Ting had his Small Mandate seized and remained missing, his fate unknown. The fire of rage had long filled Zhou Wansheng's entire being, yet the matter had been consistently suppressed by Zhou Taihe, leaving him no outlet for his fury. Now, hearing Scar-face Kui insult his father so, Zhou Wansheng could endure it no longer.
However.
Just as he was about to act, he suddenly felt a heavy weight in his heart, knowing his father Zhou Taihe was secretly restraining him again.
"Father! Why..." Zhou Wansheng was furious and exasperated, utterly unable to comprehend why his father Zhou Taihe would tolerate such provocation again and again.
Zhou Taihe did not respond. He still did not turn around, nor did he look back, merely stating indifferently, "Today, I come only to pay homage to the Monarch. For the sake of past sentiments, I have no wish to clash with you. I hope you all know your limits. Also, convey a message for me to Dong Laohu: tell him not to meddle in others' affairs, or he will only bring harm to himself and others."
Before his words faded.
A deep, resonant voice suddenly rang out in the air.
"Those who know me, Dong Laohu, know I've never been one to meddle in others' affairs, nor do I enjoy fighting and killing. If it weren't so, you, Zhou Taihe, wouldn't have lived to this day, let alone risen to prominence in Yanluo Kingdom."
Hmm?
Who was that?
The countless people present had been watching the confrontation between the two Chixiao factions with keen interest. Suddenly hearing this deep, bell-like voice that also claimed to be Dong Laohu?
Could it be...
Just as the crowd was startled and suspicious, a group of over ten people abruptly appeared at the foot of Panlong Mountain.
The leader was a fat man.
A fat man who looked extremely prosperous.
Clad in blue robes, the fat man stood there like a Maitreya Buddha.
Seeing this fat man, the crowd erupted in an uproar. Everyone present recognized him—he was Yanluo's wealthiest man, the famed Black Buddha Lord Dong Laohu.
Black Buddha Lord was undoubtedly a legendary figure in Yanluo Kingdom.
His business empire spanned Yanluo, unmatched by anyone.
As for his cultivation and strength, no one knew.
It was only known that he had been a Nine-Tribulation Scattered Immortal since Ancient Times. As for how many Immortal Tribulations he had weathered in the Present Era, few knew, and no one had ever seen Black Buddha Lord take action.
Not only had no one seen him act in the Present Era.
Even in Ancient Times, few had witnessed him fight, because those who had were all dead—including some Immortals. They weren't necessarily killed directly by Black Buddha Lord; some were smashed to death by him using various strange and bizarre magical treasures, but more were schemed to death by his countless plots and machinations...
The name 'Black Buddha' originated precisely from this.
Dong Laohu appeared harmless on the surface, prosperous like a wealthy nobleman with nothing to do. Combined with his resemblance to Maitreya Buddha and the smile often hanging at the corner of his mouth, only no one knew how many schemes and plots lay hidden behind that smile.
Accompanying Black Buddha Lord were his disciples, including Benlei, the Yanluo General, with Haoyang and Liuyue following behind.
Besides them, a few others were particularly eye-catching.
One among them had a burly, towering frame. Standing there, he resembled a mountain peak, exuding an intense oppressive aura like a demon that had emerged into the world, his murderous aura overwhelming.
That murderous aura was truly overwhelming.
From a distance, many in the crowd could sense the powerful, chilling aura emanating from this burly figure. It was like endless, crashing tidal waves, one after another, suffocating in their intensity.
Who was this man?
Among the spectators gathered at Panlong Mountain's foot were many experienced seniors. At a glance, they recognized this burly figure as none other than the formidable Lord Heishui, who held sway over the Great Northwest.
Incredible!
Had Black Buddha Lord actually brought Lord Heishui here?
When the crowd recognized Lord Heishui, they were even more shocked than when they saw Black Buddha Lord Dong Laohu or even Blackhearted Lord Zhou Taihe. Beyond shock, there was more astonishment.
If one asked who among the Crimson Sky's seventy-two Earth Fiend Lords of old had the highest cultivation and strongest power, perhaps no one could say for sure.
But if one asked who fought most ferociously, who was most savage, who was most insane, probably everyone would say Lord Heishui.
No one knew Lord Heishui's real name, only his childhood nickname: Ergou. It was said that before joining the Crimson-Letter Sect, he had been a bandit chieftain feared throughout the region. Along with Scar-face Kui and some brothers, he made a living by plundering and looting, robbing a small sect one day, a minor clan the next. It wasn't until he encountered the Monarch and joined the Crimson-Letter Sect that Lord Heishui transformed like a carp leaping over the dragon gate. Following the Crimson Sky Monarch, he campaigned north and south, bathed in blood and slaughter, rendering outstanding service. The souls who died beneath his blade were countless.
If those who died at the hands of Black Buddha Lord Dong Laohu in the past were all killed by various treasures and schemes.
Then those souls who perished by Lord Heishui's hand, without exception, were all slain face-to-face!
Back then, among the Crimson Sky Monarch's self-created Nine Unforgiving Slashes, it was this Lord Heishui who comprehended them most deeply. His single blade, the Nine Unforgiving Slashes—any senior who experienced Ancient Times knew exactly how terrifying it was.