Forty-Sixth Chapter: Ji Meng's Report
Inside Lingxiao Treasure Hall, the Gilded Coiled Dragon Pillars cast stern shadows.
Di Jun sat high upon the Nine Dragon Golden Throne, his fingertips unconsciously rubbing the cold tortoiseshell patterns of the River Diagram and Luo Book. His gaze fell upon the tall figure standing in the hall as solidly as a physical object.
Eastern Emperor Tai Yi stood silently below the steps. The phantom of the Chaos Bell rose and sank beside him, its walls reflecting the shattered mountains and rivers of the Primordial Wilderness. A point of Chaos Profound Light in the bell's center shifted unpredictably, pressing the air in the hall into a leaden stillness.
Ji Meng knelt on one knee, his dark-gold battle robe trailing over the cloud-bricks. The silver scales along his back gleamed coldly beneath the chill light of the pearls atop the hall. He drew a deep breath, and the syllables rolling through his throat carried the lingering resonance of Dragon's Roar as they pierced the silence:
"Your subject was stranded at the foothills of Buzhou Mountain. On the verge of death, I accidentally entered a Small Courtyard."
"Outside the courtyard, the turbid qi of the Primordial Wilderness surged, and fiendish qi corroded the bones. Yet the instant I stepped through the courtyard gate, heaven and earth changed completely!" Ji Meng raised his head, golden light bursting from his eyes. "The spiritual energy was pure and condensed, far surpassing the sun essence of the Sun Star Palace! It was as gentle as subdued rivers. There was no need to refine it—it reached the origin of my demon core directly!" His fingertips brushed over the faint silver moon-mark on his neck. "The wound piercing my throat healed completely in seven days. It was not because of spiritual medicine, but because of the rules granted by the courtyard. This was a supreme dao arena isolated from the Primordial Wilderness, a world unto itself!"
The River Diagram and Luo Book in Di Jun's palm suddenly flared with light. The tortoiseshell patterns frantically calculated, only to crash into an invisible barrier, their radiance abruptly dimming! Tai Yi's pupils contracted. The phantom of the Chaos Bell trembled with a hum, its bell waves sweeping toward the location Ji Meng described, yet it was like a mud ox plunging into the sea—not even the slightest ripple arose!
"The Courtyard Master looked like an ordinary young man, and his manner was simple and plain." Ji Meng's voice was solemn, every word ringing like gold and jade striking the ground. "Yet everything he said and did secretly accorded with the supreme principles of the Heavenly Dao!"
Upon rising in the morning, he stretched his muscles and bones: both arms traced arcs as if guiding the stars, while each step shook the earth as though it resonated with the earth veins. From observing his movements, your subject actually comprehended the workings of the Myriad Stars Array, and the stagnation in his demonic power vanished! This was a supreme Body Refining Technique!
When he bent down to weed, the stone hoe fell and severed the stems, its trajectory secretly matching the sword intent of Severing Heaven Line! His five fingers pulled out the roots and removed the filth, his knuckles tensed like the Dragon Capturing Hand seizing the heart demon! He even proclaimed a maxim—
"Cut Grass and Remove Roots!" The four words struck Di Jun's soul like a tribulation thunderbolt from the Ninth Heaven! The River Diagram and Luo Book shook violently, projecting phantoms of the Demon Court's factional infighting, with "poisonous weeds" such as Kunpeng and Nine Infant!
When he boiled meat soup, ordinary beast flesh and wild vegetables somehow became imbued with Chaotic Vitality! After drinking it, my demon core broke and then established itself, allowing me to obtain this wisp of Chaos origin!
"The Courtyard Master often says, 'Unity makes strength.'" Ji Meng's voice suddenly surged with passion. Dark-gold demonic power billowed forth like a tide, forming phantoms within the hall—
On the left, the Demon Court's various divisions fought their own battles, while great demons competed for power and profit. The demon army was like loose sand, hacked into utter disarray by the Wu Clan's giant axes!
On the right, ten thousand demons formed ranks and moved as one. Their demonic power gathered into a flood, and the radiance of the Great Zhou Heavenly Stars Formation surged, boldly smashing apart the phantom of the Dutian Divine Fiend!
"For ten thousand years, the Demon Court has been consumed by infighting and incessant internal losses. That is why we face today's crisis!" Ji Meng's gaze blazed as he looked directly at Di Jun. "If we join our hearts as one, what need have we to fear the Wu Clan's brute strength? These two words—'unity'—are the key to breaking the deadlock!"
"Boom—!"
The Chaos Bell rang out with a thunderous crash! Mysterious Yellow Qi surged around Tai Yi, and the scenes of defeat on the Witch-Demon Battlefield shattered inch by inch across the bell's walls! The River Diagram and Luo Book in Di Jun's hand blazed brightly, its tortoiseshell patterns frantically rearranging before finally settling on an image of ten thousand demons paying homage beneath brilliant stars.
Dead silence descended upon the hall. After a long while, Di Jun slowly spoke, his voice freezing everything like a cold abyss: "Courtyard Master... what is his name? Where is his dao arena?"
"I do not know." Ji Meng lowered his head. "The Courtyard Master was low-profile, hidden among mortals. When I left, I kowtowed three times to thank him. He merely smiled and said, 'What a polite little dog.'"
"Little dog?!" Tai Yi cried out involuntarily, and Chaos Profound Light exploded from the Chaos Bell! A being who had enlightened a Demon Commander and wielded Chaotic Vitality had been called a "little dog"? Beneath the absurdity lay an unfathomable depth that sent chills down one's spine!
Di Jun closed his eyes. The radiance of the River Diagram and Luo Book flickered in his palm like a dying candle in the wind. The Heavenly Secret was shrouded in layers of mist; tracing the location led only to a void of annihilation. This Small Courtyard was like a chess piece on the chessboard of the Primordial Wilderness that had slipped free of the rules. Its very existence overturned the principle that "the Heavenly Dao remains constant"!
He abruptly opened his eyes, golden pupils roiling like molten lava. "Everything concerning this Courtyard Master is to be classified as the Demon Court's highest secret. Anyone who leaks it—"
The Chaos Bell rang out in response, its waves sweeping across a Coiled Dragon Golden Pillar in the corner of the hall!
"Crack!"
Half the pillar silently vanished, leaving behind a break as smooth as a mirror!
"Body and soul annihilated!" The four words were like a decree of the Heavenly Dao, branded deep within the souls of every demon general!
Di Jun turned his gaze toward Ji Meng, a trace of heat showing through his majesty. "Ji Meng, since you have received the enlightenment of a sage, you will take up the position of Envoy of the Sacred Edict. Reorganize the demon army and purge its internal corruption. You will put this path of 'unity' into practice!"
"Your subject receives the edict!" Ji Meng kowtowed, his forehead touching the cloud-bricks. When he rose, the silver scales along his back shimmered with dark gold. The majesty of a Demon Commander mingled with the Chaos Qi, making him seem as steady as an abyss and a mountain.
In the shadows outside the hall, Kunpeng gently waved his feather fan. A cold glint flashed briefly through his eyes.
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