Mang Shusheng's Ink Painting Practice

Chapter 300: Making You Owe a Favor
Zhao Yifu has already figured out how to cover the fallback, but he needs to get involved himself.

But how can I put it? He was just a pawn. Besides, isn't there a saying that 'entering the game yourself can win half a move against fate'?

Zhao Yifu was pondering this when, not long after saying goodbye to Yang Jian, he was greeted by Chen Xiang.

These two are really...

"Brother, I have failed."

Zhao Yifu looked at Chen Xiang, who had come to his door, and said with a smile, "But it seems you're not very worried?"

Chenxiang said, "Yes, I understand now. No matter what, my master and uncle have always cared for me... I will not let them down again."

Zhao Yifu knew that the child had finally been corrected, so he smiled and asked, "So, what are you going to do next?"

Chenxiang said, "I'm going to overthrow the Heavenly Prison!"

Zhao Yifu said, "The Heavenly Prison is not like Mount Hua; your current strength is insufficient."

Chenxiang said, "So I need more power... no, I need more people's help."

"Brother, you'll help me, right?"

Zhao Yifu scratched his head and asked, "This is putting me in a difficult position... How can I help you?"

Chenxiang said, "Master Youquan will gather my subordinates to form a powerful enough demon army to deal with the guards outside the Heavenly Prison."

"However, the Heavenly Prison itself is fraught with difficulties, and I need you to explain the situation to me."

Zhao Yifu said, "That's no problem, I'll tell you everything."

Chenxiang added, "That's good. After this operation, regardless of success or failure, the forces that Master Youquan and I have been secretly developing will be completely exposed to the Heavenly Court. I need a place to settle the army, otherwise we will be defeated one by one."

Zhao Yifu looked around and realized, "You're planning to settle that army here?"

Chenxiang said, "Of course it won't affect my brother's cultivation. I just want to settle Master Youquan's subordinates deep in Liaoshan."

At the same time, he thought of something and said seriously, "I will also keep them in check and prevent them from acting recklessly."

Zhao Yifu said in a deep voice, "At that time, you will become wanted criminals of the Heavenly Court, and this place will probably become your battlefield against the heavenly soldiers and generals..."

He wasn't happy about it.

Just then, his ears twitched, and he heard someone whisper to him: "Agree to him."

Zhao Yifu recognized it; it was Lao Zhang's voice.

At this moment, Chenxiang's expression darkened, and he said, "So it really won't work?"

Seeing this, Zhao Yifu couldn't bear it. He sighed and said, "Never mind. This Liaoshan was originally a barren mountain. It is only because of the Venerable One's power that it has become so prosperous."

"Now, the only place where the Venerable One's subordinates can rest is here."

"However, let me make this clear beforehand: if those guys cause trouble once they enter Liaoshan, don't blame me for being ruthless."

Upon hearing this, Chenxiang was overjoyed and quickly thanked him, saying, "Thank you, brother!"

Zhao Yifu looked annoyed, but in reality, he was wondering what Lao Zhang meant by this.
However, he quickly thought of another point and said, "Have you considered that even if you succeed in forcibly attacking the Heavenly Prison, how will that help your mother completely escape the tribulation?"

Chenxiang hesitated for a moment, then said, "I have already thought it through. The moment I rescue my mother, I will protect her with dark source power. This way, I can prevent her from being harmed by the calamity energy."

Zhao Yifu nodded, then reminded her, "However, this would also mean that your mother would be corrupted by the dark source power. Have you considered whether she can withstand the interference of the dark source power's will?"

To accept the power of darkness is to succumb to the temptation of the power of the void.

The boundless grandeur within the darkness can mesmerize anyone.

Chen Xiang himself had once been lost in such a sense of power, and it was only because Zhao Yifu's mind was full of all sorts of chaotic thoughts that he was not affected.

Chenxiang thought for a moment, then shook his head and said, "There's no other way. This is the best solution I can think of. Even if Mother's personality changes drastically because of this, she will at least gain her freedom, right?"

Zhao Yifu smiled and nodded, saying, "From that perspective, it's not wrong."

Chenxiang took a deep breath and said, "Now, please tell me in detail about the situation in the Heavenly Prison, brother."

Zhao Yifu said, "Alright, then I'll tell you what the Heavenly Prison is like. The Heavenly Prison is divided into nine levels. The first to third levels imprison mortals or cultivators who have committed heinous crimes, and they will be subjected to various forms of torture in these three levels. The fourth to sixth levels imprison celestial beings and gods who have made mistakes, and they are given different punishments according to the severity of their crimes. The seventh to ninth levels imprison demons who have disobeyed the Heavenly Court, and the severity of their punishments increases with each level."

Upon hearing this, Chenxiang asked with a troubled expression, "Then... what about my mother? Where will she be imprisoned?"

Zhao Yifu estimated for a moment and said, "Your mother was married off to a mortal in secret. Her crime in the Heavenly Court is neither too serious nor too minor. She should be imprisoned in the fifth level of the Heavenly Prison. However, it seems that your Heavenly Emperor lineage has a crime that is aggravated, so there is a high probability that she will be imprisoned in the sixth level of the Heavenly Prison."

Chenxiang looked even more anxious and asked, "Wouldn't Mother suffer terribly from such torture?"

Zhao Yifu said, "At the very least, we should be able to survive."

Chenxiang immediately became anxious, and Zhao Yifu was also somewhat annoyed by his appearance.

Just then, the monkey's somewhat shrill voice suddenly came from the doorway: "Brother, brother, you must have a way to help my disciple, right?"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Yifu looked over and saw that the monkey, without any attempt to hide, had already quickly appeared at the door.

As for the illusions in Baiyun Mountain, they had absolutely no effect on Him under His discerning eyes.

Zhao Yifu felt envious again. Look at the Monkey King and Yang Jian, famous fighters in the Three Realms, they seem to have supernatural powers related to eyesight.

Chenxiang asked in surprise, "Master, you still have a relationship with my brother?"

The monkey laughed heartily, "Of course. Although we haven't known each other for very long, he's someone who can at least hold his own against me."

Chenxiang was still surprised.

Zhao Yifu then explained, "You can think of it as people who can form a circle."

The monkey listened with great satisfaction and said, "Absolutely right, that's exactly the point."

Then, with a glint in his eye, he said, "My dear brother, my good brother!"

Zhao Yifu found it cheesy and said, "Brother Monkey, just say what you want to say, don't be like this."

The monkey smiled sheepishly and said, "Then just tell me directly, is there any way you can help my apprentice?"

“My apprentice is pitiful. He lost his mother when he was young and is determined to rescue her, but he always has a meddlesome uncle who interferes. Please help him.”

The key point is that this monkey's words weren't enough; he was also pulling and tugging at Zhao Yifu, giving the impression that if he didn't agree, that hairy hand could reach into his clothes...

Goodness, no wonder everyone gave this monkey face when he went to find help. On one hand, they were genuinely respectful, and on the other hand, they were probably annoyed by him to no end.

Zhao Yifu said helplessly, "Okay, okay, I'll think of a way, I'll think of a way."

The monkey then released him, smiling contentedly, and said, "Then think quickly, think fast."

He sat there calmly, seemingly having Zhao Yifu completely under his control, just waiting for Zhao Yifu to come up with a solution.

Chenxiang felt embarrassed by his shameless behavior, thinking it was too much to ask. The monkey said, "Disciple, don't underestimate him. This kid has a lot of tricks up his sleeve; he'll definitely find a way."

Zhao Yifu was both amused and exasperated. He realized that he couldn't give an explanation without coming up with a solution immediately, so he sighed and said, "Alright, I have an idea, but I need to ask some seniors for clarification first."

The monkey asked suspiciously, "Where are you going? I'll go with you."

Zhao Yifu said, "No need. I'm going to the underworld. You know that the Great Emperor of the Eastern Peak was the original warden of the Heavenly Prison. I'll ask him if I can find a way."

The monkey perked up immediately and said, "Great! Let's go together. It's a good opportunity to get to know this Emperor of the Eastern Peak."

The monkey was very curious.

The main reason is that when he was the "Great Sage Equal to Heaven," he only made friends but never actually met Mu Lu.

Zhao Yifu smiled and shook his head, saying, "No need, Brother Monkey, you should stay here and look after the agarwood."

Seeing a glimmer of hope, Chenxiang quickly said, "Why don't I go too?"

Zhao Yifu said, "You'd better not go anywhere. You're a wanted criminal in the Three Realms!"

Chenxiang fell silent.

The monkey hesitated.

Zhao Yifu then understood; the monkey was clearly afraid he would escape.

This monkey's temper is really infuriating, but I know that's just the kind of person it is, so I really don't feel like arguing with it.

Zhao Yifu thought to himself, "If I had spent this time arguing with Him here, I could have finished everything!"
So he created a dream avatar and headed towards the underworld.

……

Beyond the Netherworld, at the boundary between Yin and Yang, lies the Eastern Peak Imperial Palace.

Zhao Yifu arrived at the palace and saw Mu Lu [Yin] smiling at him, her cool smile as pure as a solitary orchid in a secluded valley.

Zhao Yifu stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, you knew I was coming."

Mu Lu [Yin] smiled and said, "Someone informed me, and I roughly understand what's going on."

"Speaking of which, my aunt's lineage has really had a tough life."

"Because they are blood relatives of the Heavenly Emperor, it was actually the elder brother and nephew of this lineage who were destined to face the calamities of heaven and earth in two consecutive great calamities."

Zhao Yifu immediately thought of the old Zhang's voice that had just reached his ears. He suspected that the old Zhang was planning to ask him to do something... and he would have to get the answer from Mu Lu as to how to do it.

Zhao Yifu then chimed in, "Perhaps my skills are lacking, but according to my calculations, the Emperor, possessing the bloodline of the Heavenly Emperor, can also be the one destined for tribulation."

To everyone's surprise, Mu Lu shook his head and said, "That's not true at all. I'm not like Yang Jian and the others."

Zhao Yifu asked in surprise, "Why is it different?"

Mu Lu hesitated for a moment, then said, "Because Aunt Yunhua was born alongside the Heavenly Emperor when he took human form, so they are true siblings."

"But I... like many of the Heavenly Grandchildren, I am merely a descendant left behind by Heaven and Earth during countless tribulations... Just like me, I was born from a stubborn rock when the Heavenly Emperor's primordial spirit entered into it to comprehend the universe."

"Therefore, I was born because of the Heavenly Emperor, but I cannot recognize the Heavenly Emperor as my father; I can only be considered a grandson of the Heavenly Emperor."

Zhao Yifu was speechless with astonishment; he truly did not understand the world of those with great supernatural powers.

Mu Lu said, "I only have a karmic connection with the Heavenly Emperor, unlike Erlang Shen and Chenxiang, who are truly the Heavenly Emperor's nephew and grand-nephew, related by blood. Of course, it is precisely because of this that they also face numerous tribulations, since the Heavenly Emperor's bloodline is subject to the monitoring of the Heavenly Dao."

Zhao Yifu nodded, then asked a question: "Your Majesty, I have come here for the sake of another Heavenly Emperor's bloodline, the Goddess Huayue. She has been imprisoned in the Heavenly Prison. I want to know if I am also imprisoned in the Heavenly Prison, can I do anything with the 'Great Void Spirit Locking Restriction' that you taught me?"

Upon hearing this, Mu Lu laughed and said, "I knew you'd ask that."

"Back then, in order to seal my chaotic yang side, I actually used the Heavenly Prison Key, which transformed into the Void Lock Spirit Restriction. Now that the key is in your hands, once you enter the Heavenly Prison, you will be the warden."

"You can do whatever you want there."

Zhao Yifu was momentarily dazed, then clasped his hands and bowed, saying, "Thank you, thank you, Your Majesty."

Mu Lu shook his head and said, "You suppressed my most chaotic side for me, which is also a great favor to me."

After a pause, He changed the subject and said, "By the way, I think you could persuade Chenxiang that you could make Huayue Goddess suffer less while you are the warden."

"Why not let the Goddess of Mount Hua stay in this Heavenly Prison? It would be better for everyone."

Zhao Yifu asked thoughtfully, "As long as she stays in the Heavenly Prison, the Goddess of Mount Hua will not be considered to have defied the will of Heaven and will not be punished by Heaven?"

Mu Lu nodded and said, "The one sitting in the Lingxiao Palace is actually quite easy to fool. As long as you don't openly confront Him, He will turn a blind eye."

Zhao Yifu realized that the Heavenly Emperor mentioned by Mu Lu at this moment was actually a combination of the Heavenly Dao incarnation and Lao Zhang!

Old Zhang could not resist the will of the embodiment of Heaven to enforce the Heavenly Rules, but under Old Zhang's influence, some loopholes were also particularly easy to exploit.

In other words, the best way to deal with that incarnation of the Heavenly Dao is to relentlessly push the boundaries! Isn't he himself constantly profiting from these borderline practices?
Zhao Yifu said knowingly, "That's right, no wonder my Uncle Yang suppressed the Goddess of Mount Hua under Mount Hua as soon as he received the news... It seems that he had already understood some of the reasons behind this."

After a slight pause, he said, "Alright, I understand what to do. Thank you for your guidance, Your Majesty."

Mu Lu smiled gently and said, "Go."

……

Zhao Yifu's physical body was still struggling with the monkey, but when his dream avatar returned, he straightened up and said, "Alright, I know what to do."

The monkey was taken aback, then said irritably, "You cunning little brat, you actually used the same tricks I used to use against me."

Leaving a fake body in place to appease people while your true spirit leaves to cause trouble—this is indeed an old trick of the monkey.

However, the monkey didn't care about that. He just patted Chenxiang's head and said, "Tell me quickly, what's the method?"

Zhao Yifu paused for a moment, then stood up, patted the monkey on the shoulder, and said, "Brother Monkey, could you look after Baiyun Mountain for me, and also the cats living on it..."

As he spoke, he took off the scholar's robe he always wore, revealing a white undershirt underneath.

The monkey was instantly moved. He thought of something and said, "Good brother, why bother!"

Zhao Yifu said, "If it weren't for that, I really can't think of any other way... We can't just refuse Brother Monkey and the others, can we?"

As soon as he finished speaking, a troop of celestial soldiers appeared in the sky.

Chenxiang thought it was someone coming to find him, and just as he was about to make a move, a hairy hand pressed down on his shoulder.

The monkey said, "Don't worry, they're here to take him away... Sigh, we're in a huge debt of gratitude now."

The monkey was very distressed, but in the end, it had no choice but to accept the favor.

(End of this chapter)