Wet viviparity

Chapter 990: Invite the Immortal, Zhengfa Tower
At the dilapidated dock of the market, a fish spirit with a huge fish head on its head, wearing an ill-fitting, rusty armor stained with dried blood, was proudly brandishing a steel fork it had picked up.

"Hurry up and carry those good timbers to the east side."

The deity said that a "True Dharma Divine Tower" would be built there, and from then on, our Yunyu Temple would be a renowned and respected righteous sect in the southeast of Baoguang Prefecture.

The black carp spirit had a loud voice, its whiskers danced wildly, and spittle flew from its flat lips.

He kicked a shrimp soldier who was slowly carrying stones and cursed, "Didn't you eat? You're working for God, how could I treat you badly? Look at my new outfit, it used to be worn by the servants under Master Zhao's 'Renlong', but now it's mine."

He patted his armor triumphantly, making a clanging sound, and boasted to the group of strange little demons around him: "The God is truly powerful. Those mudfish and snakes from the Zhao family look majestic, but in the God's hands they are like noodles."

From now on, this Dragon Gate will be our home.

We'll follow the gods, enjoying the finest food and drink, and cultivate the supreme Dharma!

Not content with just talking, they started singing, and the spirits joined in, filling the neighborhood with a joyful atmosphere.

At a tea stall in the neighborhood, Jiang Shiliu and his fellow disciples Min and Yang sat there again, but the eldest disciple, Zhou, was missing.

After the Battle of Longmen, the three of them were captured but were soon pardoned on the spot. The reason was that Yunyu Temple had declared that its relocation to Baoguang Prefecture was not to become a demonic and evil party, but to act on behalf of Heaven, respond to the call, and help the Zhenling Sect to set things right.

After examining Jiang Shiliu and the others at Yunyu Temple, it was only said that the three of them were accomplices of the Zhao family and were also members of the scattered sects of the Zhenling Sect, who had no choice in their own lives. In addition, with Quan Shougong acting as guarantor, they were pardoned.

After going around in circles, they returned to the place where it all began.

“Look at these demons.”

The tall and thin Min Hanshi glanced disdainfully at the Yunyu Temple soldiers who claimed to be on the righteous path but were actually bandits, and said, "Where is the ability to accomplish anything? Yet you dare to shout the slogan of acting on behalf of Heaven. Aren't you afraid of attracting the attention of Heaven?"

The short and stout Yang Geng had recovered his senses. Although there was sadness in his eyes, he was still able to rationally analyze the situation.

"That's how demons are. If they follow the king, they have territory and food to eat. They don't have to hide and run away. They can win his heart."

However, if the Yunyu Temple truly intends to reform and replace the Zhao clan, then these demonic and heretical soldiers below are destined to be worn down in future battles, otherwise, they might tarnish the reputation of the orthodox sect.

"Do you believe that the righteous god can do it?" Min Hanshi asked.

"Do not believe."

Yang Geng shook his head and said, "The mountain that Zhao Tan, the fourth ancestor of the Xuanhu Sect, is is one that he can never overcome in his lifetime. However, if the righteous gods can truly utilize the heavenly rule of 'Heaven and Earth are separated, and immortals do not disturb' to maintain a long-term stalemate with the Zhao family, it doesn't mean there's no chance of a turnaround."

The "immortals do not disturb" here refers to those great immortals who hold official positions in the celestial ranks.

However, those reclusive earth immortals who live among humans do not hold official positions in heaven, nor are they listed in the Taiyi system. They are scattered immortals, and if they are invited, they have no scruples.

Even the righteous gods, in the end, are below the immortals. They are merely comparable to the elders in our sect who have cultivated the "Spirit and Flesh Chapter" and can transform their essence and blood into spirit. If it weren't for their extraordinary supernatural abilities, they might not have been able to capture Longmen and defeat the Zhao family's army today.

“Shi Liu, do you have something to say? Don’t keep things bottled up inside. Senior Brother Zhou’s revenge will be taken against the righteous gods sooner or later,” Min Hanshi said.

Jiang Shiliu was deathly pale; the sword wound Zhao Ni had inflicted on him had not yet healed. His eyes were fixed on two objects on the table: the gourd left behind by Jiang Zheng after his death, and the short fork left behind by the Iron Fork Taoist. The former was a hot potato that he couldn't easily get rid of, while the latter was an elder's heirloom that Inu no Shou had ordered him to accept. Each of these items would bring him endless trouble.

In the newly built Zhengfa Tower on the original site of Qianlong Tower, Man Shenying, who was in charge of all affairs, had mixed feelings.

Compared to the fervor of his soldiers, his emotions were quite contradictory. Since the righteous god returned from his pilgrimage to the immortal mountain and gained the emperor's approval, he had naturally relinquished power, since there was really nothing to fight over in the dilapidated state of the temple.

Following this, he was dispatched to launch surprise attacks on various sacred mountains, Taoist properties, and even some large and small markets of the Zhao clan's collateral branches in Baoguang Prefecture.

Although he was involved in the plan, Man Shenying knew that he was ultimately separated from the righteous gods. On the contrary, the Taoists of Taiping Mountain were very close to him, as if they were one family or party, without any suspicion or distrust.

"Ling Xuzi really has such influence that he can make people turn to each other."

Man Shenying was both confused and resentful, after all, he and Ling Xuzi had a feud over the killing of his sister.

"No, if this continues, the Righteous God and my Cloud and Rain Temple will truly become pawns."

He has the Emperor's approval, and I absolutely cannot disobey him. However, I cannot allow things to develop this way. At the very least, the righteous gods, under this cooperation, must have their own thoughts and ideas, and cannot follow the example of those people from Taiping Mountain in everything.”

"The true law is to correct evil and lead people to righteousness."

He muttered these unsettling words to himself, wondering if this Earthly Deity, who had suddenly risen to power, ruthlessly destroyed the Dragon Gate, suppressed several powerful individuals, and forced back the Zhao family's reinforcements, could truly lead them out of this predicament.
As he pondered, Man Shenying tasted a hint of bitterness in his mouth.

These old devils, burdened with blood debts and accustomed to doing whatever they please, are not so easily changed.

He had no idea what their place was in the heart of this reborn righteous god, or what kind of tool they were. However, his long-standing commitment to upholding the temple's lineage prevented him from doing anything rebellious or disloyal.

Inside the quiet room, flames surged.

These flames were struck one by one by the palm into Zhao Mingyan's scorched hair and distorted face.

The head was being refined into a magical artifact by Ji Ming's fire-refining method. Strange light shone through the eyes, ears, nose, and mouth, casting swaying spots of light on the walls and making the entire quiet room look like a ghostly realm.

On the lower jawbone of the skull, there was a string of tiny copper bells. Zhao Mingyan's Yin spirit was refined within them, serving as the medium to activate the magical artifact's spiritual power. The copper bells slowly rotated with the skull, emitting a series of tinkling sounds capable of confusing the primordial spirit.

After refining this magical artifact, the six arms were finally crossed together on the high altar in the center of the chamber.

In the palm of the topmost hand, the primordial spirit condensed into a blurry, slender figure of light, holding a jade seal.

Ding Ruyi stood to the side, her expression calm, though a hint of displeasure lingered in her eyes at the fact that a righteous god had forged such a vile weapon. Quan Shougong, on the other hand, lowered his eyelids, his true form concealed, appearing as if he were in deep meditation, oblivious to everything before him.

"Zhao Tan is tied to the Central Plains by destiny and has to keep an eye on Ling Xuzi. Even if I cause this much trouble, I doubt he will be able to spare any attention."

The most capable person they have is the Caihu Zen Master, who was banished to the mortal realm and is no longer bound by heavenly rules. However, I suspect they won't be able to persuade him. Therefore, their next step will definitely be to send out invitations to the True Spirit Sect's True Immortals, who are on good terms with the Zhao family, owe them favors, or are already dissatisfied with my "reformation."

Which celestial being in this mortal realm do you believe will be my next great enemy?

(End of this chapter)