CHAPTER 91: CHAPTER 89 DIMENSIONAL STRIKE [FIVE UPDATES REQUEST FOR FIRST SUBSCRIPTION!]

Why can my own Star God’s bloodline absorb the blood of an Evil God?

Wu Wang pondered this for half a month. All the experts had already been deployed in Floating Jade City, yet he still couldn’t figure out the reason.

Previously, Wu Wang had publicly claimed to be researching the blood of an Evil God. This was actually just an excuse for his laziness. Wu Wang’s real method for dealing with the Ten Evils Hall lay in the Praying Star Technique, which could probe the state of a creature’s Divine Soul.

But when Wu Wang, with an attitude of just giving it a try, began to study the Evil God’s blood, a sudden craving surged within him. A very primal craving. His body seemed to want to absorb this Evil God’s blood, an act that could bring him considerable benefits.

Wu Wang certainly couldn’t directly consume the Evil God’s blood. After all, his Golden Dragon Transformation was still within the realm of looking cool. If he directly swallowed the Evil God’s blood and transformed into something bizarre and grotesque... He guessed his own mother would break his legs.

After carefully sensing for a few days, Wu Wang captured that hint of ’Divine Power’ hidden within the Evil God’s blood and attempted to extract and integrate it into himself. As a result, his Star God’s bloodline grew stronger.

Then, why was this so? What was the essence behind this phenomenon? The Divine Power in the Evil God’s blood came from an Evil God; it shouldn’t share the same origin as his Star God’s bloodline, and the Great Daos they represented were also different.

Over the next ten-odd days, Wu Wang continuously pondered this question and managed to make some headway.

Bloodline suppression.

His inspiration actually came from his encounter with the Evil God Ming Snake. At that time, he had wanted to call upon the power of the Star God’s bloodline but received no response. His body felt as though it were stuck in mud. It seemed like a suppression from the very source of life; his Star God’s bloodline was too weak to contend against the other.

If one were to call the beings of the Hundred Races, who inherited the Essence Blood of Innate Gods, ’Demigods’ or ’Human Gods,’ then there were surely hierarchies among them. Consider a Divine Spirit like the Star God, whose battle prowess ranked in the top three and who monopolized the Northern Wilderness. The Essence Blood gifted by such a being simply couldn’t be compared to that of the Ten Evil Gods, who were mere vassals of the Heaven Palace.

If Wu Wang remembered correctly, the Essence Blood his mother had wheedled—ahem, requested—for him was, in fact, the Star God’s own source Essence Blood.

Recalling carefully, he realized that in his previous battles, every time he struck, the villains from the Ten Evils Hall would react a beat slower. Wu Wang had previously wondered why he had succeeded so smoothly. Now, thinking back, it was because he exerted a certain bloodline suppression effect on the fiends of the Ten Evils Hall.

And it was precisely for this reason that the few drops of Evil God’s blood he had obtained were so easily absorbed by him, along with the Divine Power hidden within.

Then, if I had more of this Evil God’s blood, could my Star God’s bloodline advance even further? If my Star God’s bloodline matured sufficiently, could I face an Evil God in direct combat?

This thought truly invigorated Wu Wang. It proved that his earlier hesitation and indecision, his choice not to directly pursue the Dao of Fire, was indeed not a mistake.

The Ten Evils Hall brings calamity to the Human race. So, if I deal with the Ten Evils Hall and happen to gain some benefits for myself in the process, what’s wrong with that?

Initially, Wu Wang had simply wanted to plunder some resources from the Ten Evils Hall to compensate for his recent huge losses. Now, however, he suddenly found himself fully motivated to learn more about and get in touch with the Ten Evils Hall, preferably to engage in a deep exchange. After all, they were all, more or less, Demigod bodies; they should have common topics to discuss, right?

"TSK TSK, HAHA, HAHAHA HAHAHA!"

Lin Suqing, meditating on the windowsill not far away, was jolted awake. Looking at the Young Master laughing uproariously, she felt a little timid.

She glanced at the outer defensive formations and whispered, "Young Master, didn’t you say we were going to make our move in a few days? Everyone has gone to Floating Jade City. Why haven’t we left yet?"

"What’s the rush?" Wu Wang chuckled. "Leave the professional work to the professionals. I’m just responsible for coming up with ideas and reaping the benefits."

Lin Suqing whispered, "But I feel, Young Master, that you’re quite skilled at scheming and ambushing."

"Hmm?"

"I mean, you’re resourceful and possess great foresight!"

Wu Wang glared at her, feeling that this older woman had been getting increasingly bold lately. He really needed to find an opportunity to discipline her properly, just like last time—but forget it. It was too easy to touch upon his own sorrows.

Wu Wang said, "To those experts, who am I? Just a mid-stage Nascent Soul Realm cultivator who has recently made some minor contributions. How could I command them? Although the Human Domain emphasizes rites, righteousness, integrity, and shame, it fundamentally values strength. Rather than me commanding those Heavenly Immortals and True Immortals, it would be better to let a few Elders, as well as Ji Mo and Lin Qi, direct things covertly."

Lin Suqing whispered, "Are Ji Mo and Lin Qi reliable?"

"They’re alright," Wu Wang said. "Ji Mo lacks strategic depth but has extensive connections and is skilled at interacting with people. His company is quite pleasant. His weakness is that he’s easily swayed by feminine charms."

"Then what about Lin Qi?" Lin Suqing whispered. "I always feel he’s a bit dazed."

"Lin Qi’s situation is more complicated," Wu Wang said, rubbing the bridge of his nose. "He has a lot of potential, excellent aptitude for Cultivation, a close affinity with the Great Dao, and many insights. It’s not impossible for him to step into the Transcendent Realm in the future. However, he doesn’t know how to interact with people. The moment he got the Yan Emperor token, which represents his qualification as a candidate for Human Emperor, he immediately ran off to show it off to Ji Mo... How high do you think his emotional intelligence can be?"

"Then why is he so obedient to you, Young Master?"

"I broke through his mental defenses back then." Wu Wang shook his head slightly. "It happened unintentionally. I didn’t know he had a past where he was harshly repressed by his father. That kind of psychological state is quite awkward and difficult to articulate. If, one day, he can stand up to his own father, his attitude towards me might also change. The fellow is quite pitiful, really. He’s expected to compete in everything. Ji Mo is just a competitor his father designated for him, and Lin Qi’s cultivation realm has already left Ji Mo far behind."

"Young Master Ji Mo’s heart isn’t in Cultivation."

"In that case, that manual from the Yin-Yang Hehuan Sect could indeed be gifted to him." Wu Wang curled his lip. He looked at the few drops of Evil God’s blood before him, stripped of their Divine Power and wrapped in Mana, and his thoughts drifted to the fastidious Fairy Immortal Ling Xiaolan.

Why is it that all my friends are such oddballs?

Lin Suqing was at a loss for words. You seem to be the strangest one of all, Young Master.

"Sect Master! I’m back!"

A shout came from outside the door. Wu Wang paused his reverie, stood up, and, dressed in a loose short-sleeved shirt and long pants, went to greet the visitor. Pulling open the wooden door, he saw long, silver-white hair and the hilt of a Giant Sword slung across a broad back. The arrival was none other than Mao Aowu, the Pavilion Master of the Benevolent Emperor Pavilion’s branch in Floating Jade City’s Sanhua Alley.

"Brother Mao, come in and talk," Wu Wang said, stepping aside to let Mao Aowu enter.

They had just taken their seats when Wu Wang asked, "How many people did you manage to persuade this time?"

"Eighteen patrol envoys!" Mao Aowu replied, his spirits high. He chuckled, "I’ve mobilized all the patrol envoys around Floating Jade City. They are all currently far from the city, as you instructed, Sect Master, to avoid startling the prey."

"Good!" Wu Wang snapped his fingers, then added, "Brother Mao, there’s another matter I need your help with."

"What is it?"

Wu Wang said, "For some... let’s just say, for various reasons, I need the confiscated Beast Blood."

Mao Aowu said, "Usually, when we encounter fiends from the Ten Evils Hall, we burn their storage magic treasures immediately."

"I want to develop a method to identify fiends from the Ten Evils Hall." Wu Wang calmly presented this grand justification.

"If that’s the case, confiscating their storage magic treasures shouldn’t be a major issue," Mao Aowu pondered. "However..."

"What is it?"

"Will the Ten Evils Hall really show up?" Mao Aowu wondered aloud. "Although Lin Qi is an excellent bait, the Ten Evils Hall isn’t to be trifled with. How could they fall for such an obvious fishing strategy so easily?"

Wu Wang smiled. "I’ve already had Elder Miao discreetly spread the news that Lin Qi will be going to the military for training."

"Then how do you explain Lin Qi definitely going to Floating Jade City?"

"Those five old... ahem! Those five young ladies from the Black Desire Door have made quite a name for themselves recently, haven’t they?" Wu Wang chuckled. "It’s common knowledge that Lin Qi and Ji Mo don’t get along. Of course, Lin Qi coming to our Annihilation Sect is no secret either. So, I fabricated a script for them."

"What script?"

"Miao Cuijiao performs in Floating Jade City, inciting the two young prodigies, Ji and Lin, to vie for her favor."

Mao Aowu was a bit bewildered, but he vaguely sensed that while the plan was outrageous, it also seemed somewhat plausible.

"All these arrangements are in place," Wu Wang said. "Tonight, Elder Miao will take the stage. Tomorrow, the main event will unfold. Experts from all sides have already concealed themselves near Floating Jade City. However, to avoid harming innocents, Lin Qi will make his appearance outside the city. Let’s go. I was waiting for you to return. We’ll change our clothes later and sneak into Floating Jade City to observe secretly. We’ll let Ji Mo and Lin Qi improvise."

"Understood!" Mao Aowu agreed.

Lin Suqing had already brought over the clothes they had prepared earlier. Then, with light steps, she went upstairs.

Before long, Wu Wang had changed into a long black robe, while Mao Aowu used a cloak to cover his distinctive silver hair. Lin Suqing, meanwhile, had quickly changed into men’s attire and followed behind Wu Wang.

Mao Aowu asked in a low voice, "Is Miss Lin going as well?"

"It’s fine," Wu Wang smiled. "I won’t be making a move this time. I’ll just be watching the show with her from the sidelines and, incidentally, helping you mark some of the fiends hidden in the city."

Only then did Mao Aowu feel relieved. Together with Yang Wudi, Zhang Moshan, and two other True Immortals, they escorted Wu Wang and Lin Suqing to the designated "fishing spot."

That place was also the Annihilation Sect’s flourishing treasure ground—Floating Jade City.

Regrettably, the plan did not progress smoothly.

Mao Aowu escorted Wu Wang and Lin Suqing into the city, then went to contact the eighteen inspection immortal envoys.

Wu Wang did not fly. He took a hidden alleyway, winding his way with Yang Wudi and his three companions to Guantao Tower, where elegant private rooms awaited them on the upper floors.

Guantao Tower was now constantly packed, day and night, but the private rooms on the top floor were not open to the public, reserved for the Sect Master’s personal enjoyment. Tonight, Guantao Tower was even more bustling.

Previously, the five female disciples from the Black Desire Door had performed at Guantao Tower, truly stunning all who witnessed it. The uninhibited ’Black Gang Shake,’ the wild yet casual ’Axe Gang Exclusive Dance,’ and the light-footed ’Fan Dance’ had infused this major city in a corner of the Great Wilderness’s Human Domain with an extremely fresh vitality.

And today, Elder Miao of the Annihilation Sect, one of the top ten beauties of the Demon Path, was scheduled to perform at Guantao Tower, naturally attracting even more attention. Unfortunately, Wu Wang and his group arrived a little late. Elder Miao only made a brief appearance before hurriedly departing. Yet, that fleeting vision had already stolen countless hearts and souls, leaving behind a legend in Floating Jade City that would endure for hundreds of years.

The next day, news of Elder Miao having performed in Floating Jade City spread like wildfire. Ji Mo and Lin Qi arrived simultaneously on their clouds, appearing at the gates of Floating Jade City. These two young masters began to clash verbally the moment they "coincidentally" met at the city gates. It started as a war of words, then escalated to pushing and shoving. In their anger, they decided to have a Duel outside the city, attracting a large crowd of onlookers.

Logically, some members of the Ten Evils Hall should have been mixed in with the crowd. But Wu Wang, hiding in Guantao Tower, scanned the area repeatedly with his Crystal Ball, yet found no trace of any fiends from the Ten Evils Hall.

Have they lost interest in Lin Qi? Wu Wang wondered privately. At that moment, however, over a hundred experts were already lying in ambush underground and in the woods near Ji Mo and Lin Qi. The Benevolent Emperor Pavilion’s supervisory group stationed at the Annihilation Sect, the Annihilation Sect’s own experts, and the inspection immortal envoys were all in position. Even the Transcendent Realm old granny was prepared to intervene at any moment. Furthermore, the Annihilation Sect’s experts had prepared an excessive amount of Sleeping Pills and poisons.

—Yang Wudi stated he would take responsibility for this matter.

Yet, the enemy stubbornly refused to appear.

What’s going on? Has the Ten Evils Hall really decided to play turtle, or was my plan to lure them out too simplistic? The logic seemed sound, and with Ji Mo’s reputation being well-known, the scenario was quite plausible.

Hmm?

Wu Wang suddenly sensed several gazes seemingly fixed on him. A thought flickered in his mind. He directed the Crystal Ball’s view towards Floating Jade City, searching carefully, and abruptly made a discovery.

He’d found them! Divine Souls that masked their dark nature with a veneer of purity! Not only had he found them, but there were many. Moreover, the owners of these fiendish Divine Souls were rapidly converging towards a specific location.

Why does this location look so familiar...

Zooming in slightly, he saw the elegantly designed tower, the familiar furnishings, the dozens of fiendish Divine Souls distributed across various floors, and himself, in the private room on the top floor...

Wu Wang’s fingers stiffened. He calmly retracted the Crystal Ball.

As expected, the Ten Evils Hall has an expert. They not only saw through my plan but also targeted me. These guys certainly had some moves.

He pretended not to have noticed them and suddenly said in a clear voice, "Wudi, take Suqing outside the city to watch the excitement. If you want to see the commotion, just go. Why ask me?"

Lin Suqing blinked, not yet having a chance to speak, when Yang Wudi beside her interjected, "Let Zhang Moshan take her. I don’t like crowds."

This guy. A faint smile touched Wu Wang’s lips. He said warmly, "Then we’ll have to trouble Zhang Moshan."

"Ah," Zhang Moshan agreed. Just as he was about to reach for Lin Suqing’s arm, a soft chuckle came from the side.

"What’s so interesting about that commotion? It’s just two youngsters squabbling out of jealousy."

With a few DING DING sounds, an old woman, leaning on a cane, ambled slowly from the street. Taking just a few steps, she bizarrely appeared inside Wu Wang’s private room and bowed slightly to him. She hadn’t even triggered the Barrier around the room.

She smiled. "This old woman greets Sect Master Wuwang."

"You are?"

The old woman smiled and blinked, revealing a sliver of her aura. Wu Wang immediately knew her identity. It was the Transcendent expert Ji Mo had invited—Old Lady Meng.

If such an expert wanted to deal with me, there would be no need for reasons or words. A slap from a hundred miles away would suffice.

Wu Wang stood up and bowed to the old woman. "Senior, what brings you here?"

The old woman chuckled. "I just happened to be passing by, hoping to learn how to cook for my grandson. Your Guantao Tower should have plenty of ingredients. I wonder, are your chefs here better at cold dishes or stir-frying?"

"Chilled ones are best." Wu Wang smiled and passed the Crystal Ball to her. He made no attempt to hide anything, tapping it a few times. His face paled from the rapid consumption of Divine Thought.

He transmitted his voice: "This item can last for an hour. Anything that appears as a black mass within that smoke cluster is problematic. It would be best if you could capture them alive rather than killing them outright."

The old woman looked quite surprised. Holding the Crystal Ball, she closed her eyes to sense it, and soon a small smile graced her lips. "Truly a treasure! The sages of old once said that all paths of Cultivation have their own strengths. They truly did not deceive us."

The next instant, the old woman’s figure shimmered and vanished from before Wu Wang as if into thin air.

Shortly afterward, a sudden commotion erupted within Guantao Tower. One by one, ’patrons’ of the tower were encased in blocks of ice and, almost simultaneously, tossed onto the main street, forming a neat, square mountain of ice. The old woman was but a fleeting afterimage, shuttling back and forth through the city.

Wu Wang watched this scene from upstairs, then glanced at the Heavenly Immortals and True Immortals earnestly lying in ambush outside the city...

Indeed, Transcendent experts really are more effective. I wonder how much Evil God’s blood I can harvest this time. Will it allow my Bloodline Power to advance a small step? Bah! More importantly, will it be enough to support me in completing the next phase of my research plans!