Trafford's Trading Club

Chapter 1129: Disrupt, Correct, Disrupt, Correct—What Gives You the Right to Correct

Lai Caisheng’s lips twitched slightly, as if trying to say something—but Gongsun Shiyu’s hand was like an iron clamp, almost crushing his throat.

Crack.

With a sudden squeeze, Gongsun Shiyu’s palm exerted force, and Lai Caisheng’s neck instantly lost support… his head slumped down.

“The answer is, no matter what you calculated, I was always going to kill you.” Gongsun Shiyu sneered and casually tossed Lai Caisheng’s body to the ground.

“You… you killed him!” From behind, Gongsun Zhishui stepped onto the altar, face changing slightly at the sight of Lai Caisheng lying motionless.

Gongsun Shiyu coldly laughed, “No one is unkillable.”

This development was beyond Gongsun Zhishui’s expectations… Lai Caisheng was one of the masterminds behind the spiritual energy revival project. Killing him at such a crucial time—what did that even mean?

Nothing was proceeding as planned. There were always countless variables.

“But you killed him—who’s going to oversee the final phase? If Earth’s spiritual energy can’t be revived, wouldn’t everything up to now be wasted?” Gongsun Zhishui frowned deeply.

Gongsun Shiyu hadn’t killed him yet… which meant he probably didn’t intend to, at least not soon. He asked because he genuinely felt lost amid the growing chaos—and perhaps was testing his limits.“So naive. Do you really think that without the Plain-Clothed Dao, no one else can revive Earth’s spiritual energy?” Gongsun Shiyu sneered.

Gongsun Zhishui was briefly dumbfounded.

Gongsun Shiyu stepped toward the crystal pillar standing atop the altar—within it sealed was Hope, a manifestation of the Dragon Vein’s transformation.

Placing his hand lightly on the pillar, Gongsun Shiyu sneered, “You mortals try to awaken spiritual energy from the outside, breaking through by force. But for us… it’s much easier.”

“You said… ‘us’?” Gongsun Zhishui’s eyes narrowed.

Gongsun Shiyu’s sinister expression grew darker… and at that moment, the black-clad followers inside the cavern finally noticed Lai Caisheng’s death.

“Honored One!!”

“The Honored One is dead… Gongsun Shiyu killed the Honored One!”

“What happened?!”

Dozens of black-clad men surged toward the altar, their faces filled with rage as they glared at Gongsun Shiyu and Gongsun Zhishui.

Their auras exploded in fury… and cold sweat appeared on Gongsun Zhishui’s brow—these were old monsters, most of whom had exhausted their potential and lifespan.

They had been persuaded by Lai Caisheng to dedicate themselves to reviving spiritual energy, even prepared to sacrifice their lives. Now that Lai Caisheng was dead, their only hope was crushed.

Gongsun Shiyu snorted, “What are you raging for? You’re all dying anyway, hoping for spiritual revival to reclaim what you lost. Then tell me, does it matter who the Honored One is, as long as you get what you want? Don’t think only Lai Caisheng can do it… Besides—”

His tone shifted. With a flick of his arm, a gust of wind flipped over Lai Caisheng’s corpse. “This guy wasn’t even the real Lai Caisheng. He was just a decoy!”

A red-black mist surged across Lai Caisheng’s face—then, like decay eating away at flesh, his face began to rot and peel away… revealing another face beneath.

“That’s… isn’t that the old hermit from Changbai’s Heavenly Pool?! How is it him?! He died ten years ago!” one black-clad man shouted. “I saw it with my own eyes!”

“The Plain-Clothed Dao has plenty of ways to extend life,” Gongsun Shiyu sneered. “You idiots. Lai Caisheng planned to forcibly manipulate the destiny of mankind—he wasn’t just defying the human race, but also the will of the Divine Land itself. You think he’d risk himself so easily?”

The crowd of black-clad followers fell silent.

Gongsun Shiyu laughed wildly, “What’s wrong? Feeling betrayed? I’ll tell you—he was no saint. Opening Earth’s spiritual energy to ‘revive Daoist and Demon glory’… what a joke!”

As he spoke, the black-clad figures’ auras weakened one by one.

“Only I can help you!” Gongsun Shiyu roared and slammed his palm downward onto the altar.

Crack!

The altar split open… revealing the furnace below. Instantly, a torrent of spiritual energy and life force burst forth from the fissure!

Inside the furnace, dozens of Soul Orbs were arranged in a circle, flashing and devouring life essence in rhythm.

Gongsun Shiyu waved his hand, and the escaping life force transformed into dozens of streams that surged into the bodies of the black-clad men!

Bathed in this vitality, they discovered—shockingly—that their dying lives were slowly being restored… or even lengthened!

“I grant each of you five more years of life,” Gongsun Shiyu declared coldly. “See how simple it is? You don’t need to die for this anymore!”

The black-clad men looked at one another in shock… the life-extension was so real and immediate, it shattered their resolve like a joke.

“Now, protect me. Assist me in absorbing the power of one million souls!” Gongsun Shiyu commanded. “Once I recover, I’ll open the Earth’s Spiritual Vein and grant you immortality!”

“Greetings, Honored One!!”

Dozens of black-clad followers shouted in unison and bowed deeply.

Gongsun Zhishui silently watched, feeling both amused and resigned… Gongsun Shiyu now held the power to bend all events to his will. When strength was absolute, schemes were no longer necessary.

Perhaps this was what Gongsun Shiyu had always sought. But sadly… he was no longer the man he once was.

“Greetings, Honored One.”

Gongsun Zhishui sighed and slowly lowered his head.

“Gongsun Zhishui, I command you to stop the Four Seasons Glazed Scroll and open a hundred-mile radius around Mount Tai!” Gongsun Shiyu’s voice echoed through the cave. “I want all Daoist and Demon forces of the Divine Land to witness this glorious moment!!”

Laughing wildly, Gongsun Shiyu leapt into the altar’s crack and descended into the furnace—vast waves of spiritual essence poured into his body, and the eerie glow on his face grew even stronger.

“True Dragon… oh True Dragon. Still not planning to show yourself? I’m so looking forward to devouring you.”

…

…

Croaching Dragon Estate.

The thick mist that had long shrouded the estate began to retreat… Though it was still the dead of winter, the noontime sun brought a faint hint of warmth—sunlight that the estate hadn’t seen in nearly a month.

A Long-Awaited Sunlight

The long-absent sunlight made the Daoists and Demons within Croaching Dragon Estate step out of their rooms one after another, gazing at the clear blue sky—yet no one felt joyful.

Because this strange change seemed like an omen of something looming.

At a side courtyard, Firecloud Evil God also awoke from meditation. He stepped into the yard, looked up at the sky, and furrowed his brows deeply… At that moment, he heard footsteps behind him.

He quickly turned around and saw Mr. Blind walking out from the meditation chamber, his face deathly pale and his body radiating exhaustion.

“Blind?” Firecloud Evil God rushed over and grabbed his arm, sending a stream of gentle true force into his body. “Did you get a result?”

“Investiture and Sacrifice Ritual Platform,” Mr. Blind said solemnly. “Before midnight tonight, the seventh Jade Dragon Pillar must be erected. Midnight is the optimal time to activate the formation… If they really intend to awaken the Earth’s Spiritual Vein, they will choose the timing carefully.”

“Midnight tonight…” Firecloud Evil God frowned—far too soon.

There were no more than twelve hours left. Though Croaching Dragon Estate was built at the foot of Mount Tai and travel to the Investiture and Sacrifice Ritual site wouldn’t take long, half a day was far too short to gather the scattered hearts of those within the estate. Yan Xiaoxi’s persuasion had achieved little—most Daoists and Demons remained sluggish and apathetic.

“Second day of the second lunar month—the dragon raises its head… it’s the most active time of the ley lines each year,” Mr. Blind said seriously. “If the leyline seal is broken tonight and spiritual energy surges upward with the dragon, aided by the formation, the restriction will shatter completely.”

Firecloud Evil God’s frown deepened. The man before him wasn’t just concerned about spiritual energy recovery. “Blind… is there something else you’re not telling me?”

Mr. Blind exhaled slowly. “Old Fool, even if spiritual energy can be revived, that’s a long-term matter. But if the Earth’s Spiritual Vein begins to awaken and spiritual energy bursts through the ley lines, the first thing we’ll face isn’t hope… it’s despair.”

“What do you mean?”

Mr. Blind sighed. “Do you know when the decline of Daoists and Demons truly began?”

“It’s said to be around a thousand years ago,” Firecloud Evil God replied. “Since then, spiritual energy has continuously dropped off. A big blow to Daoists and Demons, though we martial cultivators weren’t affected as much.”

Mr. Blind said, “That’s when it became noticeable, yes. But the decline had already started. A thousand years ago was just a clear turning point… In truth, the weakening of spiritual energy likely began during the era of the Great Qin Empire.”

“What happened?”

“In the past, Emperor Qin conquered the six kingdoms and unified the Central Plains, subduing demons and suppressing Daoism. Afterward, to suppress Daoist and Demon development, Emperor Qin performed the Investiture and Sacrifice Ritual Ceremony at Mount Tai and, at the cost of the empire’s thousand-year national destiny, forged a massive seal using the power of celestial stars…”

“That seal took a thousand years to complete—and only began to activate a thousand years ago. Since then, it has gradually drawn in and locked away all spiritual energy. That’s why it has become so scarce.”

Mr. Blind gave a bitter smile. “If nothing changes, within the next century, spiritual energy will be completely sealed off. No Daoist or Demon will be able to draw any power from heaven and earth. No cultivators will exist, and no new demons will be born… the rest will slowly die off with time. This world will no longer have Daoists or Demons.”

This was Firecloud Evil God’s first time hearing such a millennium-old secret… likely known only by ancient sects like the Plain-Clothed Dao.

Even as the strongest human cultivator, cold sweat beaded on his brow.

After a long silence—

“Emperor Qin…” Firecloud Evil God exhaled slowly. “Truly an emperor for the ages… To sacrifice a dynasty’s thousand-year destiny just to wipe out Daoists and Demons. No wonder the Great Qin Empire only lasted a few decades… What ruthless will… what terrifying ambition!”

Mr. Blind added, “This spiritual energy has been sealed in the earth for too long. For over two thousand years, it’s been compressed beneath the surface. If it breaks free tonight and surges into the skies, do you know what the consequences will be?”

“Rebound from compression?” Firecloud Evil God guessed.

Mr. Blind nodded heavily. “When the seal is broken, the vast flood of spiritual energy will sweep away everything in its path… I can’t calculate the exact range, but it will be at least 700 kilometers. Within that zone, from the core outward, from strong to weak, every living being will endure its shockwave.

“Old Fool… pure oxygen is poison. So is pure spiritual energy. If it’s too pure, weaker Daoists and Demons won’t be able to absorb it and may explode on the spot. As for ordinary people… if spiritual energy revives, the first wave will be mass death.”

China is vast—seven hundred kilometers isn’t too large a zone. But if that’s the minimum range… and considering Mount Tai is only four to five hundred kilometers from the capital…

“…Blind.” Firecloud Evil God suddenly let out a bitter chuckle. “I suddenly feel a strange desire to see this spiritual energy revival succeed.”

That startled Mr. Blind—he couldn’t understand what the old fool was thinking.

Then Firecloud Evil God said quietly, “Because if it fails, you Daoists and Demons won’t be able to bear the consequences… and I won’t let you leave Divine Land alive.”

Mr. Blind gave a bitter smile but said nothing.

He silently took out a pouch of golden needles. Using qi to control them, he launched them into various acupuncture points on his own body—each needle instantly vanishing into his flesh.

“Blind, you—”

Mr. Blind’s face flushed red, his spirit visibly brightened. At the same time, a fierce and terrifying wave of magic surged from his body—so strong that even Firecloud Evil God’s cheeks trembled from the impact.

Mr. Blind slowly opened his eyes.

Now… he could truly see the colors of the world.

“No need,” Mr. Blind murmured, shaking his head. “I won’t live past sunrise tomorrow.”

He turned his head, gazing at the phoenix tree in the courtyard, and whispered, “So… it really did grow so tall.”

(End of Chapter)