"""Three consecutive voices reverberated through the sky.
The Sky-reaching Floating Pagoda came to a halt mid-air, followed by the emergence of two more individuals, besides Gao Tianci, who had been exposed and belonged to the Great Commander Zhang Mazi of the Northern Land.
The first was a Great Man, not as big as Gao Tianci but not much weaker either, dressed even more flamboyantly.
He was seen wearing a golden crown, dressed in gold and silver armor, holding a Fangtian Halberd with fierce aura swirling, and seated upon an Alien Species Demon Beast with three heads, jet-black scales, and a pair of large black wings beneath its ribs.
His appearance was quite martial, and he seemed more like an ordinary dynasty's Great General rather than a Cultivator from the Cavernous Mystery Realm.
A third eye was on his face, which oddly didn't lie between the brows on the forehead but rather on his chin.
It wasn't clear what grudge he held against monks, but even before meeting Tao Qian, he cursed him as a country bumpkin.
Following the general with the chin-eye was a young commander.
The young commander had starry eyes and handsome features, dressed in a yellow robe and armor, with a treasure sword in one hand and a Divine Bow in the other. The Escape Skill he employed was mystical, and right after his words fell, several apparitions of celestial soldiers and Divine Generals disappeared around him, revealing it to be a Spell for summoning Divine Generals to transport oneself.
Each of these three, resembling generals, did not fit the typical appearance expected by Mortals of a Cultivator.
Yet, the aura emanating from their bodies reached straight for the heavens, all having achieved the Perfection of Cavernous Mystery and broken through the Divine Communication Barrier.
Each one of them had said something, their statements seemingly conflicted.
Tao Qian Yunrong, who stepped out of the Buddha Tower, was confused, but Zhen Ci'en, who had wide connections, transmitted a message:
"Master, Grandmaster, these three men are all great generals from the warlords of other provinces."
"The ugly brute riding the meat mountain is called Gao Tianci, known as the Blood Soul Demon Lord, one of the main commanders under Zhang Mazi, the largest Warlord of the Northern Land. It's said he cultivates from the Ancient Demon Secret Manual 'Blood Soul Scripture', refining two extremely powerful Demon Treasures, the Ten Thousand Soul Banner and the Blood Pus Blade, feared throughout the North for his bloodthirstiness."
"The general with the eye on his chin is called Yelü Baoshan, known as the Devil Eyes General, the sworn brother of the Great Commander of Desert North, Yelv Lushan. Rumor has it he practices both Demon and Devil methods, in addition to his Demon Divine Power, he also refined a Primordial Demon Capturing Life True Eye, but mistakenly placed the devil eye on the wrong spot during refining, which resulted in his abnormal appearance."
"As for the young commander, he should be considered a Daoist Cultivator, named Shi Zhongsheng, known as the Worry-free Immortal. Originally a remnant of the Taiping Army, he cultivated the Taiping Dao Scripture, and was recently subdued by the rising Talent Hidden Dragon Si Xixin. He's a naturally born Daoist seed, said to have been sought after by Elders of both Canxuan Sect and Nanhua Sect to join, but he refused them all, determined to help Si Xixin conquer lands."
"These three, as well as their armies, seem to all have received invitations from the Demon Buddha Temple to attend the Buddha Birth Ceremony in the Province City."
"We're only three hundred miles away from the city; no wonder we've encountered them."
As Zhen Ci'en finished his transmission, Tao Qian immediately understood the origins of the three outside the Floating City.
His gaze first fell upon Gao Tianci, seated atop the meat mountain.
Tao Qian didn't care about what sort of demon he was. At this moment, his thoughts inadvertently drifted back to another Talent he had interacted with in Tiannan Province, Gao Ren City—the true inheritor of the Star Leader Sect, Li Fulian.
"Although Li Fulian is a disciple of the Heterodox Sect, he is upright, known for his chivalry, and was even close to becoming a disciple of the Shaoqing Sect."
"Such a person, willing to assist Zhang Mazi for sixty years, suggests that although the warlord is cunning and ruthless, he must have some redeeming qualities."""
"Yet you have accepted Gao Tianci, such an abnormal fiend. How will you explain that?"
"Has Li Fulian witnessed this fiend's evildoing? If you see him and don't strike him down, can you overcome the barrier of your Heart Demon?"
Tao Qian pondered inwardly.
Changes arose again in the outside world; before the Wu Gou Buddha Son appeared, three warlord generals arrived instead.
The fourth person seemed to have a feud with the warlord called "Yelü Baoshan."
Before the person appeared, a voice that was both sarcastic and cunningly spilling secrets about others' past injuries transmitted over:
"Brother Shi might not know this, but Yelü Daoist does not merely disdain Wu Gou Buddha Son; he looks down upon all Buddhist Practitioners."
"It's said that when Yelü Daoist was young, he encountered a scabby-headed devil monk who lured him to a decrepit temple in the mountains to serve as a slave. Not only did he have to light fires and cook, but he was also occasionally abused and used to satisfy lustful desires."
"Yelü Daoist has a tenacious character as well. After enduring in silence for years, the moment that devil monk Mutated and Fell into Demonhood, he sent him to the west with a firewood hatchet and seized a volume of the 'Poison Body Scripture,' thus stepping into the Cultivation World. That's how he later met Yelü Lushan, who took a liking to him and made him a sworn brother...".
"Yelü Daoist, now accomplished, has never changed his views on the Buddhist Sect, calling Wu Gou Buddha Son a mere earth-shaking monk from the South Sea is already giving face."
"Silence!"
The reopening of childhood wounds sent Yelü Baoshan into a sudden rage.
For a moment, no one could pinpoint the other's location.
But soon, everyone saw in one direction, a surge of Innate Essence and Pure Spirit Immortal Qi shooting into the sky. Even hundreds of miles away, it was clear to see that within that Immortal Qi, there appeared a middle-aged Immortal Sect Cultivator.
This person was dressed in a black and white Daoist robe, had a fair complexion without a beard, and his appearance was quite handsome, save for the ever-present smirk at the corner of his mouth that became increasingly unpleasant the longer one looked.
Yet no one would underestimate this Taoist. His embodiment of the Immortal Sect's Daoist Charm alone was enough to intimidate anyone.
Almost instantly, the messages transmitted by Zhen Ci'en and the angry shout and attack of Yelü Baoshan occurred simultaneously.
"This person is Zhu Xun, self-proclaimed 'Qingxu Immortal.' He is a remnant of the Zhu Dynasty, who, having failed to seize power in Yongzhou Province, fled here."
"Not long ago, he announced to the world that he just wants to abduct the 'Devil Concubine Yuan Mingzhen,' and other treasures like the Spring and Autumn Chariot, he would not compete for. Anyone who stands against him, he vows to fight relentlessly until death."
"This person is rumored to be an Abandoned Disciple of one of the Twelve Daoist Sects, the Lou Guandao, yet for some reason, his Cultivation and the Great Book were not reclaimed. Not much else is known, except it's said he is a Heavenly Eunuch, who turned misfortune into a blessing and cultivated the normally unreachable 'Qingxu Dao Body,' and his Divine Powers are incomparable to ordinary cultivators."
"Ci'en once heard from a travelling merchant that Zhu Xun and Yelü Baoshan had a fight not too long ago, hence the enmity between them."
After hearing all this, Tao Qian couldn't help but sigh again.
The Cultivation World nowadays is quite ostentatious; indeed, the strength of these warlord generals is not to be underestimated, and in any territory, they could be deemed Overlords.
But these Daoist titles still seem too much like self-aggrandizement.
Especially this Zhu Xun!
What a "Qingxu Immortal."
Be aware, even someone as powerful as Duobao Daoist doesn't dare to claim the title of Immortal Monarch.
And who exactly are you to be boasting in such a manner?
While Tao Qian muttered to himself, the outside of the Floating City had already burst into action.
Yelü Baoshan, whose old wounds had been brought to light, slapped the devil beast's behind, unfurled its large wings, and in a blink of an eye approached, cursing angrily:
"Eunuch Zhu, what are you, daring to judge this general?"
"Not long ago, I heard you shamelessly broadcasted to the seventy-two provinces, claiming you would snatch the Devil Concubine and restore the Zhu Dynasty... Hahaha, it's truly ridiculous to the extreme. You, a Heavenly Eunuch, even if you were given Yuan Mingzhen, so what?"
"With a beauty before you, your worthless thing remains soft as a tiny worm."
"Tsk, tsk, if I were you, I'd rather just take my own life than live without dignity in this world."
These few angry retorts not only served to vent his rage, but also to divert attention.
In fact, before Yelü Baoshan even opened his mouth, the devil eyes on his chin had already sprayed out a dense green light.
In an instant, it divided into millions and formed a Life Capturing Demon Light Array, intending to grind Zhu Xun into pieces.
His sneak attack was indeed unexpected.
Regrettably, Tao Qian knew all too well that it was in vain.
In Tao Qian's eyes, it was clear: Zhu Xun's strength surpassed that of Yelü Baoshan.
Or rather, of the four people present, Zhu Xun was the strongest.
Followed by Gao Tianci, then Shi Zhongsheng, and lastly, Yelü Baoshan.
Indeed, the crowd then saw Zhu Xun, who had also had his scars exposed, merely laugh it off lightly.
He made no grand gestures, but instead, with his Daoist Body, confronted the dense and swiftly approaching "Life Capturing Demon Light". The Daoist Charm Immortal Qi within him erupted, also dividing into millions effortlessly, shattering the array.
Then, with a casual flair, he plucked the treasure sword hanging from his waist and flicked it with his finger, emitting a hundred thousand bursts of sword light, enveloping Yelü Baoshan within the Sword Array.
"Yelü Daoist is still as enthusiastic as ever, and just in time; I, Zhu, have recently refined a new technique—the Taiyi Splitting Light Sword Skill."
"I was worried about finding no one to test my sword with, and here you are, offering yourself willingly, for which I am most grateful."
"Please be careful and don't end up dissected by Zhu."
"Heavenly Eunuch, come if you dare. If I, Yelü Baoshan, ever express fear, then I'm no better than a eunuch myself."
On the surface, Zhu Xun appeared to be a True Practitioner of the Daoist Sects, but in reality, his mind was dark and crafty.
Had someone else been addressed with terms like "eunuch", "eggless", or "pale-faced thief", they would have already been driven to a rage beyond containment.
However, he merely chuckled, and as he went to kill Yelü Baoshan, he replied with a chuffed loud voice:
"In cultivation, everything comes at a cost; this is an ironclad rule."
"Which cultivator in the world would not envy Zhu for having paid a great cost at birth and then received great fortune—the Qingxu Dao Body such as mine? It seems Yelü Lushan Daoist hasn't even taught you this much. Clearly, he doesn't truly consider you as a sworn brother and just taught you all those powerful and horrifying Divine Powers all at once."
"Once you've learned them, you'll be sent to the front to fight, and when the time comes, you'll be abruptly killed."
"Hmm? That sounds like a good deal to me."
"Stop talking out of your ass..."
"Hiss"
The onlookers immediately realized looking at the scene before them.
Forget about supernatural powers, just in terms of verbal sparring, Zhu Xun completely overwhelmed Yelü Baoshan.
His words were even more ruthless and aimed to destroy the spirit.
Most people also guessed: Zhu Xun was probably right.
...
While the two were locked in combat, drawing everyone's attention.
Tao Qian stood atop the Floating City, his Innate Spiritual Vision activated, surveying his surroundings, and scanning the distance.
The Capital City of Qiantang Province was already in sight. No wonder they had encountered these military generals along the way.
And aside from Gao Tianci, Yelü Baoshan, Shi Zhongsheng, and Zhu Xun, Tao Qian's eyes also reflected large armies rushing in from all directions, including the forces of these four, as well as other various armies.
Like a swarm, like a tide!
Their murderous aura reached the sky!
It almost seemed as though a colossal clash among warlords was about to erupt in the city of Qiantang Province.
As Tao Qian watched, he also felt more and more prying eyes sweeping toward him, many of whom were no less powerful than the four men in the arena, some even stronger.
Tao Qian thought for a moment, smiled slightly, and, carrying Yunrong and accompanied by the siblings of the Zhen Family and a group of female cultivators, stepped forward.
He first greeted Gao Tianci and Shi Zhongsheng:
"Amitabha!"
"Poor monk Wu Gou, greeting all the Daoist friends."
Then, without waiting for a response, he turned to look at the fiercely fighting Yelü Baoshan and Zhu Xun.
Speaking again: "Fellow Daoists, could you consider the poor monk's face and turn your hostility into peace?"