Wet viviparity

Chapter 958 Divine Form, Protection in Light and Darkness
As soon as we arrived at the Guishan Sheling area, we heard a deafening sound of drums and gongs coming from the sky ahead.

Above the horizon, auspicious clouds spread out, and rays of light shone everywhere. Thousands of divine soldiers and generals were arrayed in a solemn formation, their banners waving and obscuring the sky.

Golden-armored warriors carried giant drums, striking them with all their might, the sound echoing for miles; fairy maidens and celestial children held long banners, leading to ethereal celestial music; and several generals from the Thunder Department were surrounded by lightning, swaying in the wind and rain, majestic and solemn, dispelling the evil spirits along the way.

In the center of this grand procession, a magnificent imperial carriage, pulled by five river dragons, floated in the air. Seated atop the carriage was Zhao Tan, the deputy commander of Shenxiao. Behind him were the two immortals Zhaobao and Nazhen, and Zen Master Caihu was also present, though his eyes were lowered and his expression was solemn.

This procession was about to set out to search the mountains. Its grand scale and imposing presence caused the mountains and rivers to change color and all spirits to lie dormant.

Hearing the deafening sound of gongs and drums, and feeling the music that seemed to cleanse evil spirits, Ji Ming's heart swayed, and he unconsciously felt a sense of reverence. He understood that this feeling did not come from Zhao Tan or the formation of these divine soldiers and generals, but from the divine power they were proclaiming.

Ji Ming's escape technique seemed insignificant in the face of this massive army.

He descended from the clouds, stood quietly to the side, neither deliberately avoiding the situation nor stepping forward to pay his respects, but simply watching calmly.

The general leading the way at the front of the procession clearly noticed him, and the formation paused slightly. Zhao Tan, who was sitting on the jade carriage, glanced over as if by chance and his gaze landed on Ji Ming.

In an instant, due to Zhao Tan's intuitive understanding, the originally deafening sounds of gongs, drums, and celestial music seemed to be choked by an invisible hand, suddenly dropping several notches. The gazes of all the divine soldiers, heavenly generals, celestial officials, and spirit maidens, whether open or hidden, focused on Ji Ming, and even Shang Yang was drawn into their gazes.

The air seemed to freeze.

"what's the situation?
How did this kid get into a feud with that Vice Commander Zhao?!

Shang Yang's face was grim, and he thought to himself, "Since we've already become enemies, and now this kid has been summoned here by a transfer order, how can he still be so calm? Could it be that he has something to rely on? Surely that something can't be me!"

On the Five Dragons Majestic Imperial Carriage, Zhao Baoxian's brows furrowed almost imperceptibly, while Na Zhenxian's eyes flickered as she subconsciously glanced at Zhao Tan's back.

Zen Master Caihu suddenly raised his head, a complex look flashing across his tiger-like eyes—anger, fear, and even a hint of tension that he himself was unaware of.

As for the lower-ranking Heavenly Warriors, they didn't even dare to breathe loudly. As for the cultivators recruited from various sects in the Central Plains and the three lineages of the Yellow Court Palace, they were all holding their breath and watching intently. Although they didn't understand what was going on, they could feel the pressure emanating from the direction of the precious carriage and the meaning behind this pressure.

Finally, Zhao Tan slowly raised one hand and gently beckoned.

A celestial official standing beside the chariot immediately understood, rode a cloud forward, and came to Ji Ming's side. "General Yiling, the deputy commander requests your presence on the cloud."

"Ah!"

Ji Ming chuckled softly, calmly stepped forward, and came to the edge of the cloud-like platform in front of the carriage.

"Greetings, Vice Commander," Ji Ming said, raising his hand.

Ji Ming dared to come here not because he had found this demon god Shang Yang, with whom he had no connection, to be his attendant, but because he had two powerful figures standing behind him, which was his real source of confidence.

Zhao Tan did not speak, but stared intently at the scene.

His eyes fell on Lingxuzi, not on the surface, but directly used his profound divination skills. In the depths of his eyes, countless hexagrams and symbols seemed to be arising and ceasing, as if he wanted to see through the cause and effect and reliance behind Lingxuzi.

In his "vision," there was not nothing behind Ji Ming.

Under the brilliant light of the heavens, a constantly changing, extremely unstable, shining divine form emerged.

"So obvious."

Zhao Tan was stunned for a moment. He did not expect that he could see a divine form by using his magic slightly. It was clear that the person behind Ling Xuzi had devoted a lot of effort to Ling Xuzi and kept a constant thought of him, which was why this situation occurred.

As his mastery of divination deepened, a profound and wondrous Daoist aura emanated from him, giving him a jolt.

He stared intently, finally making out the outline of the deity's form.

This creature was noble and imposing, standing about three zhang tall, its entire body seemingly cast from flowing molten gold, gleaming brilliantly.

His head was held high, and what was on his head was not a fleshy crown, but a dazzling, three-tiered sun crown that grew from small to large, like three miniature sun halos slowly rotating. At the center of the crown was a "morning star pearl," which was the manifestation of his [Dawn Light Dao Fruit].

When the "vision" shifted to the light crown, it revealed a pair of golden eyes. The moment their eyes met, the divine form immediately sensed something. Inside the precious carriage, Zhao Tan's eyelids snapped shut, stung by the golden eyes.

The next moment, he glared like an angry Vajra, his eyes wide like copper bells. In his "field of vision," he saw Ling Xuzi maintaining his hand seal posture, looking at him with a smile in his eyes. Beside him, the Pleiades Star God form "Golden Morning Clear and Bright Brocade Bird" was close to him, looking at him with bright eyes, as if he were a guardian deity.

"Where is that Immovable One?"
He is a man who is good at lying in wait; he never acts unless he is sure of success, and when he does act, he accomplishes his goal in one fell swoop.

Although this Pleiades Star Lord is a true deity, he is shunned by Heaven due to his past and thus unlikely to achieve much. He is very likely a facade put up by the Immovable Venerable. I need to examine the deeper causes and conditions behind Lingxuzi's actions and reliance.”

Within his "vision," the void beside Ling Xuzi reflected distinct colors and patterns, their fixed forms difficult to discern. Undoubtedly, these were some deeply hidden individuals who could become Ling Xuzi's reliance.

Some relationships are distant and the friendship is sparse, so they are naturally hidden.

Some relationships may be close, yet remain so veiled; that suggests ulterior motives.

He saw it.

Beside Ling Xuzi, in a void, in the deepest and most hidden place, floated a star core.

This core glows with a faint, shimmering light, its color resembling congealed blood or frozen scum from deep space.

Outside its core is a layer of pale blue, swirling light, neither gas nor liquid, that expands and contracts.

At the outermost edge of the star core, there are two rings. One ring is clear and bright, formed from the life force, as warm as spring rain; the other ring is heavy and concentrated, formed from the evil energy of illness, as cold as ice.

Upon seeing this celestial star-shaped form, Zhao Tan's gaze deepened.

He looked at the two divine figures, one bright and one dark, beside Ji Ming, and murmured something. His voice reached the two divine figures, but no outsider could hear it.

He said, “You all think I am unaware of the conspiracy here, and that you have pushed out this junior from the mortal realm, using that little grudge to raise the flag against me. In this way, I am not in a position of great righteousness and it is difficult for me to step forward and subdue him. Among the immortals under my command, apart from the demoted Xuanhu, the rest are bound by the rules of heaven and cannot fully display their magical powers in the mortal realm.”

In this way, Lingxuzi can use me as a whetstone. With this boy's potential, under such seemingly tight but actually loose pressure, his cultivation will surely advance by leaps and bounds.

Now that I have transferred him here, his every word and action is under my watchful eye. If he makes any unusual move, I can, with my pre-battle decision-making authority, disregard all laws and decrees and execute him on the battlefield. When that time comes, it will be your turn to act. Are you confident that you can protect him?"

Master Ganxiong did not respond, but the old golden rooster said mercilessly: "They stole the treasure of the righteous sect's disciples, treating this great enmity as a minor grievance, without reflecting on their own actions; forced by self-interest, they feigned sincerity and pretended to make amends, which was not their true intention. This is what is called 'a petty person who seeks personal gain,' not 'a person who seeks punishment.'"

If you truly grant my wish and let bygones be bygones, and I wait until you attain enlightenment and your position changes, you will surely change your previous attitude and no longer pretend. You will then unleash all the resentment and bitterness you have been suppressing today and repay it tenfold.

As the saying goes, "He is obsequious at first, then arrogant; he becomes rampant when he gains power." Ultimately, this stems from a lack of integrity and a selfish, calculating nature.

"Somebody come!"

Seeing Zhao Tan's expression change drastically in the carriage, Zhao Baoxian shouted and immediately took out a pre-prepared decree, saying, "Send Ling Xuzi to Dayu Mountain and order him to guard the Demon Palace in the mountain. He must not leave without permission. If he disobeys, he will be executed at the Execution Platform."

Why did you suddenly get so anxious?

Shang Yang muttered to himself.

When Ji Ming saw the group leave in a grand procession, although he didn't know what had just happened, he understood that Zhao Tan had suffered a hidden loss.

If he were to follow the instructions of his ancestors, he would have to spend over a hundred years in hiding and biding his time here, during which time he must not be found to have made any mistakes.

When chaos begins to break out in this place in the Central Plains, and the calamities become too great to handle, other powerful figures from the Thunder Department and the immortals and gods from the Fighting Department will be dispatched here. At that time, the patriarchs will secretly arrange for him to be transferred to the service of another powerful figure.

Ji Ming was not a coward, and he possessed unparalleled patience, allowing him to quietly bide his time. However, this did not prevent him from starting another plan.

"Danmeng Spirit Pool, the Divine Path of Dan has already been sent there, hasn't it?"

(End of this chapter)