Chapter 179: Changing Times

Chapter 179: Upheaval

Both men were severely injured, their faces contorted in agony.

Yet, upon seeing Chou Qianling and Ying Huang, they dared not tarry, attempting to flee instantly.

But Ying Huang was swifter. With a flick of her hand, the Dragon Scale Steel Whip transformed into a binding chain, flying out to ensnare them tightly.

The two stumbled and fell, too weakened to resist further.

Chou Qianling cast a glance at them, a mirthless laugh escaping her. "Two at the Foundation Establishment Realm? Does Sect Leader Xie truly hold the Demon Clan in such low regard?"

She still remembered Xie Yuqing's arrogance, how he had once vowed to make her the leader of a vanquished race. Was his reaction truly this sluggish?

Hearing this, one man trembled in fear, while the other lifted his head, feigning composure as he met Chou Qianling's gaze, threatening, "Accursed demons! How dare you invade Zhongzhou? The Golden Gate Immortal Sect will not let you get away with this!"

Chou Qianling's expression remained impassive, but Ying Huang's eyes darkened.

She subtly raised a finger, and the steel chain around the male cultivator tightened abruptly. With a series of bone-jarring cracks, his body was severed, limbs scattering across the ground.

The other male cultivator was splattered with warm blood, utterly paralyzed by terror.

Chou Qianling's gaze was indifferent as she stated coolly, "Speak. What plans does the Golden Gate Immortal Sect have to deal with the demons?"

Under the crushing pressure, the male cultivator felt his core on the verge of shattering. His body swayed precariously, cold sweat beading on his forehead.

"Demon Lord, please... please spare me! I know nothing... The sect elders merely sent me to investigate what happened in Zhongzhou."

Chou Qianling frowned slightly. So, Xie Yuqing still didn't know they had seized control of Zhongzhou?

"Please, let me go! I swear I won't say a word when I return to the sect. I won't ruin your plans, Demon Lord!"

"No, I want you to report everything about Zhongzhou truthfully," Chou Qianling said coldly.

The male cultivator was stunned. What did she mean? Was she testing him, or...?

Chou Qianling turned to Ying Huang. "Release him. Let him return to the Golden Gate Immortal Sect and tell them that the demons have decided to declare war on the Immortal Clan!"

She lifted her head, the bright sunlight illuminating her face, a resolute gleam flashing in her eyes.

Xie Yuqing, I am ready to harvest your tears of regret.

————

When the male cultivator returned to the Golden Gate Immortal Sect, news that the demons had killed the Lord of Zhongzhou and incited humans to rebel against the Immortal Clan spread like wildfire throughout the sect.

The Sect Leader immediately issued an order to convene a sect assembly.

Three thousand sect cultivators, elders from various peaks, and the three Elder Deacons—Sun Nanshan, Jin Queyun, and Zhu Meizi—gathered in the Shangyang Hall, their emotions running high.

"What? The demons dare to tear up the peace treaty? Has Fen Tian grown tired of living?"

"Demons are vile creatures, unworthy of living in this world. The sect should seize this opportunity to wipe them out!"

"Humans dare to rebel? Without our Immortal Clan, where would they find peace and stability?"

"Do they truly believe that by degenerating into demons, they can rival our ancestors? Preposterous!"

When Chi Jing and Yu Yixian entered the hall, this was the chaotic scene they witnessed.

The humans' dissatisfaction and rebellion had failed to spark any introspection among these cultivators. Perhaps in their eyes, humans were nothing but ants, meant to obediently endure oppression and provide them with spiritual energy.

Wanting to stand on equal footing with the Immortal Clan? Nothing but a pipe dream.

This would only incite their bloodlust. They cared nothing for the growing rift between humans and the Immortal Clan, wanting only to silence anyone who pointed out the flaws.

Chi Jing walked to the central armchair at the head of the hall and sat down, her gaze sweeping over the crowd before settling on the three elders.

"What do you think?"

"Kill them, of course! Not a single demon should be spared!" they declared in unison.

Chi Jing couldn't help but smirk faintly, a hint of mockery flashing in her indifferent eyes. How arrogant. Did they truly believe that, despised by humans as they were, they could defeat Chou Qianling and her demon army? They were nothing but fools blind to the situation.

Still, she was more than happy to watch them dig their own graves.

Just as she was about to speak, a figure in crimson suddenly appeared at the entrance of the Shangyang Hall.

"There's no need to rush in dealing with the demons. Once I ascend to godhood, wiping them out will be as easy as snapping my fingers."

Hearing this, the male cultivators in the hall immediately knew who had arrived—the Grandmaster who had been in seclusion for many years.

Everyone bowed in unison. "Greetings, Grandmaster Gongsun."

The three Elder Deacons also rose abruptly. "Grandmaster... when did you emerge from seclusion?"

Seeing the excitement in Gong Sunxiong's raised eyebrows, Chi Jing knew he had succeeded. She just didn't know whether he had killed the two from the Spirit Sword Sect.

If so, the Spirit Sword Sect would be thrown into chaos, naturally leaving them no mind to interfere in the conflict between the demons and the Golden Gate Immortal Sect. Gong Sunxiong had indeed been a great help.

Gong Sunxiong lifted his chin and strode proudly through the crowd to the front of the hall.

Elder Deacon Sun Nanshan hurried forward, bowing slightly with a face full of respect. "Grandmaster, does what you said earlier mean you are about to break through to the next realm?"

Gong Sunxiong replied with confidence, "Exactly. I have a feeling that once I refine the spiritual energy accumulated across the Nine Provinces over the past sixty years, it will be enough for me to ascend."

Sun Nanshan was taken aback. Sixty years—a full six decades of spiritual energy. Where could they possibly find that for the Grandmaster?

As he pondered this, Gong Sunxiong flipped his palm, and two objects glowing with golden light appeared above it.

The mystical spiritual light radiating from them alone was enough to astonish anyone.

Sun Nanshan looked closely and saw one was a small black tripod cauldron carved with golden SpiritDevouring patterns, and the other was a hollow golden sphere woven from countless heavenly golden threads, with a fierce black beast shadow faintly visible inside.

His pupils contracted sharply. "Aren't these... the SpiritDevouring Cauldron and the SkyDevouring Beast, the treasure artifacts of the Spirit Sword Sect and the Beast Taming Sect?"

Gong Sunxiong weighed the treasures in his hand smugly. "So what if they're treasure artifacts? If I ask to borrow them, would they dare refuse?"

Chi Jing watched coldly for a moment before stepping forward with a smile. "Congratulations, Grandmaster. With these two items, you won't have to worry about lacking spiritual energy for your breakthrough."

Gong Sunxiong looked down at her, arrogance in his eyes. "While I refine the spiritual energy, you will lead the sect members to protect me and assist me in overcoming the tribulation. If you fail this task again, don't expect any mercy!"

Chi Jing lowered her gaze, hiding the icy killing intent in her eyes.

So you want to become a god? Unfortunately, you won't get the chance.

In the original plot, to resist the invading demons, humans willingly offered their spiritual energy to the Immortal Clan, helping Gong Sunxiong ascend to godhood.

What truly enabled Gong Sunxiong to ascend was not abundant spiritual energy, but the power of faith—the prayers of countless people wishing for him to become a god, which opened the gates of divinity for him.

But this time, under Chi Jing's orchestration, the situation was turned completely on its head.

Humanity had seen through the deceit and wickedness of the Immortal Clan and had turned to the demon race. Without the aid of wish power, even if Gong Sunxiong broke through his realm, he would ultimately die during the heavenly tribulation.

So, absorb the spiritual energy as much as you want—the more you absorb, the more the world will despise you, and the sooner your death will come.

Chi Jing looked up, wearing a flawless smile. "Understood, Grandmaster."

Only then did Gong Sunxiong manage a faint look of satisfaction.

The other male cultivators in the hall, hearing that the Grandmaster was about to face the heavenly tribulation to ascend to godhood, grew very excited, feeling a collective pride.

If the Grandmaster could become a god, it would be the greatest honor for our sect!

They immediately put the matters of the Central Region out of their minds. With the Grandmaster here, what was there to fear from the demon race? It was merely letting them have their fun for a few more days.

Only Yu Yixian, standing to the side, wore a heavy expression. Gong Sunxiong wanted sixty years' worth of spiritual energy from the Nine Provinces—such draining the land dry was certainly not a good thing.

But her concern was pointless; she could not stop anything.

Chi Jing watched the faces of the crowd, flushed red with excitement, and the smile on her lips turned cold.

How foolish, unable to see that what Gong Sunxiong was doing was burning their own bridges.

But then again, it was just like the world she had once seen—even the poorest worker would puff out his chest with pride when thinking about his male boss's luxury cars and mansions. [Note 1]

————

Wasting no time, and to prevent any mishaps, after the meeting concluded, Chi Jing led everyone in activating the Sect Protection Formation.

Under the protection of the formation, Gong Sunxiong soared into the air and raised his hand. The crimson Li Fire blossomed in the wind, transforming into an eight-petaled fire lotus.

He sat cross-legged at the center of the lotus, holding the SpiritDevouring Cauldron in his left hand and the SkyDevouring Beast in his right, and began his cultivation.

The SpiritDevouring Cauldron activated, instantly expanding to dozens of feet tall, blocking out the sun and casting a shadow that enveloped the entire main peak of the Golden Gate Immortal Sect.

The cultivators of the Golden Gate Immortal Sect all looked up, watching as the massive cauldron spun rapidly in the air, drawing in all the surrounding spiritual energy.

Suddenly, they found it hard to breathe, like they'd stepped into the demon realm.

But for the sake of the Grandmaster's ascension to godhood, this hardship was still bearable.

No one raised any objections, silently taking out spirit stones and frantically absorbing spiritual energy to ease the feeling.

However, in the next moment, Gong Sunxiong opened the Sky Net Profound Gold Cage, and a beast with a bear's body and a scorpion's tail surged out. Its size rapidly expanded, transforming in an instant into a shadow as massive as a mountain, blotting out the sky.

Before anyone could react, the SkyDevouring Beast raised its enormous tail stinger and struck toward them.

At that moment, the Sky Net Profound Gold Cage glowed brightly, and four illusory golden chains flew out, tightly binding the SkyDevouring Beast. It let out a howl of agony before finally calming down.

Gong Sunxiong pointed into the distance. "Go, the Nine Provinces are full of beings rich in spiritual energy—you may devour them as you please."

The golden chains loosened, and the SkyDevouring Beast abruptly turned its gaze toward the mortal world, its eyes blazing with ferocity. Immediately after, its mountain-like body split apart, transforming into countless black shadows that rained down like a meteor shower, charging toward the populated Nine Provinces.

Only a half-human-sized main body remained before the Sky Net Profound Gold Cage.

The sky above the Nine Provinces instantly darkened, with only the crimson eight-petaled lotus throne still glowing brightly.

The male cultivators of the Golden Gate Immortal Sect watched this awe-inspiring sight, hoping only that Gong Sunxiong would break through soon, allowing them to share in the glory.

————

Meanwhile, across the Nine Provinces, everyone saw the crimson eight-petaled lotus throne suspended in the air and the figure sitting cross-legged within it.

Someone shouted, "It's an immortal! An immortal has manifested!" before dropping to their knees and kowtowing frantically.

But before they could finish two kowtows, the "immortal" released a flood of black demon beasts that charged straight toward them.

In an instant, screams of terror shattered the afternoon calm, and people accustomed to peaceful lives fled in panic.

A man collapsed to the ground in fear as a black shadow rushed toward him, raising its sharp tail stinger.

He recognized this creature—it was the spirit beast the Guardian Sect used to collect spiritual energy from women.

But why was it coming for him?

Before he could figure it out, with a sickening crunch, the tail stinger pierced his neck. His youthful face rapidly withered, becoming incredibly aged.

What the SkyDevouring Beast had devoured was his lifespan.