Chapter 1300: 580: Rule by Both Grace and Might, Upheaval in the West Continent (Part 2)
Capítulo 1300: Chapter 580: Rule by Both Grace and Might, Upheaval in the West Continent (Part 2)
On one hand, this Great Array is immensely powerful, enough to suppress any dissenters.
On the other hand, Star Power is an irresistible temptation to every Golden Immortal.
Having reached their level of cultivation, most Immortal Pills and Spiritual Medicines that cultivators flock to are already ineffective.
But Star Power is different; the essence of the All Heaven Stars Formation is at the level of a Primordial Great Luo Golden Immortal. No Golden Immortal can resist such a supreme treasure that can directly promote the growth of a Golden Immortal World.
Gu Hong Taoist found himself in hesitation.
The Peacock Emperor flipped through the pact in front of him and suddenly asked, “Why isn’t there a clause about Star Power in mine?”
Gu Hong Taoist was taken aback for a moment, turned to look at the Peacock Emperor, and seeing the genuine confusion on his face, immediately understood —
Not everyone in the Jiushan Sect is willing to give Star Power!
Before he could act, Master Huang Gu slapped the pact on the table, and at the end of the document, the runes of the Suspended Island appeared, indicating it had already been hastily signed.
Gu Hong Taoist shivered, hurriedly signed his copy of the pact, and then looked at the Peacock Emperor with an expression of having snatched a limited edition.
Seeing the other five had signed the pact, the Peacock Emperor realized he was the odd one out, and couldn’t help but glare at Zheng Fa. He felt not only angry but also a bit wronged. Was the Jiushan Sect discriminating against the Demon Race?
Zheng Fa glanced at him, seemingly surprised:
“Gu Hong Taoist and the others have surrendered, but you’re a captive…”
At this point, Gu Hong Taoist nodded repeatedly, agreeing, “How can it be the same?”
Peacock Emperor opened his mouth but found no words to refute.
If there was no distinction between the two, how could the Jiushan Sect maintain control if in the future, those Golden Immortals thought they could resist and still receive such favorable terms?
Thinking of this, his face grew even more displeased…
“Of course, the Immortal Court offers everyone… every being, a chance to reform.”
“A chance?” Peacock Emperor’s spirits lifted, and he looked at Zheng Fa with an expectant smile.
“Since you haven’t caused any harm to the Jiushan Sect…”
The smile on Peacock Emperor’s face froze.
Did he not want to?
“The Supreme Elder Council has decided that you only need to compensate for the expenses of Jiushan Sect’s expedition, and you can be treated equally in the future.”
That seemed quite fair.
But when the Peacock Emperor glanced at the bill, his hands trembled as he exclaimed, “So much?”
Zheng Fa nodded slowly.
Indeed, they hadn’t exploited the Peacock Emperor; the Jiushan Sect’s method was not manpower intensive but costly.
To put it simply, a casual strike from a True Immortal cost the Jiushan Sect a significant amount of Spirit Stones and spiritual materials to counter.
In Jiushan Sect’s values, this was worthwhile.
But for the Peacock Emperor… it was devastating.
“How long must I pay this off?”
Peacock Emperor muttered to himself, his gaze empty.
“Actually, you have a significant advantage.”
“What?”
Zheng Fa didn’t speak, only surveyed the Peacock Emperor up and down with meaningful eyes, his expression seemed satisfied.
A chill ran through the Peacock Emperor’s bones. Did Zheng Fa have eyes on him?
He hadn’t heard of such humiliation before surrendering!
Was Master Zheng playing such a perverted game?
“This… this…”
“The Demon Race is full of treasures!” On the side, Gu Hong Taoist suddenly exclaimed, appearing quite envious.
The Peacock Emperor paused, suddenly realizing that Zheng Fa had eyes on him, but not in that way.
Zheng Fa nodded and said, “Our Jiushan Sect has a huge demand for spiritual materials. The Demon Race is a major source of spiritual materials, especially within the Peacock Demon Country, which has many demons with high cultivation.”
Although Jiushan Sect has its own farms, it’s time-consuming and laborious to cultivate great demons.
The Peacock Demon Country is different.
Many of them are ancient demons from previous eras, whose spiritual material quality far exceeds the output from Jiushan Sect’s farms.
Among these Golden Immortals, the Immortal Court regards the Peacock Demon Country most highly—it’s like a natural large ranch!
The Peacock Emperor understood this. Although he was unwilling, as a dignified Golden Immortal leading innumerable great demons, how could he let himself be treated like this?
“For example, your several tail feathers, we have initially estimated that they’re worth…”
Zheng Fa stated an amount, which was so high that even Gu Hong Taoist appeared moved.
The Peacock Emperor froze, and after glancing at the bill in his hand again, said with a pained expression, “I’ll sell three!”
“…”
“I have three hundred and twenty types of avian creatures under my command, and one hundred and thirty types of beasts. Their spiritual materials can all be sold to Jiushan Sect!”
“I also have a few Dao Fruit subordinates; their spiritual materials are valuable too, right?”
Having overcome his internal hurdle, the Peacock Emperor had no mental barrier about selling his subordinates.
As the Emperor plucked his own feathers, would they dare not to contribute?
At this point, the Peacock Emperor suddenly thought of something: “By the way, can information be sold?”
“Whose information?”
“Shizun… no, Lu Yao.”
Gu Hong Taoist and others couldn’t help but focus on the Peacock Emperor, feeling somewhat sympathetic—the debt had driven him mad, and now he recognized no relations for the sake of repayment.
But Zheng Fa indeed needed it.
“Information within the Jiushan Sect system can indeed be converted into good deeds, or Nine Mountains Money.”
The Peacock Emperor nodded, sighing slightly.
“Actually, the West Continent is very chaotic now.”
“Chaotic?”
“I was forced to leave.”
Everyone in the hall exchanged glances, confused.
“Explain it in detail.”
The Peacock Emperor contemplated for a while and then started, “This matter is complex, so let’s begin with you escaping from the Turquoise Pool, Master Zheng. You are roughly aware of the events before.”
Zheng Fa nodded slightly, indicating he was listening, and the Peacock Emperor continued.
“The Jile Heavenly Girl and I from the Turquoise Pool couldn’t capture you, so we acted separately. She returned to the Turquoise Pool to deal with aftermaths, and I went back to Leiyin Temple to report.”
A hint of concealed anxiety appeared on the Peacock Emperor’s face, as if recalling something unpleasant.
“I thought Lu Yao would be angry about my failure, but unexpectedly, he didn’t care at all and seemed quite excited.”
“Excited?” Qingnv listened intently and couldn’t help but ask, “Because of the Pure Land?”
“The Pure Land exactly.” Peacock Emperor nodded, “Lu Yao said, Master Zheng, you thought breaking the Pure Land would hinder him from achieving the Dao, but didn’t expect to end up benefiting him. He found great fortune within the Pure Land!”
Upon hearing this, Zheng Fa naturally understood what this great fortune referred to—the Earth Emperor’s corpse.
As one of the Emperor’s avatars, this Earth Emperor’s corpse was likely far stronger than an ordinary Daluo Immortal, perhaps even at the level of a Primordial Great Luo Golden Immortal.
If Lu Yao could indeed gain benefits from it, it would truly be a blessing in disguise.
The Peacock Emperor continued, “At that moment, I even felt happy for him. After all, I had followed Lu Yao for several eras; if he could achieve the Dao, I could benefit from it as well.”
“And then?”
Zheng Fa probed further.
“Then everything changed.” The Peacock Emperor’s voice lowered, “Lu Yao went into seclusion for a while. I didn’t dare covet that great fortune and naturally didn’t know what he was comprehending.”
“But after he emerged… it was as if he didn’t quite recognize me, or rather, he was someone else entirely.”
“Not recognize you?”
“He hid it well, but others couldn’t tell. I could.” The Peacock Emperor sighed, “I’ve known him since the Chaotic Law Era. His way of looking at me, speaking, even his occasional small actions… I might not have paid close attention, but I’ve remembered them all.”
“Every time he emerged from seclusion, his behavior seemed increasingly peculiar. Eventually, I noticed the differences.”
Zheng Fa couldn’t help but furrow his brows upon hearing this. So, was Lu Yao actually influenced or even possessed by the Earth Emperor’s corpse?
This wasn’t good news.
Without underestimating Lu Yao, if he were to choose a foe, Zheng Fa would rather face Lu Yao, who was like a soft persimmon.
Gu Hong Taoist asked again, “Then why do you say the West Continent is in chaos and that you were forced out?”