Chapter 3, Sky Lanterns

Ding Yuan turned his eyes and mockingly said, "Old monster, what use is it to live for so many years if you can't even defeat a junior? If I were you, I would rather buy a block of tofu and end it all."

Yan Shu observed the man in black with a fierce glint in his eyes, resentfully staring at the Tianxin Lantern suspended in mid-air. He could not help but speak in a mocking tone: "I advise you to give it up, old poisoner. With your limited skills, you cannot possibly break the Tianxin Lantern."

It is said this way, but in the face of the Heavenly Heart Lamp, he had no better solution. Although the golden little snake had not yet been used, it was his last resort; if misfortune struck again, the days ahead would not be easy to endure

The True Lord of the Heavenly Dragon's expression shifted from red to green, and he asked with embarrassment: "Since that is the case, why do you not leave?"

The three individuals each displayed their extraordinary skills within this guest room, competing with one another in a dazzling display, making it difficult to determine who was superior.

A chill wind swirled through the room, and the lantern hanging in midair swayed incessantly, as if an invisible hand were shaking it.

The young master of Jin said: "That is my master's consideration for you; I, the young master, do not fall for such tricks."

A middle-aged dwarf man floated in from outside, his face only half the width of an average person's, with elongated features almost crowded together. He was entirely wrapped in a piece of black silk, with his hands exposed from the silk, hanging down to his knees.

The man in black remained silent, the green light in his eyes growing ever more intense, while the blood tumor on his forehead swelled further, the dark red deepening continuously, and in a tremor, crimson droplets began to spill outward.

He, along with Sang Tugu, is a figure among the Nine Demons of Tianlu, yet they have never interacted. Sang Tugu lives in seclusion in the Million Great Mountains in the southwest of Tianlu, rarely making an appearance in the world of Dao. However, whenever he does appear, it inevitably stirs up a wave of commotion, and his reputation is certainly not inferior to that of the True Monarch of Tianlong

Yan Shu merely stood to the side, a smile playing on her lips but remaining silent. It seemed as if she secretly wished for these two to fight to a standstill, so that she could reap the benefits as a bystander.

Su Zhiyu let out a terrified cry, tightly clutching Ding Yuan's back and trembling incessantly. With her eyes closed, she wept, "Father, I want my father!"

The young master of Jin held the flute in his hand, placing it to his lips, his face flushed with vitality. He channeled the full extent of his internal energy to play the jade flute, and a melodious sound resonated, emanating a stream of azure wind from the flute's opening

In terms of cultivation, the Heavenly Dragon True Monarch himself may not be exceptionally skilled, but the poisons he employs are nearly impossible to guard against. He rarely confronts his targets directly, often resorting to various poisons in secret, leading many experts to fall victim to him without understanding how it happened

At first, Ding Yuan was somewhat afraid, but upon seeing the giant python transformed from the golden staff, he found himself unable to do anything about the Heavenly Heart Lamp for the moment. He couldn't help but mockingly say: "Old monster, your young master is sitting right here; it seems you are not so impressive after all"

As he saw that he was only a few inches away from Er Xiao, Ding Yuan finally realized. However, before he could call out, a pair of hands, like venomous snakes emerging from their holes, swiftly seized both him and Su Zhiyu. Immediately, an irresistible force came upon them, and amidst their exclamations, they were both yanked under the bed.

On that day, although the Heart Lamp sealed off all four pathways, it was utterly helpless against the attack that came from beneath the ground. Coincidentally, the intruder was a master of earth escape, who took advantage of the fierce battle between Yan Shu, the Heavenly Dragon True Monarch, and Young Master Jin, sneaking out from underground.

The Taoist priest clamped the three-edged dart under his arm and cautiously extended his hands outward from the bed. Strangely enough, although his arms were only half the length of an ordinary person's, they seemed to grow on their own, gradually extending over two meters.

Over time, the title of the Heavenly Dragon True Monarch became increasingly renowned yet also increasingly infamous, being referred to as one of the Nine Demons of Tianlu. Among these nine individuals, the Red Robed Old Demon naturally had the most prominent reputation, yet many people found the Heavenly Dragon True Monarch to be even more troublesome.

Yan Shu turned his eyes and replied, "I am indeed waiting for reinforcements to assist. If they arrive, then you will have even less to do with this matter."

Seeing this, Yan Shu thought to himself: "Although that old poisoner is detestable, he is ultimately not difficult to deal with. If Young Master Jin wins, it will be hard for me to handle tonight." After such contemplation, he devised a plan, raised his purple spirit whip, and with a charming smile said: "Young Master Jin, you are the proud successor of a prestigious and righteous lineage, while both the old poisoner and I belong to the realm of evil. We are, after all, kindred spirits in suffering, so I must offend you tonight!"

As soon as the words were spoken, someone outside coldly remarked: "Indeed, there are no helpers, but there are quite a few enemies!"

She knew that the young master of Jin was a master of the righteous path, and with the assistance of the Xuan Yu Xiao, she did not dare to hold back. Thus, she unleashed her renowned skill, "Ten Thousand Lanterns of Gold".

If it were not for the protection of the Heavenly Heart Lamp, the poisonous gas emitted by that vile python would surely be enough to send both of them to the underworld

I never expected that Master Sangtu would also arrive here, taking advantage of the three people's struggle to snatch away two children. The unknown boy can be overlooked, but that girl is the only cherished jewel of the Su Zhen couple. To think that Master Sangtu managed to seize the opportunity with the Tianxin Lantern, the Heavenly Dragon True Monarch could not help but feel an overwhelming sense of anger.

Ding Yuan stared at the giant python, patting Su Zhiyu's shoulder with his hand, continuously reassuring her: "Don't be afraid, don't be afraid, I'm here!"

The Heavenly Dragon True Monarch exclaimed in surprise, "The East Sea's flat sand sleeves?" With a flick of his hand, the golden silk snake responded and returned.

Yan Shu smiled and said, "Old poisoner, there's no need to waste your efforts. Why not sit down and let us discuss this together."

Yan Shu mediated, saying: "Everyone is here for the same purpose, so why harbor resentment? We should quickly think of a way to solve the Tianxin Lantern. With that young girl in hand, we need not worry about the Su couple not yielding."

The golden giant python suddenly twisted in pain, leaping up like an arrow, crashing through the wall with a thunderous sound. The Heavenly Dragon True Monarch's face turned ashen, urgently summoning the golden staff. By the time the golden light flashed and the staff returned to his hand, its body had twisted out of shape, and its color had dimmed significantly

Donghai Pingsha Island belongs to the prestigious sect of the Orthodox Path, holding a reputation on par with Biluo Mountain within the righteous realm. This young master from Jin is a rare talent who emerges from Pingsha Island once in a century; despite his youth, he has already gained significant fame.

Yan Shu expressed his frustration, saying: "Even so, it is no different from searching for a needle in the ocean"

However, he also underestimated the power of the Tianxin Lamp. This lamp appears to be made of ordinary bronze, but in reality, it is forged from ancient meteorite iron, which even celestial weapons cannot damage in the slightest. The red light emitted from the lamp draws upon the spiritual energy of the heavens and earth accumulated over countless years; how could a mere thousand-year-old python possibly break it? If it were not for this, Su Zhen and his wife would not have dared to leave He and the books with peace of mind

The True Lord of the Heavenly Dragon, unable to contain his anger, roared: "You little thief, how bold you are!" With a slight lift of his hand, a beam of golden light shot towards the throat of Young Master Jin, which was none other than the golden silk snake.

Those arms, like agile serpents, climbed up the edge of the bed, quietly reaching towards Ding Yuan and Su Zhiyu. Although the Taoist was beneath the bed and could not see what was happening on it, his hands seemed to have eyes of their own, moving with unerring precision.

The Heavenly Dragon True Monarch said: "He won't run far; Sang Tugu has taken that girl and will inevitably seek to negotiate terms with the Su couple. He will definitely not leave this city."

He muttered incantations, his eyes radiating a chilling green light. The serpent staff in his left hand gradually lifted into the air, suddenly transforming into a massive golden python, its gaping maw exhaling a foul wind as it lunged toward Su Zhiyu on the bed

The Heavenly Dragon True Monarch's expression changed as he said: "Even your master, Old Ghost You, would not dare to speak to me in such a tone. Are you tired of living?"

The radiant light is named "Thousand Colors, Ten Thousand Poisons", a lethal spell perfected by the Heavenly Dragon True Monarch after a century of secluded cultivation. In order to master "Thousand Colors, Ten Thousand Poisons", countless deadly substances from the world have perished at the hands of the Heavenly Dragon True Monarch over the span of sixty years

Yan Shu looked up at the Tianxin lamp, let out a soft sigh, and his figure vanished within the room

The young master of Jin coldly laughed in dissatisfaction and said, "That may not be the case!" After saying this, he turned and walked out of the guest room, leaving one to wonder whether he truly intended to seek out Su Zhen and his wife

The gaze of the young man in white swept coldly over Yan Shu and the Heavenly Dragon True Monarch, and he sneered, "Two demonic sect monsters dare to be so audacious here. If you do not wish to leave on your own, let me assist you in your departure."

His appearance is quite comical; his short and stout body resembles an inflated round ball, with limbs that are half the length of an average person's. On his bald head, there are a pair of small eyes the size of beans. He is dressed in a dusty yellow robe, resembling a monk, but instead of holding a whisk, he wields a four-foot-long dark triangular dart.

Yan Shu let out a series of delicate giggles and said: "Old poisoner, what big talk are you spouting? It is you who is at a disadvantage now, isn't it? I advise you to leave quickly; when Su Zhen returns, he can handle you with just one hand"

Yan Shu and the Heavenly Dragon True Monarch have also noticed, and the three of them together ceased their actions and looked towards beneath the bed

Yan Shu stamped his foot and said in a delicate voice: "It's all your fault, what are we to do now?"

The golden staff in his hand was originally forged from a thousand-year-old giant python captured in Heifeng Mountain over a hundred years ago, and it, along with the golden-threaded snake at the top of the staff, serves as a treasure for self-defense. Although the Tianxin Lantern is an ancient divine artifact, the True Monarch of the Heavenly Dragon, confident in the power of the golden staff, insisted on testing it.

As the giant python transformed by the golden staff unleashed its power, the light barrier shrank smaller and smaller, nearly pressing against the two individuals. The massive python was in close proximity to Ding Yuan and Su Zhiyu, almost within reach, as its enormous head menacingly opened its mouth wide, releasing a suffocating green mist.

The Taoist squatted down, his head just touching the bed board, with a pair of round little ears perked up to listen to the sounds outside, a proud smile appearing on his face

He appears to be in his thirties, with a hawkish nose and thin lips. His eyes seem to be half-open, and there is a strong aura of menace between his brows

The young master of Jin sneered, "He used earth escape to flee far away, where will you go to find him?"

However, the flute music of Young Master Jin grew increasingly high-pitched, while the gale became ever more vigorous, making it seem as if there was still more power behind it, causing oneself to inevitably appear inferior in comparison

The martial arts of Sang Tugu are rather ordinary, but his earth escape technique is unparalleled in the world. As long as he stands with both feet on the ground, even a Great Luo Golden Immortal cannot do anything to him

Although Ding Yuan was left dumbfounded, Yan Shu had already concealed a spiritual pill in his mouth and hidden in a corner. Even so, he felt a wave of dizziness and could not help but be secretly alarmed, thinking: "This old poison master does not know when he cultivated such a vicious spell. Fortunately, it is not aimed at me; otherwise, I would have to rely on the Purple Spirit Whip to escape."

In this way, the young master of Jin found himself in a bit of a bind. He had finally begun to gain the upper hand in his confrontation with the True Monarch of the Heavenly Dragon, but Yan Shu chose this moment to intervene. With no other choice, he had to allocate thirty percent of his protective energy to shield himself, which immediately allowed the True Monarch of the Heavenly Dragon to breathe a sigh of relief

The Heavenly Dragon True Monarch let out a strange howl, opening its small mouth to emit a dazzling array of multicolored light, which shot directly towards Young Master Jin.

The Heavenly Dragon True Monarch snorted, "Are we really going to directly confront the Su couple to demand that item? Even with nine experts dispatched from Biluo Mountain, we might not be able to handle the Su couple. Even if the three of us join forces, I fear we would not be enough to deal with Su alone"

The young lord of Jin also received the East Sea's flat sand sleeves and said proudly, "You may use any tricks you have."

Ding Yuan was nervously watching the three people fighting in the room, while Su Zhiyu obediently dared only to crouch on Ding Yuan's back, completely unaware that a pair of hands was reaching out towards her from under the bed

The young lord of Jin, unhurried and composed, waved his long sleeves, the dark cuffs billowing without wind, as if the golden silk snake were eager to enter his sleeve by itself

The giant python seemed to be aware of the power of the Heartlight, daring only to approach the red glow slowly. Its body, measuring over ten meters in length, circled around the dome formed by the red light several times before gradually shrinking towards the inside.

The throat of the man in black emitted a hissing sound, urging the giant python to exert its full strength and contract inward, distorting the protective shield, yet it remained unbroken

Although Ding Yuan was also afraid in his heart, he did not show it on his face at all. He always remembered a lesson he had learned through blood: "The more afraid you are, the more pleased your oppressors will be."

From this point onward, there has been a saying in the realm of celestial and demonic paths: "The azure sea is easy to cross, but the celestial melodies are difficult to calm"

If one were to look out from the house at this moment, it would appear as though the house is enveloped by a strange red orb of light, swaying yet not falling.

The True Lord of the Heavenly Dragon sternly declared: "Go settle accounts with the Lord of Mulberry Soil!"

Ding Yuan saw that the Heavenly Dragon True Monarch was at a disadvantage, and with a firm resolve in his heart, he coldly laughed and said: "Old monster, feel free to use any tricks you have left; I am here to receive them."

What is even more unsettling is that this person is completely naked, with their body covered in golden scales, each about the size of a thumb nail. On their forehead, there protrudes a dark red, blood-like tumor the size of an egg, making the entire appearance extraordinarily bizarre.

Under normal circumstances, his actions would have been noticed by the people in the house long ago. However, at this moment, the full attention of the three individuals was focused on their opponent, completely overlooking this Taoist priest. Moreover, his method of appearance was quite peculiar, as he had actually used earth escape to burrow under the bed

Although his character is somewhat eccentric, he has not committed many truly bad deeds. Due to his naturally dull disposition and a slight stutter, he is often ridiculed by others in the library. As a result, Sang Tugu rarely appears in public, and the negative comments from both the righteous and demonic factions about him are not particularly numerous.

The True Lord of the Heavenly Dragon must feel great sorrow; this golden staff, which he has painstakingly cultivated for over a hundred years to attain its current power, has been so easily shattered by the Heavenly Heart Lamp. It is feared that even after another fifty years, he may not be able to restore it to its present level.

"Sangtu Gong, I refuse to believe that I cannot find you!" Tianlong Zhenjun spat a thick phlegm with great force, and a cold wind swept through the room, leaving no one behind.

In the eyes of Ding Yuan and Su Zhiyu, this person resembles a demon more than anything else

Although the cultivation of the Young Master of Jin is not comparable to that of the predecessors from years past, how could the True Monarch of the Heavenly Dragon dare to be negligent? He exerted all his strength, drawing upon the foundation he had cultivated for over a hundred years, and barely managed to fight to a draw with the Young Master of Jin

He steeled himself and stared at the giant python, waiting for the moment when the Heart Lamp could no longer hold out, ready to pounce on the creature. No matter what, he could not allow it to harm Su Zhiyu. This was a promise he had made to Su Zhen, and he would risk his life to fulfill it

Although it was pitch dark under the bed, the three individuals possessed remarkable eyesight, and they could see the Taoist priest in a yellow robe sinking a child into the ground, one in each hand

The sound of the xiao gradually rose, playing a piece titled "The Melody of the Rising Tides of the Azure Sea." It is said that during the prime of the third generation leader of the Ping Sha Island in the East Sea, this set of skills known as "The Melody of the Rising Tides of the Azure Sea" was created. Even renowned masters of the Tianlu realm found it difficult to endure the sound of the xiao for the duration of a single incense stick. Even Qu Nanping, one of the top ten masters of the demonic path of Tianlu at that time, managed to barely listen to the entire piece but ultimately coughed up blood and died that very night.

The young master of Jin disdainfully said: "As a distinguished member of a reputable family, how could I possibly ally with a monster? Hurry up and leave."

The young master of Jin was the first to sense that something was amiss. Out of the corner of his eye, he caught sight of a pair of plump hands dragging Ding Yuan and Su Zhi Yu down from the bed. In a moment of urgency, Zhi Xiao shouted, "There is someone under the bed!"

In Ding Yuan's view, this ray of colorful light was merely interesting; however, the young master of Jin suddenly appeared serious for the first time, his gaze fixed on the ray of light, and with a flick of his right hand, a jade flute appeared in his grasp.

At this thought, a surge of malice suddenly arose, and in a furious roar, he exclaimed: "What a bold Su Zhen, so light and graceful, daring to ruin my treasured possessions. Today, I shall fight you to the death!"

The once bustling guest room suddenly fell silent, with only the Tianxin lamp still hanging in midair, softly emitting a red glow, yet the person on the bed was no longer there

Under the pressure of the giant python, the light shield gradually shrank, slowly retreating towards the edge of the bed, yet the brilliance within it grew ever brighter, continuously emitting a buzzing sound

The jade flute in his hand is also one of the seven treasures of the Ping Sha Island in the East Sea, made from the ethereal and exquisite Xuan jade that has been passed down through nine generations to the young master of Jin. Since his debut, the young master of Jin has rarely revealed this jade flute, relying instead on the exceptional skills of his sect. However, given the perilous situation today, he can no longer afford to be overly cautious.

Then, with a swift motion of the purple spirit whip, hundreds of lotus flowers, each the size of an infant's palm, emerged from the whip, shimmering with a golden-purple radiance, and were propelled by the wind towards Young Master Jin in overwhelming force

Those who know the Man in Black refer to him as "Old Poisonous Creature," and he remains unperturbed by this. In fact, the Man in Black's true name is Qiu Lingyi, and in his early years, he was also known as the True Lord of the Heavenly Dragon. However, he does not raise dragons; instead, he keeps a number of venomous creatures such as snakes and scorpions, often using them to harm others

The status of this man in black is above that of Yan Shu and others, and he is of the same generation as Qianqiu Zhen, the master of the Seven Sons of Biluo from one hundred and fifty years ago. However, one is righteous and the other is evil, leading to their lack of interaction, and their reputations are vastly different

Although Ding Yuan found it difficult to discern the dangers within, he understood that regardless of who won, it would bring him no benefit. He could only hope that they would continue to fight, until Su Zhen and his wife returned

The colorful light, which nurtures the myriad poisons of the world, collided with the gale imbued with the ethereal essence of the universe, forming a rolling sphere of light. The azure gale surrounded it, while the vibrant colors swirled within, resulting in a momentary stalemate.

Su Zhiyu, who was originally frightened to the point of tears, now did not even dare to cry. She curled up tightly, burying her head in Ding Yuan's back, closing her eyes and clinging to him desperately.

Yan Shu's expression changed suddenly, but she quickly smiled and said: "I was wondering who it could be; it turns out to be Young Master Jin from Ping Sha Island in the East China Sea"

The face of the Heavenly Dragon True Monarch grew increasingly dark. Among the three, he was the one who suffered the most. His golden staff was rendered unrecognizable by the Heavenly Heart Lamp, and in the end, he was left with nothing.

Yet, no matter how fiercely the three fought, the red glow of the heart lamp that day always enveloped Ding Yuan and Su Zhi Yu by the bedside, leaving them unscathed

Only a faint green wind swirled around the body of the young master of Jin, as hundreds of golden lotuses flew up and down, surrounding him closely, yet they could not break through the protective wind surrounding the young master of Jin

In his left hand, he held a golden serpent staff that was twice the height of others, with a slender golden snake, three-tenths thinner than the small snake that had just died, coiled around the top of the staff, raising its triangular head and hissing while expelling a red tongue

The Heavenly Dragon True Monarch chuckled, "Do you take me for a three-year-old? You, the Purple Lotus Demoness, have always acted alone; where would you find any helpers?"

A young man in white entered the room, and the temperature inside the room immediately dropped significantly

Ding Yuan looked at the few people in front of him, fearing that they could do nothing about the Tianxin Lantern. He temporarily set aside his worries, yet he did not realize that they had already begun to quarrel among themselves.

After the True Lord of the Heavenly Dragon mastered this skill, he was determined to make a name for himself in the Heavenly Land and establish his reputation. He would never resort to using his hidden abilities unless absolutely necessary. However, today, his expedition did not go well; he lost the golden staff he had cultivated for many years, and the golden silk snake was nearly captured by Young Master Jin using the Eastern Sea's flat sand sleeve. In a fit of anger and humiliation, he resorted to the "Thousand Colors and Ten Thousand Poisons Technique" to regain his face

As the light shield reached its peak, the Tianxin lamp suddenly emitted a crisp metallic sound, and the wick burst forth with dazzling red light. The light shield rebounded outward like a balloon filled to capacity, causing the entire room to tremble.

"Sangtu Gong!" the True Lord of the Heavenly Dragon gritted his teeth and shouted

The True Lord of the Heavenly Dragon and Young Master Jin faced each other with fierce expressions, swords drawn and tension palpable. Their recent encounter appeared evenly matched on the surface, yet even Ding Yuan could discern that the True Lord of the Heavenly Dragon, having lost his golden staff, would likely find it very difficult to contend with that Young Master Jin.

Ordinary people should not even mention touching it; even catching a whiff of the foul odor emanating from the "Thousand Colors and Ten Thousand Poisons" would cause their entire body to rot and perish instantly. Even a celestial master like the young noble of Jin must treat this matter with great caution.

Three people in the room were engaged in a heated argument, when unexpectedly, a person emerged from beneath the bed.

The man in black spoke in a hoarse voice, akin to a snake hissing: "I refuse to believe this evil!"

But how could the masters of Biluo Mountain be easily dealt with? Moreover, there is also the Biluo Nine Springs Sword Formation. Although Su Zhen and his wife can be considered the top experts of this era, it would be difficult for them to achieve victory in an instant