Lu Fan and Yuan Feng stopped in mid-air, gazing down at the small general on the ground, Nezha.
On the ground, Nezha looked up at the nine-colored golden phoenix in the sky, and at Lu Fan sitting on the golden phoenix. Suddenly, he felt indignant. He had been an esteemed deity for many, many years, so why hadn't he ever had the chance to obtain a superior mount? Why was this brat riding a phoenix? And not just any phoenix, but the ancestor of the phoenix clan, a nine-colored golden phoenix. Where could one even begin to reason this?
"Brat! I've been waiting for you here for a long time!" Nezha suddenly said.
"Hmph! Are you very confident?" Lu Fan sneered back.
"You are currently just a mortal, unable to even use a single move against you. Of course, you can still escape now. With Yuan Feng's strength, I might not be able to catch up!" Nezha said with a look of disdain.
"You? You are not worthy of making me flee!" Lu Fan signaled Yuan Feng to descend. With a swish, Yuan Feng transformed into human form. The two stood before Nezha.
"I've discovered that some so-called esteemed deities are merely overhyped. Their strength is simply trash. Take you, Nezha, for example!" Lu Fan said, walking forward a few steps with a grim expression.
"You dare to underestimate me?" Nezha's face immediately turned ferocious. With a swish, a golden, shimmering Qiankun Ring appeared in his hand.
"I'm not underestimating you! I simply look down on you! Back when I possessed the God-Slaying Spear, you probably didn't even have a chance to get close! Yet now that I've become a mortal, you're coming at me with bared teeth and claws. I suspect you're the one who spread the news throughout the Thirty-Six Heavens, aren't you!?" Lu Fan asked coldly.
"Hmph! I'm only responsible for taking your life. I don't care about anything else. You, die!" Nezha's expression changed instantly, and a fiery rage shot from his eyes. Anyone who dared to disrespect him like this must die! Hmph!
Whoosh... Nezha leaped forward, and the Qiankun Ring in his hand was hurled towards Lu Fan!
Swish... Lu Fan took out a wooden sword, his body instantly shifted, and with an incredibly bizarre posture, he dodged the descending Qiankun Ring and thrust towards Nezha. Swish... The wooden sword instantly transformed into over a dozen sword shadows, surrounding Nezha.
Nezha was startled. This swordplay was truly marvelous. How could a mortal possess such skill?
However, he quickly regained his composure. Lu Fan was no ordinary mortal. The Qiankun Ring in his hand suddenly detached, and a Hun Tian Ling appeared on his body.
Puff puff puff... Lu Fan's wooden sword strikes all landed on the Hun Tian Ling.
The Hun Tian Ling was also a supreme treasure. As it was struck by the wooden sword, it immediately followed the sword and began to wrap around Lu Fan.
Swish... The Hun Tian Ling instantly ensnared Lu Fan, binding him tightly like a giant zongzi.
Yuan Feng, standing nearby, was startled and immediately prepared to intervene.
"Hahaha! Brat! You were so arrogant, I thought you were truly formidable, but you're nothing special after all." Nezha burst into laughter.
Crack crack... crack crack... Suddenly, a crisp sound, like eating popcorn, was heard.
Nezha was momentarily stunned. What was that sound? He couldn't help but look around. Did this brat have some powerful expert accompanying him?
However, after searching all around, he found nothing. Yet, the crackling sound became increasingly distinct.
"My... my Hun Tian Ling...!" Suddenly, Nezha exclaimed in shock. He saw that the Hun Tian Ling wrapped around Lu Fan was actually being gnawed through by a small insect. That... that... that was his treasure! It wasn't a diaper, for goodness sake!
Bang... The Hun Tian Ling snapped, and Lu Fan stood before Nezha.
"Nezha! Your diaper should have been replaced long ago! It's starting to smell!" Lu Fan said with a look of disgust.
Puchi... Yuan Feng, standing nearby, couldn't help but chuckle.
"Brat! I... I'll kill you!" Nezha was almost driven mad. He roared in anger and lunged at Lu Fan, wielding the Qiankun Ring like a whirlwind, smashing it wildly at Lu Fan.
Lu Fan continuously retreated, flicking his finger. The Golden Silkworm Gu worm flew out.
Nezha was startled. He tried to strike the Golden Silkworm Gu worm with his Qiankun Ring, but because the worm was so small, he couldn't hit it. He could only constantly dodge.
Wind Fire Wheels... Nezha roared and unleashed his magical artifact, the Wind Fire Wheels, intending to burn the damned little worm to death.
However, the Golden Silkworm Gu worm was unfazed by the fire. It flew through the flames without any harm. Buzz buzz buzz... The sound of its wings vibrated like Buddhist chants, causing Nezha to feel an unbearable headache. Damn it! How could this thing be so powerful?
Escape... Nezha suddenly leaped into the air and flew rapidly towards the horizon.
The Golden Silkworm Gu worm wanted to pursue, having found the Hun Tian Ling it just ate a bit dry and wanting to drink some blood to moisten its throat. But it didn't get its blood, and the guy escaped.
"Golden Silkworm Gu, come back. That guy's body is just a pile of grass, not tasty," Lu Fan beckoned, summoning the Golden Silkworm Gu worm back.
"This little thing is quite formidable!" Yuan Feng walked over from the side and said.
"Don't underestimate its size; it has consumed many good things. In the past, it ate a large hole in the Primordial Tree of Yuanshi Tianzun. Just this power alone is enough to attain Buddhahood even in the Western Heavens. What is a mere Nezha in comparison! It's just a pity that my zombie Gu worms were shattered. Otherwise, I wouldn't have needed it to act!" Lu Fan said indifferently.
After merging with his past self, Lu Fan sat on Yuan Feng's back again.
"Let's go back! The other clones should have returned to the village by now," Lu Fan said after carefully sensing his surroundings.
"Alright!" Yuan Feng responded, flapping its wings and flying away.
Twelve Gou Village suddenly became abuzz. Some people claimed to have seen a phoenix at night, others a dragon, and some even a qilin. However, everyone agreed that these three legendary divine beasts seemed to have disappeared into Lu Fan's villa.
To prove their sightings were real, some people deliberately went to squat outside Lu Fan's house at night. However, for some reason, as they squatted, they would fall asleep. Some fell asleep on tree branches, some in ditches, and some directly in the middle of the road. A few even fell asleep leaning against Lu Fan's front door.
Lu Fan's house instantly became the focus of everyone's attention.
Outside Twelve Gou Village, a man and a woman entered the village. The man was handsome, dashing, and elegant. The woman was astonishingly beautiful.
As soon as the two entered the village, they immediately drew the attention of the entire village.
"Xiao Fan... Xiao Fan... You're back! I have to tell you, something big happened at your house. Someone saw a dragon, phoenix, and qilin at your place..."