Such severe injuries would have killed an ordinary person within seconds.

Yet Mo Mo, though collapsed, still forced himself to rise to one knee, struggling to stay upright.

“Sometimes, it’s less painful not to resist… Just finish him off,” Lai Caisheng said casually, gesturing with his hand. Miss Gong stepped forward to stand before Mo Mo.

She didn’t intend to say anything—just quietly raised her palm. But Mo Mo wasn’t done struggling.

“Your boss could’ve killed me earlier with just a bit more force, but he didn’t. Want to know why?” Mo Mo said hoarsely.

Miss Gong frowned. Behind her, Lai Caisheng was checking on the 71st generation of Heavenly Heart but slightly tilted his head at the words.

“He can’t kill anyone,” Mo Mo coughed blood. “If he kills, he breaks his cultivation.”

Whether it was bluff or truth, it worked. Miss Gong hesitated and paused.

Even Lai Caisheng turned slowly, his eyes locking on Mo Mo in silence. “You… know?”

“Bodhi Sanskrit Chant… That’s the name of the cultivation technique, isn’t it?” Mo Mo forced himself upright, swaying a bit before steadying. “When the new nation was founded, the true Buddhist sects were purged by the Daoist sects. Most Buddhist arts were wiped out… but there was a mysterious one called the Bodhi Sanskrit Chant. It allows the accumulation of cultivation across lifetimes—but it’s slow and must begin from scratch each time. However, your Plain-Clothed Dao has time-stealing techniques. I figure you used reincarnation to practice it backwards, lifetime after lifetime. Once you finished cycling through, all your cultivation returned to this life—completing the hardest part of it.”

Lai Caisheng remained silent, just staring at him.

“It’s not the strongest technique, but if you accumulate ten lifetimes of power, no one could rival your cultivation… Too bad it has a fatal flaw: you can’t kill. Killing violates the Buddhist essence of the technique. The moment you do, all your lifetimes of cultivation collapse.”

Lai Caisheng narrowed his eyes, still composed. “Did he tell you?”

“No,” Mo Mo smiled faintly. “You told me… during the cycle of reincarnation.”

A flicker of surprise broke through Lai Caisheng’s expression—and in that moment of distraction, thick fog erupted around them.

It surged in an instant and dispersed just as quickly—yet in that moment, Mo Mo had disappeared.

“I’ll go after him! He’s injured and can’t get far!” Miss Gong offered quickly.

“No need,” Lai Caisheng said with a shake of his head. “This one has the aura of someone who survives great calamities. If he escaped, it means fate hasn’t given up on him. Chasing him may only deepen his blessings, maybe even at your expense.”

“But… what if he returns stronger and intervenes again?” Miss Gong hesitated.

“His meridians are shattered. Unless he meets a celestial immortal, he’s done. And if he does… then it might be worth it just to see.” Lai Caisheng changed the subject. “Go bring out Du Lin… Gongsun Shiyu’s role as a vessel is nearly complete.”

———

Mo Mo hadn’t gone far. Even reaching this point had been a struggle. With his meridians severed, he couldn’t gather spiritual energy. What little he had left was drained creating that escape fog.

He couldn’t even suppress his internal bleeding anymore. Signs of death were already surfacing.

No amount of mental clarity could help—without a body, the mind was powerless. Unless he planned to die and become a ghost cultivator.

Just like Xiao Shengmo, the Ghost City Lord of Fengdu City.

He finally collapsed to the ground, smiling bitterly as he coughed up blood. “Dragon-Tiger Mountain’s Heavenly Master becoming a ghost cultivator… Master, what do I do now? Keep catching ghosts? I’m probably gonna send you to the grave early from the stress… cough cough…”

Mo Mo closed his eyes slowly. Consciousness fading.

“Boss, why didn’t this guy come find you?” a voice said casually.

His face was poked by a twig—Nero squatting nearby, glancing back.

“He didn’t want to. That’s normal,” Luo Qiu said calmly as he approached. “You used to come and go as you pleased too. And besides… he already had a backup plan.”

“What kind of backup plan?” Nero blinked.

“Daoist arts in the Divine Land can be strange. Resurrection isn’t possible, but returning to life is.” Luo Qiu smiled faintly.

“You mean… he dies on purpose, then comes back to life?” Nero’s jaw dropped. “That’s a thing?!”

“Dragon-Tiger Mountain’s sect has always dealt with life and death. Not surprising. But… I’m afraid his plan’s about to fail. Step back a little.”

Nero didn’t quite understand but sensed danger instinctively.

She quickly dropped the twig and retreated beside Luo Qiu—then further behind him.

Luo Qiu glanced at her in surprise.

Miss Nero grinned, “I remember! Maid rules! When danger strikes, shield the boss… But you’re stronger, so once I’m as strong as you, I’ll… protect you instead! Boss, look!”

“I won’t raise you for nothing,” Luo Qiu replied, but still looked back in the direction she pointed.

A golden light began to surge from Mo Mo’s body, spreading onto the ground and rippling outward. When it reached Luo Qiu’s feet, the ripple veered away before continuing farther.

But wherever the golden light touched—everything died.

Grass withered. Trees shriveled.

Within moments, all plant life within a hundred meters died. Then two hundred. Three. A thousand.

The entire forest was flattened into a dead zone, and Mo Mo’s face regained color as blood returned to his skin.

“Boss, this Justice Bro has a trick like that?” Nero exclaimed. “He’s absorbing life force from around him to heal?! That’s just like some Divine General I met in Micheal’s place… Wait—doesn’t that mean this guy has unlimited lifespan and can farm here forever?!”

“Only limited lifespan can be traded. Stolen life like this just depreciates in value,” Luo Qiu said plainly. “Besides, it’s not even truly his power. Whether he can keep it later is another question. Anyway… he’s fine now. Let’s go. Things are about to begin over there.”

As Luo Qiu turned to leave, a straight path formed on the ground bathed in golden light. Nero stuck out her tongue, then quickly tiptoed after her boss. “Next time, I’ll definitely block in front of you! I’m serious! Boss, you believe me, right?!”

In the heart of the dead zone, Mo Mo lay silently on the ground.

The rippling golden light gradually receded and condensed into a cocoon of light, wrapping around him completely… Eventually, the glow dimmed, visibly weakened.

Finally, the light faded away, leaving only a faint trace that slowly flowed back into Mo Mo’s body.

One of his fingers twitched slightly, but he didn’t wake up.

……

……

Time passed, and night fell.

A large section of the thick fog had cleared around the Mount Tai’s Investiture and Sacrifice Ritual site. Under the clear, silver moonlight, everything was bathed in quiet stillness.

But now was not the time to enjoy the serenity of nature.

Because too many beings far beyond mortal limits had gathered here.

Figures surged up the stairway to the heavens, one after another, at great speed… Leading them were the Firecloud Evil God, Daoist Baijie, and Qu Xinghe along with high-ranking members of the Demon Clan.

“Evil God, never thought I’d be fighting alongside you,” Daoist Baijie said with some emotion as they looked toward the top of the steps.

Back in the day, this battle maniac had emerged out of nowhere, challenging everyone in sight—fighting his way from Changbai Mountain in the northeast to the southern islands, then from the East Sea to the western plateau, causing fear throughout Daoist and Demon circles for three straight years.

“Mm. After this is done, I’ll head up to Kunlun next year. Be sure to bring out all your Kunlun treasures then, unlike last time when you were barely holding up.”

“My old bones can’t take it anymore. Go find someone younger. The White Tiger Clan recently produced a Huang Baifu—you haven’t fought him yet, have you?”

A few Demon officials exchanged looks and quietly gave Baijie a thumbs-up behind his back.

I want to cry!

How did this old Taoist manage to match those two walking disasters together? Genius move! Respect!

“I will,” Firecloud Evil God laughed, then with a single step, he shot ahead of everyone, becoming the first to reach the top of the staircase.

“71st Generation of Heavenly Heart—get out here and die!! Your grandpa Firecloud’s hands are itching tonight! Just the right time for some warm-up!”

His shout, backed by overwhelming power, echoed through the surrounding mountains like thunder. Many ascending cultivators had to cover their ears, feeling their scalps go numb.

But when the others finally reached the Investiture and Sacrifice Ritual Platform, they found it empty. Only decorative lights, installed for ceremonial purposes, remained lit.

“No one’s here? Is your intel wrong?” Cang Jinshui frowned, looking directly at Yan Xiaoxi, who was in charge of this operation.

“Everyone, stay calm,” Yan Xiaoxi said seriously, surveying the area. “We all know how dangerous the Plain-Clothed Dao and Heavenly Heart can be. This silence is eerie—be on guard for traps!”

No sooner had he spoken than a figure descended from the sky, landing atop the massive stone monument on the platform.

“The Daoists, Four Celestial Spirits, the Management Bureau… even the new nation’s Four National Heroes are here. Quite the lineup. You all could raze a small country in one night.”

The figure wore black robes and a bronze mask—but surprisingly, one of his hands was severed at the wrist.

His voice echoed all around—not through spiritual or demonic energy, but with the vibration of martial true force. As a martial cultivator, Firecloud Evil God recognized the power instantly.

“Not bad,” Firecloud Evil God narrowed his eyes and soared upward. “So Heavenly Heart’s really something. Not only did they round up all the old freaks, now even martial artists are joining? Spiritual energy means nothing to you, huh?!”

“No rush, Evil God. I’ve arranged an opponent for you,” the masked man said, waving his hand.

Instantly, a figure burst from the ground below and slammed into Firecloud Evil God midair!

Their fists collided with a deafening boom, matching blow for blow before both fell back to the ground.

“Such strong demonic energy…” Firecloud Evil God frowned.

The newcomer was tall and burly, also masked, yet he alone blocked the path of the Daoist, Demon, and Bureau forces without yielding any pressure.

But at that moment, Cang Jinshui—the current patriarch of the Azure Dragon Clan—visibly tensed.

Noticing this, Qu Xinghe leaned in and whispered, “What’s wrong?”

“N-Nothing,” Cang Jinshui replied hastily, shaking his head.

Firecloud Evil God snorted coldly. “With such powerful demonic energy, you’re no nameless nobody. Your grandpa Firecloud never fights cowards who hide behind masks. We’re already here—show yourself! Or are you scared of being laughed at?!”

“Hahaha! Bold words indeed. You’re one of the few powerful humans in this era. Fine—since you ask, I’ll show my face.”

He slowly removed his bronze mask.

A square-faced man with deep, unmoving presence stood like an iron tower. His massive demonic aura engulfed the entire platform.

Cang Jinshui’s face turned deathly pale. He blurted out in shock, “Y-You?! What are you doing here?!”

“Cang Yuntian… it’s you!” Daoist Baijie stared in disbelief. “You… you’ve joined forces with Heavenly Heart?!”

It was none other than Cang Jinshui’s father—the previous patriarch of the Azure Dragon Clan, once publicly shamed and defeated by Huang Baifu!

“My son, come to your father’s side!” Cang Yuntian commanded sternly with a sweep of his sleeve.

Cang Jinshui trembled on the spot… All eyes turned toward him.

You’re my father, but do you have to screw me over like this?! I’m your real son, right?!

(End of Chapter)

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep