Chapter 436: Battle of Northern Continent (Part 1)

The white light arrived with incredible speed. One moment, there was just a fleeting gleam of cold light; the next, it was already hovering before Dongmu Gong and Qiyuan.

The Heavenly Soldiers, whose highest cultivation was only at the True Immortal realm, were completely unable to react.

Dongmu Gong's expression changed drastically. He instinctively grabbed Daoist Qiyuan's arm and fiercely flung him backward.

Daoist Qiyuan let out a yelp, almost being thrown apart.

Simultaneously, a brilliant golden light erupted around Dongmu Gong, revealing half a set of precious armor beneath his daoist robe. Without time to retrieve a magical artifact with his left hand, he directly struck forward with his palm!

Heavenly Court's Dongmu Gong, engaging in a fierce battle!

A green vortex erupted from his palm, unfurling a green light screen. Dongmu Gong's hair and beard fluttered, and his eyes were filled with majesty.

But before this light screen could fully expand, the hovering white light suddenly burst forth. Beams of light pierced through heaven and earth, illuminating the surrounding hundred li with blinding brightness!

Li Changshou's paper effigy, transformed into a flying bird, was still injured by the white light despite being some distance away. His vision was filled with whiteness, and his primordial spirit power was almost dispersed.

He subconsciously made this paper effigy retreat, as two streams of his consciousness had already descended upon the paper effigies within his master's sleeve!

Save Master first!

In a battle of this level, Master would be injured by a mere graze and killed by a touch; even a breath of immortal qi could directly dissolve him.

Thus, amidst this rapidly erupting white light, two streaks of light flew out from Qiyuan's sleeve, as two Golden Immortal realm paper effigies transformed into two middle-aged Heavenly Generals!

Paper Effigy No. 1 grabbed Daoist Qiyuan's shoulder, enveloping him in surging immortal power, and took out a familiar beast-hide bag, preparing for a swift retreat.

Paper Effigy No. 2 directly charged towards Dongmu Gong, swinging a rope formed from immortal power forward, intending to pull Dongmu Gong out from the densest part of the white light.

Li Changshou's reaction at this moment was incredibly swift, but the interval of the white light's eruption was truly too short!

So short that Li Changshou couldn't even cast his most proficient escape technique.

The opponent had planned while he was unprepared, and perhaps due to the influence of the tribulation luck, Li Changshou's usual premonition of danger had no effect this time.

Paper Effigy No. 1 had not yet managed to take Master away, and Paper Effigy No. 2's left fingertip had not yet touched Dongmu Gong's flowing gray hair...

The pervasive white light actually retracted in an instant, and the surrounding hundred li of heaven and earth spun, with yin and yang reversing, turning from extreme brightness to extreme darkness!

Their immortal consciousness was suppressed to within a few dozen zhang around them, as if they had been locked in a dark prison.

This wasn't the end...

Just at the instant of that extremely rapid transition between light and darkness, Li Changshou, through the paper effigy slightly further away, barely saw a silver-white shuttle hovering before Dongmu Gong, from which a circle of water ripples was emanating...

The water ripples spread far and wide.

Silently, that team of Heavenly Soldiers couldn't even let out a single groan. Their bodies collapsed, and their primordial spirits shattered, falling downward like dumplings being dropped, completely lifeless.

Li Changshou, being a professional poison-wielding Qi Refiner, immediately recognized the nature of these water ripples.

The attacker was definitely a master of poison, and this shuttle-shaped spiritual treasure was also quite formidable. From the sneak attack to releasing the poison, it gave the "master" Dongmu Gong, a regular Golden Immortal, absolutely no chance to escape!

Of course, Dongmu Gong couldn't be blamed for this; Li Changshou himself couldn't have done much more. He merely transmitted a message saying, "Pardon my offense," knocked his master unconscious, and casually took out a beast-hide spiritual treasure bag, putting Daoist Qiyuan into it and then into his sleeve.

Dongmu Gong let out a muffled groan, his eyes trembled, and black light began to emanate from his entire body.

His protective immortal light couldn't even last for a moment, directly collapsing in the water ripples.

Li Changshou: ...

"Dongmu Gong!"

Paper Effigy No. 2 let out a low cry and quickly stepped forward to support Dongmu Gong's arm.

But with a sizzling sound, the paper effigy's palm was corroded by the black light, revealing the white paper beneath, the wound looking as if it had been scorched.

Li Changshou took out a few detoxification pills, which every Golden Immortal realm paper effigy was equipped with, and stuffed them into the mouth of Dongmu Gong, who was already losing consciousness, to help him resist the potent poison.

From Dongmu Gong's cultivation level, it could be deduced that this nominal second-in-command of the Heavenly Court was genuinely busy with Heavenly Court affairs on a daily basis.

Meanwhile, he observed this "pitch-black" area through the eyes of external Paper Effigy No. 3.

The Heavenly Soldiers who had just been poisoned to death floated in the air after falling a dozen zhang, evidently having encountered an obstacle.

With the help of the detoxification pills, Dongmu Gong barely managed to rouse his spirit, heavily panting.

Li Changshou's two paper effigies, apart from being directly "scorched," were not affected by the potent poison, their eyes wide at this moment.

"Heh, paper figures?"

A genderless, somewhat chilling voice came from beyond this darkness:

"I didn't expect the Water God to have an incarnation here. Today truly brings an unexpected pleasant surprise."

The Water God?

Dongmu Gong was somewhat startled, looking at the two middle-aged Heavenly Generals beside him.

Li Changshou slowly nodded and looked down at the two paper effigies' hands, which were now rotting.

This was the greatest drawback of paper effigies: once their protective immortal power was broken, their "true" lives were as fragile as paper.

Based on the paper effigies' condition, Li Changshou could also deduce that the poison used by the opponent was not directly targeting the primordial spirit.

Master had been safely, albeit roughly, protected. The two paper effigies, transformed into Heavenly Generals, stood one on each side of Dongmu Gong, preparing for their next offensive.

All sorts of dangers lurked around them. The opponent had not yet truly revealed themselves, which instead put immense pressure on their side.

To buy time, Li Changshou also revealed a small trump card: the two paper effigies' auras were connected, and their expressions were completely identical.

The opponent clearly hesitated.

Two Golden Cores within his body lightly hummed. Li Changshou's two paper effigies actively released their imposing aura, their expressions incredibly calm.

They had to buy time now.

Just as the opponent launched their attack, Li Changshou's main body was already rushing towards this location, bringing along Old Man Pagoda and the Qiankun Ruler, which he hadn't returned.

The ambush site was on the edge of the East Victory Divine Continent, not too far from Immortal Ascension Sect. With Li Changshou's escape techniques, he would only need the two Golden Immortal realm paper effigies to delay for a moment, and he could...

Suddenly, a thunderous tiger roar was heard. The surrounding heaven and earth trembled slightly as a massive entity rapidly approached from above Li Changshou and Dongmu Gong's heads, and from beneath their feet!

It seemed to be a giant tiger mouth.

No matter how dangerous the surroundings were now, they could not sit idly by and await death!

Li Changshou's two paper effigies erupted with brilliant golden light, their immortal power seemingly surging directly forward.

In the darkness, a slender figure flashed past and immediately retreated, clearly unwilling to directly face Li Changshou's powerful strike!

It happened in a flash.

Li Changshou let out a low cry, changed his attack, and simultaneously grabbed the already heavily wounded Dongmu Gong on both sides, who hadn't even fought yet. His figure transformed into a ball of golden light and shot off in a random direction...

If not now, when would they escape!

But as soon as Li Changshou had escaped a few dozen zhang, he felt that the heaven and earth ahead were sealed, and his golden light was blocked for an instant.

It was this crucial instant. Li Changshou, having no spiritual treasures in hand, couldn't break through. He tried to activate his Qiankun escape technique, but the dao rhythm couldn't unfold before the two huge shadows above and below directly closed, enveloping them.

Heaven and earth were completely sealed, and Li Changshou's connection with his two paper effigies was almost completely severed!

Li Changshou could vaguely see through Paper Effigy No. 3, which was further away:

A double-winged, three-headed white tiger, hundreds of zhang long, used its left head to swallow his two paper effigies, Dongmu Gong, and his master in the bag, in one gulp!

A vast and tyrannical pressure spread out from around this double-winged, three-headed white tiger. This white tiger was like the king of this realm, and its right tiger head tilted back and let out a roar, its killing intent chilling for ten thousand li.

Truly, they had entered the tiger's mouth.

Just at this moment!

Whoosh—

That streak of silvery-white light reappeared.

Li Changshou's paper effigy that followed his master only possessed the strength equivalent to a late-stage Heavenly Immortal.

At this moment, letting this paper effigy face the silver shuttle, Li Changshou had no delusion of a smooth escape. Instead, he seized the instant the silver shuttle attacked, fully unleashing an escape technique to retreat, gaining himself...

The time to utter a sentence.

"If you harm either of them, I will annihilate your descendants for nine generations!"

With a soft pop, this paper effigy was directly pierced by the silver shuttle, severing its connection with Li Changshou's consciousness.

'Master.'

Within the earth, Li Changshou's main body, like flowing quicksand, was rapidly traveling.

Li Changshou's consciousness still maintained a faint connection with the two Golden Immortal realm paper effigies. He could hear Dongmu Gong's pained groans as the poison took effect and could feel his master's slight movements within the bag.

Their current location was to the northwest, and the distance was constantly shrinking. However, the cultivation realm of that double-winged, three-headed white tiger was quite profound; even flying at full speed, Li Changshou couldn't immediately catch up.

The Qiankun Ruler in his hand emitted bursts of booming sounds. He alternately employed Earth Escape and Qiankun Escape techniques, frantically pursuing them within the earth.

In his eyes, streaks of water-blue light bloomed.

What this group of demon cultivators aimed to deal with today was Dongmu Gong!

There must be traitors within the Heavenly Court who exposed Dongmu Gong's whereabouts.

At this moment, with the Great Tribulation's karma descending and divination methods being ineffective, if not for a traitor tipping them off...

But the Heavenly Court was so vast, even a single Heavenly Soldier could have done this.

Li Changshou now understood where today's events originated. Just like the rumors that appeared in the Heavenly Court a few years ago, the demon race had identified Dongmu Gong as the Heavenly Court's weak point.

Dongmu Gong was a second-rank righteous god, known as the 'Head of Male Immortals', and when he was appointed to this position, he was considered the second-in-command of the Heavenly Court.

If the demon race coerced Dongmu Gong and forced the Heavenly Court to yield, the Heavenly Court would fall into a dilemma.

Whether they ignored Dongmu Gong and sent out all forces, or considered Dongmu Gong and agreed to the demon race's terms, both outcomes would satisfy the demon race's intentions.

If Dongmu Gong were used as their leverage, the Heavenly Court's dignity would be completely lost, forcing them to send troops even if they didn't want to...

But dispatching troops from the Heavenly Court at this moment was clearly useless. Not to mention that most Heavenly Court soldiers only had True Immortal cultivation; facing such a great demon, the opponent could swallow tens of thousands of Heavenly Soldiers and Generals in one gulp.

Moving troops from the Heavenly Court, Dragon Palace, and other places, there simply wasn't enough time!

He must rescue Master and Dongmu Gong in the shortest possible time!

Ask others for help?

The first person Li Changshou thought of was his teacher, but his teacher was not in the Five Continents at this moment!

Zhao Gongming, Fairy Yunxiao...

The tribulation luck was right above them. Should he really let them enter the tribulation luck and become entangled in the karma of a great tribulation they might otherwise avoid?

Catch up. As long as he could catch up, he could rescue Master and Dongmu Gong.

Escape techniques, full power!

Li Changshou's entire body glowed with water-blue light, immortal power surging madly as he left trails of earth veins behind him.

Lu Ya!

Western Buddhism!

Calm down, he must remain calm at this moment.

Master's involvement in Dongmu Gong's affair was purely accidental. The opponent wanted to use Dongmu Gong as leverage, so they would certainly not directly kill him.

By the same logic, Master was also temporarily safe.

Li Changshou suppressed the urge to curse, slapped himself, and forced himself to calm down, constantly pondering methods of rescue.

Although he was anxious at this moment, he still didn't forget to disguise himself, simply transforming into his usual young spellcaster appearance.

In the underground secret chamber of Little Qiong Peak, one of Li Changshou's paper effigies knelt before the Saint's portrait, but the Saint's portrait showed no reaction...

Did the Saint Lord mean that Dongmu Gong was meant to enter the tribulation this way?

Li Changshou naturally hadn't forgotten that Dongmu Gong was fated to encounter a death tribulation; otherwise, how could there be the future Pure Yang Sword Immortal Lu Dongbin?

But Dongmu Gong's tribulation colliding with the Investiture of Gods Tribulation also dragged his master into the calamity.

Master, he...

He was merely a turbid immortal who only reached the True Immortal realm by relying on peaches of immortality, his true strength utterly deplorable!

It would be good enough for him to simply enjoy the rest of his lifespan; why should he bear such a heavy burden that a turbid immortal like Master could not endure?

The great demon who attacked today, even if they merely blew a breath, Master would be reduced to dust!

Precisely for this reason, the rescue difficulty was extraordinarily immense.

At Black Pool Peak, Bai Ze, who received the voice transmission, immediately activated his divine ability. Transforming into a black light, he rushed out of Black Pool Peak's grand formation and Immortal Ascension Sect's mountain-protecting formation, chasing towards the direction Li Changshou had provided...

Bai Ze's escape divine ability was also quite limited; although flying with his true form was quite graceful, its aesthetic appeal was greater than its speed, which was merely satisfactory.

On the other side, Li Changshou had rushed an unknown distance through the earth...

His mind suddenly trembled, and he realized he was already underground, having rushed ahead of his two paper effigies!

Divine light condensed in Li Changshou's eyes. His figure burst out from underground, the Qiankun Ruler in his hand flashing brightly. With a whoosh, he vanished from the surface, rushing into the pervasive dense fog...

This was...

The Northern Continent's Miasma Clouds!

During this pursuit, he had unknowingly rushed into the heart of the North Kuru Continent.

What made Li Changshou's heart sink was...

Previously, he had fully activated his escape technique, so his immortal consciousness couldn't extend too far.

Now that his immortal consciousness spread out, he actually detected over a dozen imposing presences lingering in various parts of the clouds, some far, some near, ranging from a thousand to ten thousand li away from this place.

It was obvious: he had run into the lair of powerful demon cultivators this time.

But at this moment, he absolutely couldn't hesitate. Dongmu Gong's and Master's lives were in the mouth of that demon tiger. Li Changshou's figure rapidly flashed, moving towards the thick gray-green clouds ahead and the increasingly dense, massive shadow within them.

Sharp whistles, explosive roars!

Heaven and earth vibrated, the clouds dispersed!

First, a chilling snort, then a burst of intense light that turned into a pitch-black cage. A tiger roar shook the heavens, and exploding masses of clouds were swept into the sky by violent winds!

In a flash, beside the massive three-headed, two-winged demon tiger, two figures rapidly exchanged blows, leaving streaks of afterimages...

The demon tiger's left head was tightly closed, while its two other heads spewed forth ice-blue flames filling the sky, and streaks of golden light shot out from its four tiger eyes. Yet they couldn't keep up with Li Changshou's constantly flickering figure.