Author: 年终 / Nian Zhong

Translator: Kinky || https://kinkytranslations.com/

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Chapter 147: The Three-in-One Strategy

Radiance scattered the darkness above. From the sky descended countless beams of light, while the ground burst forth with thousands of fire pillars. They closed in like the jaws of a great maw, sealing Bai Shuangying’s true form within Xushan.

Bai Shuangying’s rage hadn’t yet subsided. It was as if he had suddenly found a circle of fences in his path and began ramming into them repeatedly. After only a few collisions, visible cracks began to appear.

The immortals had no time to form ranks. One representative descended from the heavens, and another rose from the Underworld, while the rest quickly formed a formation to resist Bai Shuangying’s fury with full force.

The two immortals rushed toward Zhuang Guiqu and his disciple, swiftly halting the deadly ritual they were performing. But even after the pain stopped, Bai Shuangying’s wrath remained undiminished.

He had been deceived a hundred years ago, again five years ago, and now once more wounded deeply by humans. They say even a clay figurine would have some temper, so how much more so a being of Heaven’s Will?

The two immortals stood before Zhuang Guiqu: one appeared as a cheerful elder dressed in fine silk, radiating fortune and longevity; the other wore a tattered burial robe with a face like a corpse frozen in sorrow. But their eyes both burned with the same fury, as if wishing to tear Zhuang Guiqu limb from limb.

Fang Xiu immediately activated the hair ring, concealing both himself and A’Shou completely.

A’Shou fixed her gaze on the sorrowful-faced ghost immortal and hissed, “Back in the day, that old man really was the number one ghost immortal.”

“He had a vile temper. Died a century ago. I can’t believe I’m seeing him again here.”

Despite the formidable lineup before him, Zhuang Guiqu didn’t appear the least bit flustered.

Maintaining the form of a child, he lifted his wooden mask to reveal a surprisingly delicate and elegant face. A’Shou couldn’t help glancing at Fang Xiu—Zhuang Guiqu’s features didn’t resemble Fang Xiu’s, but that insufferable cleverness was nearly identical.

“Greetings, seniors,” Zhuang Guiqu greeted with ease, bowing politely and standing firmly.

Zhuang Feng wasn’t as composed. Still young, he was overwhelmed by the pressure of the immortals and could barely remain upright. Even though he revered Zhuang Guiqu, he collapsed into a kowtow, sweat pouring down his forehead.

“Zhuang Guiqu, do you admit your guilt?” asked the immortal with the face of fortune, his tone solemn.

“The Xushan Evil has injured people time and again, and five years ago incited a great calamity, costing the lives of countless elite soldiers. Just look at the black forest and white fruits. This is irrefutable evidence!”

“The imperial army is stretched thin, the borderlands in chaos, and the people are displaced. Turmoil is on the horizon. I came specifically to seal this Evil and restore morale—for the peace of the world. Where is the guilt in that?”

Zhuang Guiqu stood tall and spoke with measured clarity.

“With your level of skill, you clearly understand the power of a Corner of Heaven’s Will. Peace for the world? Looks more like you’re courting catastrophe!” the sorrowful ghost immortal sneered. “How bold. Why not sacrifice you now to appease the Spirit of the Mountains?”

As soon as he finished speaking, a whirl of sinister energy flared around him, forcing A’Shou to step back.

Zhuang Guiqu smiled.

Though his current form was that of a child, his expression didn’t match the features—but at a glance, the smile was pure, even “sincere”.

“The Corner of Heaven’s Will is no mortal. After all it has endured, it’ll need at least a thousand years to calm its fury. I’m not the only one who provoked it, and it’s still in a rage. If you kill me now as an offering, can you really be sure it’ll stop?”

“I understand that you seek peace for the human world. But think about it—if from the start you had thrown me out and it didn’t accept it, you’d be the ones who ‘initiated’ hostility against the Corner of Heaven’s Will.”

He deliberately paused, a glimmer of mischief in his eyes. He asked silently, “Will you risk it?”

Everyone present understood that immortals were stuck between the human world and Heaven’s Will. Humanity was ever-changing; new generations every hundred years. But the Corner of Heaven’s Will endured as long as the heavens themselves. Coexistence was inevitable.

“…So why not work together to resolve this? Let my line persist, and when a thousand years pass and Heaven’s Will has calmed, if it’s still angry, you can hand us over then. Everything can be negotiated.”

A’Shou couldn’t stop herself from looking at Fang Xiu again. This mix of stubborn twisting and deliberate manipulation was eerily familiar.

Zhuang Guiqu’s words made it clear: “I know you’ll intervene. I’m using you.”

The ghost immortal furrowed his brows and was about to explode with rage, but the other immortal caught the nuance and stepped forward. “A thousand years from now?”

The situation had escalated quickly. They couldn’t recklessly harm Bai Shuangying, nor could they let him harm humans. Every spell the immortals cast was cautious and restrained—it was unbearable. Now this mortal was talking about “a thousand years later”… It was a curious proposition.

Zhuang Guiqu’s smile widened. “If I dared to act, of course I have a plan.”

He turned his face toward the shifting lights and shadows in the dark, his eyes shining.

To him, it wasn’t the cannons of life and death, but fireworks lighting up a celebration.

Fang Xiu stared unblinkingly at Zhuang Guiqu’s profile, holding his breath while listening intently. Even Bai Shuangying had stopped writhing within his flesh, listening with him.

“…The Corner of Heaven’s Will is pure in temperament, no more complex than a beast. If you trap it in Xushan, feed it well, and keep it comfortable, over time it will surely calm down.”

“As for how to trap it—let the Underworld lend the power of Immortal E’s.”

The sorrow-faced ghost immortal narrowed his cloudy eyes, words of protest forming but not spoken. He rubbed his sparse beard and frowned. “Use the karma and yin energy of the Immortal E’s?”

Zhuang Guiqu nodded earnestly. “Heaven’s Will is the principle of karma. Immortal E’s are its manifestations. Use its own spear to pierce its shield. Karma chains will surely be effective.”

“Also, karmic force gathers yin. It will nourish the Corner of Heaven’s Will endlessly. You can say this is killing two birds with one stone.”

The fortune immortal’s expression softened slightly.

It really wasn’t a bad idea—

Originally, the Spirit of the Mountains already resided within Xushan and showed no interest in the outside world. If they gently confined it and continuously fed it yin energy, it wasn’t even truly an attack. It was closer to divine mediation.

The Spirit would be well-fed and sleep for centuries, awakening to a changed world. By then, its grudge against humanity might not be as sharp.

From Zhuang Guiqu’s perspective, as a mortal, he was truly resolving a crisis for the human world, granting it peace for centuries to come.

He had thrown himself into this chaos with boldness yet plausible justification. He exploited cosmic forces with eloquence and rationale. Truly a remarkable figure.

With this realization, the two immortals relaxed a bit.

The ghost immortal sighed deeply. “Fine. I will gather the Immortal E’s and prepare the seal.”

The fortune immortal flicked his sleeve. “I will grant you the Heaven-Breaking Divine Art. The sealing is complex. You will accompany us.”

Zhuang Guiqu kept that pleasant smile and bowed solemnly.

“I’ve contemplated this sealing for many years and devised a perfect method. If the two of you are willing, I’d like to share it.”

“Construct a tower between yin and yang, to contain the Immortal E’s…”

Even before Zhuang Guiqu finished describing the plan, Fang Xiu—who didn’t know magic—could already understand.

Inside the Disaster Relief Tower would be the Shrine of All of E’s, alongside sacrificial rituals—

Find sinners among humanity and force them to resolve the E’s. If they succeed, it stabilizes the world. If they fail, new Immortal E’s would be born, which would give the immortals better control over the sealing.

Additionally, the more Immortal E’s that exist, the more yin energy can be fed to the Corner of Heaven’s Will. With enough nourishment, it would not resist with full strength.

Coming from Zhuang Guiqu’s silver tongue, the plan sounded flawless. He was smooth, pragmatic, and the proposal genuinely benefited both Heaven and Earth. The two immortals were even more at ease.

Mortals had limited vision. Zhuang Guiqu had done more than enough. Why be picky?

Even A’Shou couldn’t help nodding, almost persuaded. But then she recalled Zhuang Feng’s expression of ecstatic discovery when he first found the Corner of Heaven’s Will. That brought her back to clarity.

Still, the Disaster Relief Tower had stood for years and was officially acknowledged by both the human world and the Underworld. A’Shou thought it over repeatedly and couldn’t figure out what personal benefit Zhuang Guiqu might gain from it.

In her confusion, she instinctively turned again to Zhuang Guiqu’s suspected counterpart—

Fang Xiu was smiling.

His mismatched eyes narrowed, and his grin was dazzling. This wasn’t his usual obedient smile, nor one of genuine delight. It was twisted, ghostly, enough to send chills through even A’Shou, who was herself a ghost immortal.

“If I didn’t already know what this guy was scheming, I’d suspect I was his reincarnation.”

Fang Xiu murmured, “So that’s it. That’s what you’re after.”

Not far away, the immortals were already preparing the seal.

Zhuang Feng knelt on the ground, reverently bowing toward Zhuang Guiqu.

Zhuang Guiqu held the Heaven-Breaking Divine Art in one hand and gestured with the other, assisting with the spell.

“This disciple shall record everything truthfully,”

Zhuang Feng murmured, eyes brimming with tears.

“Master and the immortals together sealed the Corner of Heaven’s Will. Everything happened just as you said. Before the ancestors of the Guishan Sect, the Spirit of the Mountains was nothing to fear!”

“People only think that ■■■■■■■■ is the ■■■■■■■■!”

Whether due to the influence of the Immortal Encounter E or the presence of Bai Shuangying inside him, the muddled sounds in Fang Xiu’s ears suddenly began to clarify.

“People only think that the Spirit of the Mountains is the ■■■ of Xushan—Master, you are the one truly worthy of being called the ■■■ of Xushan!”

Those voices roared in Fang Xiu’s ears. His head throbbed as if pierced by knives, but his focus had never been sharper.

“People only think that the Spirit of the Mountains is the God of Xushan—Master, you are the one truly worthy of being called the God of Xushan!”

Nearby, in an unremarked corner close to Zhuang Feng, the old book belonging to Zhuang Guiqu faintly glowed, then sank back into darkness.

…Just as expected. Fang Xiu held his breath.

The mountain ghost, too, is a god. Beneath Weishan, the trees grow dense.

The mountain god, too, is a ghost. Within the Disaster Relief Tower, it becomes an evil spirit.

No wonder Bai Shuangying could directly recognize the God of Weishan. No wonder Fang Xiu could summon him from the Disaster Relief Tower.

It all came down to that one phrase: “Born of the Nine Springs, never parted for a lifetime.”

Only someone as equally mad as Zhuang Guiqu, only someone like Fang Xiu, could summon the resentful Bai Shuangying.

At this moment, Fang Xiu fully understood Zhuang Guiqu’s true plan.

“A’Shou Jie, you saw it during the Grave-Sealing ritual.”

Facing the countless flashes of sealing light, Fang Xiu’s voice carried an eerie lightness.

“The Guishan Sect stole yin energy from the Disaster Relief Tower to nurture prodigies—birthing monsters like Cen Ling, a living ghost immortal.”

“But a ‘Corner of Heaven’s Will’ starved to weakness still must be put to use—if there are man-made ghost immortals, there must also be man-made Immortal E’s to match.”

A’Shou’s face turned ghostly pale. Her gaze darted quickly to the old book beside Zhuang Feng.

“To plan the construction of the Disaster Relief Tower… to seal the Corner of Heaven’s Will… the karma from this is enough to create an unprecedented E.”

Fang Xiu whispered quietly.

“I think… I know who the ‘man in black’ is.”

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