But the subsequent turn of events had completely exceeded Mo Tianjun’s expectations.
Ye Yu’s growth rate was astonishingly fast—so fast that before Mo Tianjun could react, Ye Yu had already caught up to him.
Thus Mo Tianjun continued to curry favor with Ye Yu, even sending Banxia over in person. In truth, Mo Tianjun’s real aim was for Banxia to closely monitor Ye Yu’s cultivation methods and advancement. Unfortunately, ever since stepping into Wuwei Tower, that rogue demon-cultivator had completely gone rogue and refused to obey any orders—much to Mo Tianjun’s displeasure. He hadn’t yet had the chance to punish Banxia when the Pseudo-God appeared again.
Everything from that point on proved that Ye Yu’s strength had utterly slipped beyond his control. In this so-called “investment game,” Mo Tianjun truly had botched the plan. But with matters having reached this stage, surrender was out of the question—especially after Ye Yu’s cryptic remark in the Divine Physician’s sanctum, as if he had already seen through it all and was waiting for Mo Tianjun’s move.
Very well. Then they would have to fight.
A victory would let Mo Tianjun shatter the Void as planned and ascend to the Divine Realm. Defeat? He judged it highly unlikely.
After hearing Mo Tianjun’s confession, Ye Yu raised an eyebrow. Frankly, the Assimilation Path hadn’t surprised him—what did astonish him was Mo Tianjun’s overweening confidence. The same cultivator who, after defeating the Pseudo-God, had run away, now dared to claim he could kill Ye Yu? Who gave him that courage? Or did he still have some secret trump card?
Curiosity won out, and Ye Yu voiced his doubt. Mo Tianjun gave no direct answer, only murmuring, “You’ll know soon enough.”
Seeing Mo Tianjun already assume a combat posture, Ye Yu ceased his questioning. If that was the case, then they would settle it in battle!
Just as Ye Yu was about to make the first move, a tiny wing tugged at him.
“Moo!”
It was Xiao Meng. Ye Yu felt a pang of warmth and asked, “You want to help fight too?”
“Moo moo moo!” Xiao Meng shook its head like a rattle and then began gesturing wildly with its hooves.
A Kong hastily stepped forward as translator. “Boss, Xiao Meng’s saying that we’re too weak—we’d get caught in the crossfire. Why don’t you let us hide farther away before you start? Or set up a formation to protect us? Otherwise, we’ll be done for!”
Xiao Meng nodded vigorously and even gave a hoof-thumbs-up signal. Ye Yu’s momentary warmth vanished. He’d thought these two spirit beasts wanted to aid in battle—only to discover he’d been mistaken. How disappointing!
Ye Yu casually formed a sealing formation, enveloping Xiao Meng and A Kong completely in protective barriers—granting them maximum security.
Taking advantage of this moment, Mo Tianjun struck. The Three-In-One seal appeared again as all three voices intoned in unison, “Arrival of the Corpse Deity!”
In an instant, within the blood-red formation, darkness flooded in and a decayed wooden coffin reappeared. As its lid was torn open, the Corpse Deity Dongfang Po was summoned once more—but, as before, only as a projection. Having already witnessed it, Ye Yu felt no shock. A projection that the Pseudo-God Hualiujing couldn’t defeat? Now it was brought out against him? What use was this?
Mo Tianjun offered five thousand Immortal Souls. “Corpse Deity, I beg you—hold him for the time of one incense stick!”
At these words, even Dongfang Po was taken aback. After absorbing the souls, he asked coldly, “You summoned me not to kill him, but merely to block him?”
“That’s correct—only to block him. I need him alive. Of course, if you can control him, all the better!” Mo Tianjun bowed his head respectfully, though inwardly he sneered. This Corpse Deity projection might trouble an ordinary Immortal Emperor, but against Ye Yu it stood no chance. Still, he would grant it face—at least enough to keep the plan on schedule.
Dongfang Po said in a deep voice, “I will subdue him now, but you must provide another five thousand Immortal Souls.”
“Agreed!” Mo Tianjun clasped his hands sincerely. With no further hesitation, Dongfang Po charged at Ye Yu, while Mo Tianjun rotated his wrist and produced a tattered cloak from his storage ring. He calmly began forming hand seals with six arms.
As he moved, the cloak glowed faintly, emitting a familiar aura that drew Ye Yu’s and Dongfang Po’s attention.
“This is ... divine power?” Ye Yu murmured.
Before he could finish, thunder roared outside the formation. Mo Tianjun’s fingers flew through the seals, his face alight with wonder.
“It’s «N.o.v.e.l.i.g.h.t» no surprise the Corpse Deity discerns divine power, but you, Immortal Ye, are quite well-informed—aware even of divine power?” he teased.
Ye Yu remained silent, fixing his gaze on the damaged cloak. An artifact? Perhaps—but something seemed off. Though divine power pulsed through it, the aura was impure. More puzzling: to wield divine power in the Celestial Realm invited the Heavenly Dao’s scrutiny.
Confident Mo Tianjun pointed to the cloak and began to explain its secrets. He had discovered it in a hidden realm, along with a broken stele chronicling the battle between the Gods of Greed and Resentment. Though incomplete, the account was enthralling. After studying the stele, Mo Tianjun had taken the cloak in hand. He could not fathom its true nature—but it was unbreakable by any known artifact.
Realizing it might be an authentic Divine Artifact, he had spent millennia researching it. Only on the rare day of a solar eclipse had it faintly illuminated—and only then did he see that inside was inscribed a Divine Art. Without hesitation, he had copied it. But a Divine Art without divine power remained useless! Unwilling to give up, Mo Tianjun had continued searching ... and at last, he had found a method!
