Book 8: Chapter 95: Zhu Qiqi
On the altar, Jingwei had been incinerated; only a smoky outline remained. It was as if all that remained was a remnant will, which clung to the smoky contour and refused to scatter.
Jiang Lianshan and Yinggou paid no attention to Jingwei’s death. Their focus was on the Vermilion Bird Prime, which had devoured the Vermilion Bird Deity.
It stood at a colossal sixteen thousand six hundred sixty-six meters in height, exuding boundless ferocity and a commanding presence.
The awakening of the Vermilion Bird Prime brought a sudden calm to the entire East Spiritual Fire Sea as if in the presence of the Vermilion Bird Prime, all the flames submitted willingly.
Boom!
The vermilion bird spread its wings wide, and in an instant, endless Southern Bright Li Flame burst forth.
“Hah! I—Zhu Qiqi—have finally returned!” Screech! The Vermilion Bird Prime let out a long, triumphant cry that echoed throughout the world. In an instant, the entire East Spiritual Fire Sea and even the entire nether realm resounded with the cry of the Vermilion Bird Prime.
It was a cry that announced the return of a monarch, and it shook the world.
Countless avian animal spirits trembled as if they had heard the voice of their king, feeling an irresistible urge to pay homage.
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The Han Heavenly Dynasty:
Kong Xuan was sitting in his command post, listening to reports from several ghost ancestors. Suddenly, a vermilion bird’s cry rang out, startling Kong Xuan, who was drinking tea, into crus.h.i.+ng the teacup in his hand.
“Commander, what’s wrong?” Ancestor Mang Shan asked in astonishment.
However, Kong Xuan stepped out of the hall and looked towards the East Spiritual Fire Sea with a shocked and puzzled expression.
Who was Kong Xuan? He stood nearly at the pinnacle of avian animal spirits in the world today. Nevertheless, he could not help but shudder upon hearing the vermilion bird’s cry.
Kong Xuan’s eyes filled with uncertainty.
“You all wait here; I’m going to seek an audience with His Holy Eminence,” Kong Xuan said seriously.
Shuddering? This is a suppression imposed by a higher-level avian animal spirit on a lower-level animal spirit. Who stands higher than me? Whose voice is this?
Kong Xuan headed straight for Everlasting Nether Capital.
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Yin Tiger Deity Hall, the nether realm’s west:
The Divine Scorpion Heavenly Demon and the Bellowing Griever Heavenly Demon rushed over.
“My Lord, was that sound from Kong Xuan just now?” the Divine Scorpion Heavenly Demon asked in amazement.
A deathly silence descended upon Yin Tiger Deity Hall, and then a blurry figure walked out of the main hall. The Divine Scorpion Heavenly Demon and the Bellowing Griever Heavenly Demon followed closely, showing great respect.
It was the Unrestrained Heavenly Demon. When he heard the sound, he looked eastwards with a solemn expression. “Zhu Qiqi? You’re not dead yet?”
“Zhu Qiqi? The Vermilion Bird Prime?” the Bellowing Griever Heavenly Demon exclaimed.
The Unrestrained Heavenly Demon squinted, staring fixedly to the east.
“My Lord, should we go take a look?” the Divine Scorpion Heavenly Demon asked curiously.
“There’s no need. Zhu Qiqi? Humph! She’s known for her narrow-mindedness. When her ritual failed, we thought she had died in it. Who would have thought, who would have thought…!” the Unrestrained Heavenly Demon said in a grave voice.
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Outside Everlasting Nether Capital:
The skeleton Gu Hai and Long Wanyu looked to the nether realm’s east.
“Your Holy Eminence, whose voice was that? I felt a sense of suppression!” Kong Xuan asked in surprise.
“Zhu Qiqi!” Long Wanyu frowned.
“Zhu Qiqi?” Kong Xuan was taken aback.
“It’s the Vermilion Bird Prime! She’s been revived!” Gu Hai explained.
“The Vermilion Bird Prime?” Kong Xuan’s expression changed.
“Brother-in-Law, has your true body met Zhu Qiqi yet?” Long Wanyu asked with concern.
“It’s about to happen. My true body was trapped in the Dreamscape Field, but thanks to Vairocana’s golden swastika, he has already awakened and should be able to break out of Dreamscape Field soon and meet Zhu Qiqi!” Gu Hai shook his head.
“Brother-in-Law, you have to be careful with Zhu Qiqi. She’s narrow-minded, often goes back on her word, and can be treacherous!” Long Wanyu recalled.
“Goes back on her word? She lacks integrity?” Gu Hai was slightly surprised.
“Yes!” Long Wanyu nodded.
Gu Hai fell into thought. Is Zhu Qiqi really so untrustworthy in her actions?
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The Vermilion Bird Prime raised its head and let out a cry that resounded throughout the world. The Southern Bright Li Flame flared, and a boundless aura surged forth.
Yinggou and Jiang Lianshan were both filled with excitement.
After the Vermilion Bird Prime vented its feelings, Jiang Lianshan said, “Congratulations, Zhu Qiqi!”
Zhu Qiqi looked down at the two figures below the altar and said, “Jiang Lianshan, you did well. It was not in vain that I used all my remaining strength to help you protect your fire deity.”
“Although it took a long time, we finally succeeded. You’ve already refined the little Vermilion Bird Deity, haven’t you?” Jiang Lianshan asked.
“Yes, the little Vermilion Bird Deity has merged with my big Vermilion Bird Deity and ignited my divine fire. My strength has also returned in full!” Zhu Qiqi nodded in satisfaction.
Jiang Lianshan’s expression relaxed. “In that case, please fulfill your promise from the past and help me be reborn, reforming my three spiritual souls and seven physical souls.”
“Huh?” Zhu Qiqi raised an eyebrow and looked at Jiang Lianshan with a puzzled expression.
“Remember, you promised that if I helped you come out, you would help me be reborn. Right now, I can only exist as a fire deity, unable to leave the East Spiritual Fire Sea. That’s why I need your help!” Jiang Lianshan repeated.
“Being a fire deity isn’t bad, is it? After all, the East Spiritual Fire Sea will be my main altar from now on. You can stay here as the chief steward of my main altar!” Zhu Qiqi replied casually.
“Chief steward? Haha, you’re joking. I just want to be reborn. I’ve helped you be reborn, and now it’s your turn to help me, right?” Jiang Lianshan smiled.
“You are just a fire deity, and it’s impossible for you to reform your three spiritual souls and seven physical souls. Don’t think too much about it. You’re fine as you are now!” Zhu Qiqi said calmly.
Jiang Lianshan narrowed his eyes, and his face darkened slightly. Is Zhu Qiqi backing out of her promise? She promised to help me be reborn, but now she is evading the issue?
“There is nothing impossible. While others might not be able to do it, you—Zhu Qiqi—can. You possess the unique ability of the vermilion bird, the nirvanic rebirth. You can help me be reborn!” Jiang Lianshan insisted.
“Nirvanic rebirth can only be used by oneself for self-rebirth. It cannot help others be reborn!” Zhu Qiqi replied coldly.
“No, the information I gathered indicates otherwise. It’s a unique ability of the vermilion bird, stemming from your inner core, the nirvana core. By consuming the nirvana core, one can achieve a nirvanic rebirth!” Jiang Lianshan explained seriously.
Zhu Qiqi’s expression suddenly turned cold. “Hah! You’ve gathered quite a bit of information.”
“It concerns whether I can be reborn or not, so I had to investigate thoroughly!” Jiang Lianshan said solemnly.
Zhu Qiqi’s expression instantly changed. “Hahahahaha! Do you know how difficult it is to cultivate our inner core? Help you achieve nirvanic rebirth? Once I help you with that, it’s gone. It can only be used for nirvanic rebirth once. Why should I give it to you?”
“I understand that once the inner core is gone, it’s difficult to cultivate it again. However, it’s not impossible, just more challenging. The nirvana core is something you promised me!” Jiang Lianshan insisted.
“Promised you? Hah! Jiang Lianshan, I gave you everything you have. If not for me, you would have been destroyed back then. Instead of being grateful to me, you are trying to extort me?” Zhu Qiqi said coldly.
Zhu Qiqi’s att.i.tude was clear. She would never give Jiang Lianshan the nirvana core, no matter what. However, Jiang Lianshan did not betray much anger. Instead, he revealed a faint smile.
“Zhu Qiqi, are you sure you won’t give it to me?” Jiang Lianshan confirmed once more.
“That’s right. There’s no way I’m giving you the nirvana core!” Zhu Qiqi said firmly, glaring at him.
“Then so be it. I’ll take it myself!” Jiang Lianshan said, shaking his head.
“Huh? You’ll take it yourself?” Zhu Qiqi was momentarily puzzled, not understanding Jiang Lianshan’s intentions.
Jiang Lianshan waved his hand and shouted, “Vermilion Bird Deity, the power of the eight trigrams, the East Spiritual Fire Sea, the Cla.s.sic of Changes Eight Trigram Ritual Array, activate!”
Suddenly, the entire East Spiritual Fire Sea convulsed.
Rumble…!
The ground shook, the heavens and earth trembled, and the flames in the void quivered rapidly. At the same time, sixty-four ma.s.sive altars suddenly rose at various locations in the East Spiritual Fire Sea.
When the altars appeared, a golden light shot out from each of them, heading towards Zhu Qiqi.
Boom!
The first beam of light pierced Zhu Qiqi’s body and bound it like a chain.
“Argh! What is this? It hurts so much! What’s happening?” Zhu Qiqi’s expression changed.
Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!
One after another, a succession of golden lights rushed from the various altars, pierced Zhu Qiqi’s body, and bound it. In just a moment, the eight-trigram ritual array connected with the world, and surging energy trussed Zhu Qiqi, with countless rays of light forming the patterns of the sixty-four hexagrams on its body.
Zhu Qiqi’s body suddenly became immobilized.
“Ah! What is this? Let me go! Jiang Lianshan, you’re seeking death!” Zhu Qiqi struggled, screeching loudly.
However, Jiang Lianshan revealed a cold smile. “Vermilion Bird Prime, Zhu Qiqi! I know how formidable you are, one of the four great animal spirit primes of ancient times. Your strength is incredible. If you reneged on our agreement, I wouldn’t be able to defeat you. That’s why I began to set up this ritual array eight hundred thousand years ago. This is a derivative of an eight-trigram ritual array, which I’ve been laying for eight hundred thousand years, all for today!”
“Jiang Lianshan, do you think you can trap me? Southern Bright Li Flame, break!” Zhu Qiqi roared.
The surging blue flames instantly swept the surrounding altars.
“It’s useless. Before releasing you, I merged the essence blood of the little Vermilion Bird Deity into Jingwei and dripped her essence blood on all sixty-four hexagram altars. In other words, this eight-trigram ritual array is connected to the little Vermilion Bird Deity. Hasn’t your big Vermilion Bird Deity already merged with the little Vermilion Bird Deity? That was what I was waiting for. If you keep struggling, I can instantly detonate your big Vermilion Bird Deity. Do you believe me?” Jiang Lianshan said with a sinister grin.
Zhu Qiqi checked, and its expression changed rapidly. Its Vermilion Bird Deity was indeed bound by the power of the eight-trigram ritual array.
“Jiang Lianshan, you…you despicable scoundrel! I saved you, and you treat me like this, plotting against me at every turn?” Zhu Qiqi glared, struggling.
“Had you kept your word, you naturally would not be suffering like this. I used my countermeasures only because you went back on your word. Now, am I going to destroy your Vermilion Bird Deity and take your nirvana core, or will you obediently spit it out?” Jiang Lianshan smirked at Zhu Qiqi.
Zhu Qiqi glared at Jiang Lianshan. It had thought it had outsmarted Jiang Lianshan; it never imagined he would outwit it.
The Vermilion Bird Deity? He set a trap long ago, preparing for this day for eight hundred thousand years? To trap me and take my nirvana core?
“Jiang Lianshan, I will kill you!” Zhu Qiqi roared in frustration.
“Spit out the nirvana core!” Jiang Lianshan’s expression turned icy as he gazed at Zhu Qiqi.