The moment Peng Demon King's golden killing aura touched that ripple-like fluctuation, it immediately stopped, and then actually reflected back, forming claw shadows that enveloped Peng Demon King himself.
"Heh... Nine-Headed Insect, you're just relying on your physical body. What have you comprehended about witchcraft and supernatural powers? If that's all the strength you have, you should obediently surrender and come with me to the Demon Master's Palace. Perhaps then you'll still have a chance to live!"
In the midst of laughter and conversation, the Roc Demon King opened his eagle beak and swallowed the reflected golden energy, then spat out a golden divine light that transformed into a sharp sword and pierced through the air.
Throughout the entire battle, Peng Demon King fought solely with his own strength, without ever using any magical artifacts. Although the two fought to a standstill, the Nine-Headed Insect, despite using all his skills, was unable to harm Peng Demon King, clearly demonstrating the superiority of his opponent.
It should be noted that Peng Demon King is a disciple of the demon master Kunpeng, and can be considered a high-ranking and wealthy figure in the Three Realms. He must possess many magical treasures, and it is certain that their level is not low.
As for the Nine-Headed Insect, although he possessed the bloodline of the Great Witch Nine Phoenix, the Witch Clan had long since declined, and as a fallen member, he was undoubtedly extremely destitute.
Otherwise, given the Nine-Headed Insect's strength, he wouldn't have married into the family of the Myriad Saints Dragon King of the Azure Wave Pool, and wouldn't have treasured the Buddhist relic of Jisa Kingdom. As for this crescent shovel forged from the remains of the Nine Provinces Cauldron, it's probably the only valuable treasure he can offer.
"Hey."
The nine-headed worm roared to the sky and suddenly transformed into a hundred-foot-tall body with nine ugly and ferocious heads that danced up and down in the north wind.
This fellow is indeed covered in feathers and brocade, his body as fluffy as cotton.
The rough skin on the nine heads was pitted and uneven, with dark red and charred black colors intertwined and reflected each other. The huge eyelids, shimmering with scales, were open, revealing blood-red, lamp-like, cruel and bloodthirsty eyes.
A shout resounds through the sky, like the cry of a crane echoing through the heavens.
Under the deliberate coercion of the Roc Demon King, the true form of the Great Witch Nine Phoenix finally appeared between heaven and earth. The Great Witch Nine Phoenix's form was comparable to the Roc Demon King's golden-winged roc demon form.
Chapter 449 Jiang Liu Makes His Move
Nine-Headed Insect truly lives up to his reputation as a master who managed to escape even when surrounded by Sun Wukong, Erlang Shen, Zhu Bajie, and the Six Sages of Meishan.
After growing nine heads and transforming into the true form of the Great Witch Nine Phoenix, its combat power increased exponentially.
"roar……"
The nine heads exhaled a terrifying aura, enveloping the surrounding void.
Boom!
Amidst the lightning and thunder, the area enveloped by the aura of the Nine-Headed Insect had transformed into a strange realm.
This area was vast; even far from the battlefield, Jiang Liu was enveloped within it. Looking up, he saw that the Nine-Headed Worm had nine heads, each likely possessing a powerful ability, but clearly, it hadn't fully developed the bloodline of the Great Witch Nine Phoenix.
Although the nine roaring heads in the sky were terrifying, only five of them were truly effective; the other four could only be used for melee combat.
These five heads have different effects: one spews out icy breath that turns frozen stones into powder and frozen iron into shavings; another spews out heat waves that melt gold and iron and dissolve everything; another is filled with poisonous gas that even corrodes the space itself, making it hiss; another is accompanied by lightning and thunder, and surging thunderclouds; and another is accompanied by flying sand and stones, and endless gales!
The five forces swept towards the Peng Demon King, and at the same time, the crescent shovel forged from the remains of the Nine Provinces Cauldron transformed into a stream of light and slashed out.
Jiang Liu reached out and touched the five auras surrounding his body. In the blink of an eye, his palm was frozen into an ice sculpture, and then burned to a crisp. A terrifying gale swept in, as if thousands of tiny knives were cutting into his flesh...
"It's truly powerful. If one's physical body isn't at the level of flesh and blood, being enveloped by this domain would surely reduce it to nothingness! However, that Peng Demon King... Alas! In the ancient war between the Lich King and the Demon King, the Twelve Ancestral Witches were incredibly powerful, yet they ultimately lost. Although the Demon Clan didn't gain any advantage either, the Lich King was nearly wiped out, while the Demon Clan remained the protagonist of the world... The Nine-Headed Insect is about to be defeated! In this world, no matter how strong your physical body is, it can't compare to the power of a magical artifact!"
Jiang Liu sighed inwardly. How could a mere ordinary player like Nine-Headed Insect compare to a pay-to-win player like Peng Demon King? Peng Demon King's true form, the Golden-Winged Roc, was in no way weaker than Nine-Headed Insect's Nine-Phoenix bloodline, and he also had a master, the Demon Master Kunpeng.
This is a powerful being of the same level as the Styx Ancestor and Zhen Yuanzi. In the era when witches ruled the earth and demons ruled the heavens, and witches and demons roamed the primordial world, Kunpeng was the demon master of the ancient heavenly court.
Suddenly, the Golden-Winged Roc flapped its wings, and black winds swept across the heavens and earth like knives, with mist swirling around it, and a soft yet domineering power flowing through it.
"My wings, though not as powerful as Kong Xuan's Five-Colored Divine Light, were still forged by the Demon Master from the Taiyin Gale of the Thirty-Three Heavens. Under the Gale, flesh and blood will instantly turn into mincemeat. Unless you achieve the Great Witch Body, otherwise... don't make a single mistake, or I'll cut off all nine of your heads..."
"Buzz"
The void trembled violently, rattling like a tattered rag in the gale, its turbulence unending.
The mountain, which had already been reduced to rubble, roared again, its peaks turning to dust, entirely due to the surging gale. Even the domain formed by the breath exhaled from the five heads of the Nine-Headed Insect was collapsing.
This Taiyin Gangfeng is both the Peng Demon King's innate divine power and a magical treasure. Like Kong Xuan's Five-Colored Divine Light, it is forged by refining one's own wings and using countless innate and acquired resources, thus possessing supreme power.
Kong Xuan dedicated his entire life to cultivating the Five-Colored Divine Light, firstly because it was truly terrifying, capable of sweeping away anything. These five tiny feathers felt as heavy as ancient mountains, requiring immense magical power to move. Divided according to the five elements, the Five-Colored Divine Light could capture anything with a single sweep. During the Investiture of the Gods, Kong Xuan used this treasure to sweep even the sage Zhunti into it, but unfortunately, his own magical power and cultivation were far inferior to Zhunti's, allowing Zhunti to escape and be subdued by him…
Such power is not something that is innate, but rather the result of integrating all the resources one has acquired into it, which is how the power of the Five-Colored Divine Light was achieved.
The Peng Demon King's Taiyin Gale was also imitating Kong Xuan's Five-Colored Divine Light. With a single wave, it unleashed the Taiyin Gale from the Thirty-Three Heavens, possessing boundless power.
If judged by the level of magical treasures, Peng Demon King's wings, which can generate the Taiyin Gang Wind, are enough to be ranked among the acquired treasures.
As soon as the Taiyin Gale arose, one of the nine-headed worm's heads fell off. Before it even hit the ground, it was shredded into minced meat by the black wind!
"What a disaster!" The Nine-Headed Insect returned, wielding its crescent shovel. With a single swing, it blocked the incoming gale, producing a crisp collision sound.
"Eh! Your weapon isn't bad, it actually managed to block my Taiyin Gale..." The Peng Demon King's pupils shrank into golden rings as he continued to attack with the Taiyin Gale while staring at the crescent shovel. He laughed, "So it was forged from that thing. No wonder it's so powerful and incredibly sturdy... Hahahaha... Don't think you're the only one with this treasure who doesn't have one! Although this remnant can't be refined, it's excellent for forging into a weapon. Within the Three Realms, weapons forged from the Nine Provinces Cauldrons are practically the most top-tier weapons..."
As he spoke, the Roc Demon King opened his mouth and spat out a large bronze sword that appeared between heaven and earth.
"The remains of the Nine Provinces Cauldron obtained by the Demon Master Kunpeng..."
Jiang Liu's heart pounded violently. The crescent shovel of the Nine-Headed Insect was forged from the remains of a cauldron, and the greatsword that the Roc Demon King took out was also a remains of a cauldron.
"I searched high and low without finding it, but it came to me effortlessly. With the remains of the two cauldrons, I will possess five... Demon Master Kunpeng, a half-saint powerhouse! However... the nine cauldrons are the supreme treasure of my human race, and also essential for my attainment of the Dao. I must obtain them, the sooner the better..."
Just as Jiang Liu was deep in thought, Peng Demon King had already engaged in battle with the Nine-Headed Insect with his greatsword. In an instant, the greatsword struck one of the Nine-Headed Insect's heads, and blood splattered everywhere. The head slumped limply onto the Nine-Headed Insect's shoulder.
Under such intense pain, the nine-headed worm seemed to go mad, constantly shaking its body, and its five heads spewing out all sorts of supernatural powers.
The Taiyin Gale swept through, and the true form of the Peng Demon King, as if cast in gold, passed through the flames, cold currents, and poisonous water. With another slash, he struck the Nine-Headed Insect's neck, leaving bloody wounds on its neck.
Seeing that the Nine-Headed Insect was about to be defeated, Jiang Liu knew that he had to take action. The remnant of the Nine Provinces Cauldron, which belonged to the Peng Demon King, was definitely not easy to obtain. If he missed this opportunity, there would be no next time.
With this thought in mind, he no longer hesitated and acted decisively.
Jiang Liu also knew that he only had one chance to make a move. The Peng Demon King's Taiyin Gang Wind was extremely terrifying. If he could not suppress it, as long as he regained his senses, he would be invincible with the Taiyin Gang Wind protecting him.
Moreover, the speed of the Roc is definitely among the top three in the Three Realms, even if it possesses Sun Wukong's somersault cloud, it would be of no use in escaping.
"town!"
The bronze cauldron pressed down on Jiang Liu's head. After devouring the three Nine Provinces Cauldrons, the cauldron's power became increasingly vast. The earth's vein dragon energy gathered, and this world was on the verge of collapse. An invisible pressure swept out, and the sun, moon, and stars seemed to be suppressed. Everything trembled under the bronze cauldron, and even the all-consuming Taiyin Gang Wind paused slightly.
"bundle!"
With a flick of his finger at Peng Demon King, and in the blink of an eye, the Acquired Treasure Immortal Binding Rope, like a dragon soaring, coiled around him. There was not a trace of worldly concern; it was all ordinary things and ordinary methods, like the Buddha offering a flower, natural and without a trace of hostility.
The bronze tripod is a treasure of merit, while the Immortal-Binding Rope is a primordial treasure; one suppresses, the other binds.
Next, Jiang Liu dared not be careless at all, and threw a small ball at Peng Demon King.
The "Death Star" of the acquired spiritual treasures was completely disregarded in terms of potential damage. Compared to the Nine Cauldrons, the "Death Star" was nothing at all.
Then, with a twist of his fist, he smashed it toward the Peng Demon King's head. Silently, a fist appeared in the Peng Demon King's eyes.
Chapter 450 How Heavy is the Tripod?
As Jiang Liu stepped onto the battlefield, Yang Chan's heart skipped a beat. Although she could hardly estimate Jiang Liu's strength, she knew he had not reached the pinnacle of the Void Reversal stage and comprehended the Profound Immortal Dao Fruit.
This Peng Demon King has been a Xuanxian for hundreds of years.
Five hundred years ago, among the six great demons who became sworn brothers with Sun Wukong, Peng Demon King ranked third and Sun Wukong ranked last, which shows how powerful they were.
There is an insurmountable gap between celestial immortals and mystical immortals.
How to fight?
Now, Jiang Liu launched an attack on her, fighting a Xuanxian with the cultivation of a Celestial Immortal, and not just any Celestial Immortal, but also the renowned Peng Demon King. Yang Chan felt that she really shouldn't have gotten involved in this mess.
Although he was not afraid because of the Lotus Lantern, the Demon King Peng was backed by the Demon Master's Palace, and the Demon Master Kunpeng was a primordial demon god of chaos with half-saint cultivation.
"I can only save you temporarily. If the Demon Master's Palace comes after you, there's really nothing I can do!"
Within the Three Realms, although the Heavenly Court is aloof and controls the workings of the Heavenly Dao, it is not considered a top-tier power. Although the Third Holy Mother is of noble birth in the Three Realms, in terms of backing, she is only on par with the Roc Demon King. If it weren't for the favor of the Goddess Nuwa, who bestowed upon her the Lotus Lantern, she might even be slightly inferior.
The Western Paradise Buddhist sect, the Blood Sea Asura, the Demon Master's Palace, and the Twelve Golden Immortals of the Chan Sect—these are the forces that truly rule the Three Realms. Even the once glorious Jie Sect has not declined much, though it no longer possesses the grandeur of ten thousand immortals paying homage in its heyday.
Although the demon race is now revered by the Demon Master's Palace, it is not a monolithic entity. There is another demon race that is not under the rule of Demon Master Kunpeng. As the last three-legged golden crow, Lu Ya Dao Ren does not have a harmonious relationship with Demon Master Kunpeng.
In the ancient war between the Lich King and the Demon King, both sides fought with all their might, resulting in their defeat. The Ancestral Witches then self-destructed, perishing together with Donghuang Taiyi, Dijun, and others. Among them, the Demon Master Kunpeng not only did not exert his full strength, but after the deaths of Donghuang Taiyi and Dijun, he also stole the Hetu and Luoshu and fled.
Given this grudge, there is naturally no possibility of reconciliation between Lu Ya Daoist and Demon Master Kunpeng. Lu Ya's strength may not be as great as Demon Master Kunpeng's, but he is not to be underestimated in the Three Realms. In the Investiture of the Gods, he killed Zhao Gongming with the Seven Arrows of Nailhead Curse. Throughout the entire Investiture of the Gods war, he had almost no record of losing a battle.
He single-handedly broke through the Blazing Flame Formation of the Ten Deadly Formations, making him the only one to break through one of the Ten Deadly Formations without needing cannon fodder. Later, he was captured by the Three Immortal Sisters' Hunyuan Golden Bucket, but after his Niwan Palace was sealed, he still broke the seal and escaped in a flash of light. This demonstrates that Lu Ya Dao Ren's strength far surpasses that of all the immortals of the Chan Sect.
Although he suffered some losses in the battle against Kong Xuan, he was still able to escape in a rainbow. Moreover, the reason for his two failures was that he failed to use his magic weapon, the Immortal-Slaying Flying Knife, in time.
After the Investiture of the Gods, Lu Ya never appeared again, but a new Zen Master named Wuchao appeared in the Three Realms.
It is evident that his strength has advanced once again, having severed one of his corpses and stepped into the realm of the Great Luo Golden Immortal.
In Buddhism, the two saints of the Western Sect attained sainthood through the merit of establishing the sect, but they were tricked by Laozi and Yuanshi Tianzun, who stole the Buddhist tradition and the great merit of spreading the sect.
Lao Tzu went west out of Hangu Pass and led the Daoist Duobao to convert the barbarians into Buddhas. The Daoist Duobao transformed into Shakyamuni Buddha and was born in the central Saha world. He revered Amitabha Buddha of the Western Paradise as his teacher, expounded Hinayana Buddhism, and spread its teachings in the human world.
Although the Twelve Golden Immortals of the Chan Sect had their three flowers on their heads removed in the Hunyuan Golden Cauldron, greatly diminishing their cultivation, Julusun, Manjushri, Samantabhadra, and Cihang Daoren, among the Twelve Golden Immortals, abandoned Taoism for Buddhism. Not only did they recover their cultivation over several hundred years, but they also gained control of a portion of Buddhism for the Chan Sect. In addition, the Chan Sect's vice leader, Randeng Daoren, also went to Buddhism to become a past Buddha, so most of Buddhism naturally fell into the hands of the Chan Sect.
Even if Daoist Duobao were to transform into the Buddha and become the leader of Buddhism, he would still be a lonely figure!
Most of the disciples of the Jie Sect were included in the Investiture of the Gods and could not escape. The only one left was the Holy Mother Wudang, who worked tirelessly for the Jie Sect. The great demons of the Jie Sect who were taken away also had their cultivation imprisoned and their will extinguished, becoming the mounts of Bodhisattvas and Taoists.
As for the true successors of the two Western Saints, one went to hell, vowing not to become a Buddha until hell was empty, and single-handedly resisted the invasion of the Asuras in the sea of blood; the other is the future Buddha.
Within the Three Realms, under the suppression of the Heavenly Dao after Hongjun Laozu merged with the Dao, things appeared calm on the surface, but beneath the surface, undercurrents were surging. Now that the "one that has escaped" has been sensed by the Sages outside the Thirty-Three Heavens, this calm is no more, and a monstrous wave has begun to brew.
Wen Zhong's entry into Qianlong Temple was just the prelude; the destruction of Bibo Pool by Peng Demon King was only the beginning. Great chaos was brewing, and a great calamity was about to befall them. The root of all this lay with Jiang Liu.
His departure from Qianlong Temple and the land of Kyushu this time was because he felt that he could not escape, and that hiding would ultimately be futile.
Only by facing it bravely can we perhaps find a glimmer of hope.
Only by obtaining the ginseng fruit can one step into a realm of endless transformations; only by obtaining the Nine Provinces Cauldron can one truly take control of one's own destiny.
Jiang Liu no longer held back with this punch.
Boom!
What appears to be an ordinary punch actually carries a sound that is inaudible to ordinary people in the void—this is the sound of the Great Dao.
Before the fist even arrived, the intent of the fist had already penetrated the body, so sharp it seemed to tear the sky apart. Several forces were frantically tearing at Peng Demon King's body and soul.
This seemingly insignificant punching force is both soft and hard, like a surging wave, enveloping and wrapping around.
In an instant, the body of the Great Sage Peng Demon King moved in the void. His physical body had been forged and tempered a hundred times, and his divine soul was even more refined. He had already comprehended the Dao Fruit of the Profound Immortal.
Under the perception of his primordial spirit, a giant fist pierced through the void, its target being to strike his brow! He could feel the power of this punch; if it landed solidly and exploded, the entire Azure Wave Pool would be obliterated!