CHAPTER 183: CHAPTER 157: SUBMISSION

「Ten years.」

"Su Mei, your abilities are truly wasted on being a dark agent," Chen Jiuge said with some surprise as he looked at the bustling crowd on the street.

Originally, making Su Mei the Empress was like a last-ditch effort, a shot in the dark to let her try. To his surprise, however, she performed very well, even far exceeding Chen Jiuge’s expectations.

"My lord, I was previously responsible for the servant disciples at the Sect, so I have some experience with these matters," Su Mei said with a touch of pride.

Ye Qingqing’s lips twitched. The reason Su Mei had been in charge of servant disciples was that her master considered her too foolish for anything else and had assigned her there. Who would have thought that Chen Jiuge would see potential in her precisely because of this? How unpredictable the world is.

Su Mei managed the dynasty’s operations, Ye Qingqing dealt with natural disasters afflicting the Great Cheng Dynasty, and the National Protection Army was responsible for eradicating Demon Cultivators. The Great Cheng Dynasty was now more than ten times as prosperous as it had ever been.

After all, with a Cultivator as Emperor, the power of ordinary mortal families mattered little. Anyone who disobeyed or violated the law would have their ashes scattered to the winds without a second thought.

"I should head back. I’ve been out for a while, and that Hou is starting to get restless again," Chen Jiuge said, a headache forming as he noted the late hour and thought of the creature in his hall.

「State Preceptor Hall, Side Hall」

Upon entering, Chen Jiuge saw Yue Li pressing down on the Hou, which was bound by the Vajra Lock.

Even restrained by the Vajra Lock, the Hou could still wriggle slightly, almost like a caterpillar!?

"What’s going on? Why is it so agitated today?" Chen Jiuge asked, observing the Hou struggling more intensely than usual.

"I don’t know either. Usually, at most, it would just roar a bit," Yue Li replied, clearly irritated. He had been watching it for ten years, and the creature was still so unruly.

「Xuanwu Peak」

Cai Yue watched his six-year-old son, Cai Kun, cultivate for the first time. A scarlet iron chain appeared behind the boy, extending in the direction of the Great Cheng Dynasty.

Cai Yue sighed, It really is no good.

With a pained expression, he took out a True Buddha Relic. Looking at Cai Kun, who was still cultivating, Cai Yue grumbled, "When you grow up, you must repay me tenfold for this."

After saying this, he caused Cai Kun to fall into a deep slumber and then hurried towards the Great Cheng Dynasty.

"Elder Cai, what brings you here?"

The previously agitated Hou had suddenly calmed down. Although Chen Jiuge found this puzzling, it was a welcome development, saving him further trouble.

"I’m here to deal with the Hou," Cai Yue said, his expression complex.

This disciple before me is truly fortunate, Cai Yue thought. If Cai Kun and I had possessed sufficient resources to exchange for this True Buddha Relic back then, we wouldn’t have needed to set up such a complex and error-prone arrangement.

Now that the Hou was revived, its Spiritual Wisdom had been devoured by its ferocity. The karmic line connected to Cai Kun could not be severed. While this wouldn’t prevent Cai Kun from cultivating, becoming an immortal again was now virtually impossible.

"You’ve caught a break, kid," Cai Yue still felt a pang of regret.

Chen Jiuge looked at Elder Cai, completely baffled. What did I do? I haven’t done anything.

Entering the side hall, Cai Yue’s expression became even more complicated as he looked at the Hou, bound by the Vajra Lock and deep in slumber. A Heaven and Earth Holy Weapon! Who could have given him this? How can a mere Mahayana Cultivator possess a Heaven and Earth Holy Weapon? This kid is just incredibly lucky to get a Hou for free!

"Kid, I will use the True Buddha Relic to cleanse the Hou’s ferocity. Due to karmic reasons, I cannot form a Contract with it, so this Hou will be yours. However, you will owe me a favor," Cai Yue said earnestly.

Thinking about it, this disciple is only at the Mahayana Realm, yet he can suppress the Ten Fierce Ones of the same rank. Although the Hou is currently irrational and relying only on physical instinct, it’s enough to demonstrate this disciple’s talent and potential. He also possesses a Heaven and Earth Holy Weapon; regardless of how he obtained it, his fortuitous encounters are clearly extraordinary.

Chen Jiuge considered it for a moment and then agreed.

I may only be a Mahayana Cultivator now, but becoming an immortal is only a matter of time. If even a Cultivator like me cannot achieve immortality, then there are likely few in this world who can. As for what Elder Cai might ask for with this favor after I become an immortal, I don’t care, as long as it doesn’t violate my principles. Dealing with the Hou’s ferocity is probably not just an act of kindness from Elder Cai; there must be other reasons. Worst case, I could forcibly extract the Hou’s Bloodline, but nurturing one from scratch would be incredibly slow. Having a ready-made combatant is, of course, far better.

Seeing Chen Jiuge agree, Cai Yue felt considerably better. It’s not a complete loss, at least I’ve gained a favor from a genius.

Clearing his mind of distracting thoughts, Cai Yue took out the True Buddha Relic.

A True Buddha was equivalent to a Heavenly Immortal Realm Cultivator. Cai Yue had obtained this relic recently through a perilous venture into a Secret Realm.

The moment the relic appeared, images of young novices in various forms materialized throughout the grand hall. These novices bore solemn expressions, continuously chanting various Buddhist Scriptures.

Upon hearing the Buddhist Scriptures, Chen Jiuge felt as if all the impurities in his mind and spirit were cleansed, leaving him in a state of desirelessness and thoughtlessness.

Cai Yue fed the Living Buddha Relic to the Hou.

Two phenomena, one golden and one red, emerged from the Hou’s body.

Watching the two equally matched auras, Chen Jiuge asked with concern, "Elder Cai, will this work?"

"What do you think? This is the essence of a True Buddha, equivalent to a Heavenly Immortal using their entire life’s Tao Fruit to cleanse ferocity. Do you think it will work or not?" Cai Yue retorted, slightly annoyed.

As time passed, the red phenomenon began to show signs of weakening, gradually being suppressed by the golden light. However, the process was incredibly slow. After observing for two days and seeing little change, Chen Jiuge left the side hall.

「One month later」

As a sonorous Buddhist chant echoed throughout the Imperial City, Chen Jiuge knew it was over.

Arriving at the side hall, Chen Jiuge noticed that the atmosphere between the Hou and Elder Cai Yue was somewhat tense.

"What happened here?" Chen Jiuge asked Yue Li, who had been in the side hall the entire time.

"It seems the Hou recovered its memories from its past life. Then, recalling why it lost control, it started arguing with Elder Cai," Yue Li’s vocabulary was limited, so he could only offer a vague explanation.

"Cai Yue! And Cai Kun! If it weren’t for him back then, how could I have lost control and been driven out by my own kin?" the Hou’s voice, filled with hatred, rang out.

Cai Yue said with a hint of helplessness, "Hou, so many years have passed. Cai Kun has also been reincarnated and is cultivating anew. And I have thoroughly cleansed the ferocity from your body."

The Hou snorted coldly and said nothing. Indeed, my ferocity has been cleansed. I’m still alive, and though my cultivation is a bit low now, that’s a minor issue. I’ve always been a home-loving beast anyway. Cultivating back to an immortal just means spending a bit more time. Most importantly, I can’t beat Cai Yue right now. A smart beast doesn’t take unnecessary losses. I’ll wait until my cultivation improves.

"Wait, what is this? Why is there a Contract on me?!" The Hou sensed the unfamiliar Contract chain in its mind and became enraged.

Cai Yue glanced at Chen Jiuge and said, "It’s your Spiritual Beast; you deal with it."

Then, Cai Yue quickly slipped away. Watching the irresponsible Elder, Chen Jiuge cursed inwardly a couple of times before turning to the Hou and saying, "It’s mine."

"Kid, release me now!" the Hou demanded angrily.

"Alright. Defeat me, and I’ll set you free. If you can’t, you’re my Spiritual Beast," Chen Jiuge decided to resolve this in the most primitive way.

"You said it," the Hou sneered, thinking Chen Jiuge an ignorantly arrogant Cultivator.

「Arriving at the desolate, bitterly cold land at the far north of the Great Cheng Dynasty」

This area had suffered a blizzard last year and was now afflicted by drought; no ordinary people lived here anymore.

"This place will do," Chen Jiuge said with satisfaction after sensing the surrounding Life Aura.

"Eat this!" The Hou, still quite angry, lashed out with a massive blow.

Dharma Manifestation!

As Chen Jiuge’s form suddenly grew larger, the Hou skidded to a halt and leaped back. "I can do that too! True Form!"

A giant and a colossal beast faced off. The Hou attacked first, again leading with a massive blow. Chen Jiuge was rather speechless; this Hou’s Resentment is truly something else!

This battle was different from before. This Hou possessed Spiritual Wisdom and had awakened the memories of its past life as a True Immortal, making it extremely difficult to deal with. Fortunately, the Dharma Manifestation technique, which his Senior Brother Wudao Tian had guided him on, was extraordinary. The enhancement to his physical body was immense, allowing them to be evenly matched in that regard at least.

Panting heavily, the Hou looked at the Cultivator before it, feeling aggrieved. Damn it, I can’t even land a hit! This is infuriating for a beast!

"Kid, I’m getting serious now! Don’t you dare die on me!"

A tremendous amount of Spiritual Energy gathered in the Hou’s throat—Divine Skill: Heavenly Sound Roar!

Under the effect of Spiritual Energy, an invisible sound wave manifested as a horn-shaped blast, hurtling towards Chen Jiuge at high speed.

Sky Blue!

Countless Spirit Plants sprang up, forming a barrier in the path of the advancing sound wave. They could only momentarily hinder it, but that was enough.

Chen Jiuge’s form began to change. Dharma Manifestation’s Divine Skill—Three Heads and Six Arms! Six Magic Artifacts appeared in his hands, striking at a single point—Divine Skill: Six Lives!

The violent collision shattered the earth, sending dust and debris flying everywhere.

Adhering to the ’all smoke, no real harm’ principle of such clashes, neither Chen Jiuge nor the Hou were seriously injured, though their Spiritual Energy was significantly depleted.

However, one fought for freedom, and the other to subdue the Hou; naturally, neither would stop.

An unknown amount of time passed. Chen Jiuge had reverted to his original form, and the Hou could no longer sustain the immense energy consumption of its true form.

After another collision, both staggered back, and one of them unsteadily sat heavily on the ground.

The Hou said with a measure of respect, "You’re the first Cultivator I’ve met who can fight me to a draw at the same level. Let’s call it a draw this time. You set me free, and I’ll go back and give you my former Treasures. I also know the whereabouts of a Taowu cub. How about you catch the Taowu and then set me free?"

Chen Jiuge’s eyes lit up upon hearing this. "I didn’t expect you to know the whereabouts of a Taowu cub. Excellent! However, we’re not at a draw, you see."

The Vajra Lock flew from Chen Jiuge, binding the Hou. He could withstand the Hou’s blows for so long largely thanks to the Vajra Lock coiled around his body; otherwise, his body wouldn’t have been nearly as tough as the Hou’s.

"What is this? A Heaven and Earth Holy Weapon!" The Hou, bound like a rice dumpling, cried out unwillingly.

"Well? I won, didn’t I?" Chen Jiuge said with a smile.

The Hou retorted resentfully, "I don’t accept it! You cheated!"

"Are you trying to go back on your word? The consequences for that won’t be pleasant, you know," Chen Jiuge’s expression hardened.

"I don’t care! I still don’t accept it! This isn’t your true strength!" the Hou bellowed.

Looking at the stubborn creature, Chen Jiuge suddenly had an idea.

Seeing Chen Jiuge’s mischievous smile, the Hou had a bad feeling. "What are you planning to do?"

"You’ll find out soon enough."