Red Pill Fails, Meteorite Falls from the Sky

Compared to Liu Futong and Zhang Shicheng, Zhu Hongwu was still in his early stages of development. Although he had received investments from many spiritual gods and dharma lineages, his foundation was truly not thick.

If the leader was like this, his subordinate Yang Bi could be no exception; he was primarily characterized by extreme poverty.

He couldn't produce any of the treasures and rare items he had promised Ge Xian as rewards earlier, and could only try to fool him with the Factions Secret Manual and provincial maps.

With the shocking scenes created by Faxian and Shi Er before him, Ge Xian had initially thought Yang Bi wouldn't be able to stir up much trouble, at most he would quietly rescue a few disciples and elders of the Ming Cult.

But in the next moment, he realized he had underestimated this person.

A procession, clearly composed of strange cultivators, swept in. Carriages, banners, dharma drums, and divine bells, accompanied by music, actually formed a bizarre tune that was no less unsettling than the "Spiritual Desire Song" he had heard in Qiantang County before. It murmured and chanted, drawing people's souls and minds in involuntarily.

And Yang Bi stood on the carriage, hair disheveled, chanting continuously. As sunset approached, he directly roared:

"Eternal Mother, True Void Homeland."

"I invite the power of the Great Venerable White Lotus to descend upon this world. I, disciple Yang Bi, am willing to offer my dharma body as a divine fetus."

As he roared, the White Lotus Sect cultivators rushing along with him also shouted.

This scene was undoubtedly called "Summoning the God."

Although to outsiders, it had a somewhat comical feel.

But the scenes that followed were no longer funny at all. During the roaring, the dozen or so fanatical cultivators dressed in White Lotus Sect robes began to explode.

From the inside out, flesh and blood gushed out, and bone fragments scattered.

One by one.

It was like a thick bloodline, spreading across the land and extending to the foot of Sunset Mountain.

When the last fanatical cultivator beside Yang Bi exploded, a white divine light seemed to descend from beyond the heavens, directly pouring into Yang Bi's body.

Instantly, he changed.

Although he was still male, he now displayed feminine features.

The Dao Qi surging from within him was so intense that it directly suppressed Monk Faxian and Shi Er.

It was unknown what other price he paid besides the self-destruction of those dozen fanatical cultivators. At this moment, Yang Bi's cultivation had already crossed the threshold of the Mortal Transformation Perfection realm.

He had not yet reached the Divine Connection realm, but with a casual gesture, he unleashed a White Lotus Grand Hand Seal, once again sweeping away Li Wa, who had possessed unparalleled pressure moments before.

Upon his return, he had indeed rescued the Ming Cult and the remaining Guǐ Wǔ Sect members.

But these were just trivial matters. The truly astonishing scene was yet to come. It also made Ge Xian instantly understand why Yang Bi was willing to sacrifice more than a dozen fanatical subordinates at once to use such a divine forbidden technique.

Yang Bi suddenly held out a flower and smiled, plucking a snow-white lotus radiating holy light from the void.

Without a word, he raised his hand and hurled the "White Lotus" towards Sunset Mountain.

Coincidentally, the mountaintop had been cleared by Monk Faxian earlier, effectively opening a gap in the altar. The White Lotus aimed to slip through this opening and descend into the Flesh Altar, which was filled with endless flesh and blood.

As it reached the mountaintop, the roots of the once-sacred, colossal White Lotus suddenly burst open. Tens of thousands of tender white root tendrils emerged, probing into the lake of flesh and blood below.

Anyone with even a modicum of cultivation knowledge would understand Yang Bi's intentions upon seeing this.

Ge Xian marveled once more:

"Zhu Hongwu really knows how to pick his subordinates. Yang Bi, this ringleader of spies, is quite the thrifty one."

"Sacrificing a dozen or so fanatical subordinates is merely an initial investment. Saving the Ming Cult and the other Guǐ Wǔ Sects is just a bonus."

"This fellow's true target is clearly the [Flesh Altar] that the Eternal Life Cult painstakingly built with vast resources and treasures. He intends to use that damned World-Descending White Lotus to drain them completely, isn't that right?"

"Compared to them, Yang Bi is the one with the sharpest mind among the three factions."

If Ge Xian could see it, Li Wa naturally could too.

This powerhouse of the Eternal Life Cult could no longer afford to hold back.

Her Dharma Body, a jade-like form, swelled once more. She spat out streams of "Immortal Qi" into the air, one after another, relentlessly. The storm-like energy battered the mountain, causing blood to surge and ice crystals to form, momentarily halting the World-Descending White Lotus for several breaths.

As she made her move, a world-shattering change erupted across the vast Jiangzhe Province.

Smoke signals?

No, it should be seventeen incredibly thick pillars of smoke and mist erupting from various hidden mountain peaks within the province, shooting towards the sky.

Their color was crimson. Even from afar, they stirred the desires within the hearts and souls of those who beheld them.

Ordinary mortals found them most irresistible, freezing in place to watch, with no thought of fleeing.

They watched as the pillars of Qi shot skyward, then spread out, transforming into patches of crimson blood clouds that began to merge.

In the areas where the merging was most intense, it began to rain.

Blood Rain!

A torrential downpour of blood mixed with fragments of flesh and blood.

Anyone caught in the Blood Rain would immediately have their bodies forcibly remodeled, transforming them into the tough, pain-ignorant "Red Pill Blood Soldiers."

Those on Sunset Mountain couldn't see all seventeen pillars of cloud, but they could see five or six from the surrounding areas. They could also see the constantly expanding, violently churning sea of crimson clouds.

Thanks to Ge Xian's previous "leak," all three major factions were aware of what was happening at this moment.

"Spirit Desire Blood Cloud!"

"What a fine Yelü Tianzheng, truly knows how to do business. He sold out the Jiangzhe Province completely, letting the Eternal Life Cult quietly set up all their [Flesh Altars]."

"Fellow Daoists, though we serve different masters, I believe none of us wish to see the Jiangzhe Province fall into the hands of the Evil God Dharma Lineage. If they manage to forge a Red Pill Army, it will be difficult for all of us to deal with... Why don't we join forces and destroy this crucial altar, the very eye of the formation? Let the Eternal Life Cult's efforts be in vain, what do you say?"

"Excellent!"

"Good!"

Although Monk Faxian and Shi Er saw that Yang Bi intended to take advantage of the situation with his proposal, they also recognized that it was in their shared interest. Thus, they both agreed.

The alliance of the three rebel armies put Li Wa in a precarious position.

Without using her "Spirit Embryo," she could only block one of the three in a one-on-one fight.

However, the next moment, Li Wa also made her move.

She suddenly turned her head and shouted towards Qiantang County:

"Sister Yelü, County Magistrate Lu."

"If the Virtuous Couple doesn't act soon and ruin Uncle Yelü's grand plan, I fear you won't have a good outcome."

Before her voice even faded, two massive disturbances erupted from within the county city.

Demonic energy surged into the sky, and two terrifying demons with colossal Dharma appearances materialized simultaneously. In the blink of an eye, they streaked towards Sunset Mountain.

It was as if they didn't need Li Wa to speak; they were already about to make their move.

Gu-Eating Spirit Monster!

Heart Devouring Fox!

As this seemingly discordant couple attacked, they displayed surprising coordination. One chose Monk Faxian, and the other chose Shi Er, leaving the most troublesome Yang Bi, who had the Evil God Will possessing him, to Li Wa.

The three sides paired off for combat. Ge Xian, driven by prior curiosity, went to observe the perverted couple.

The next moment, his wish was granted, and he got a glimpse of the "Innate Divine Abilities" each of them possessed.

Lu Hualong was the most cunning. He first used numerous ghouls and a piercing shriek that could disrupt divine sense to entangle Shi Er. Taking advantage of the opening, he suddenly opened his mouth and spewed out a tide of gu worms, containing all sorts of varieties. If Shi Er hadn't been protected by Star Fiends, he would have been gnawed into a pile of bones by this surprise attack.

Clearly, his Innate Divine Ability obtained in the Mortal Transformation Realm was [Gu Raising].

Yelü Yuyan's ability was the most straightforward and brutal. She chose Monk Faxian, knowing he was a lecherous monk. She first unleashed her fox clan's soul-stirring Charm Talent. Seeing Monk Faxian fall into her trap, her massive demonic body suddenly trembled. Her "fox fur" detached itself, transforming into hundreds of thousands of terrifying poisonous fox fur needles, intending to shred Monk Faxian into mincemeat.

Unfortunately, Monk Faxian was also feigning. At the critical moment, he summoned the "Maitreya Golden Bell" to protect himself, thus preserving his life.

"How utterly hideous!"

"It's a shame I don't have anything like an Image Stone these days, otherwise I could have left Yelü Yuyan an image of her transformed into a 'Hairless Fox' as a memento."

Ge Xian sighed, naturally because Yelü Yuyan, after using her Innate Divine Ability once, was truly shockingly ugly.

In the air, a scrawny, ferocious, and terrifyingly hairless fox was wriggling and groaning.

Although her fur quickly grew back, for those few breaths, Yelü Yuyan was indeed very ugly. She was even mocked by Monk Faxian, which sent Yelü Yuyan into a furious rage. Her Demon Fox body swelled, and she lunged forward, putting Monk Faxian in grave danger, nearly losing his heart several times.

As the two sides were entangled, Li Wa was finally thoroughly provoked by Yang Bi.

At this moment, her Jade Transformation Dharma Body had reached a height of two zhang, and everything about her was excessively large.

Her skin gradually turned red, and her expression became increasingly dangerous.

She surveyed her surroundings. Spirit Desire Blood Clouds had appeared all over Jiangzhe Province, but due to the lack of the most crucial element, the formation eye, they were unable to detonate the spirit desire and connect into a single entity, creating the magnificent Blood Rain that could cover the entire province.

On the surface, she appeared calm, but in reality, Li Wa was burning with anxiety.

She had come here to seize the first merit, and also to gather resources for herself, cultivate her Secret Technique, and break through to the Spirit Connection Realm.

Who would have expected such a turn of events!

If the Eternal Life Cult's plan failed because of her, Yelü Tianzheng, the other powerhouses in the cult, and even her mother, the Spirit Desire Great Priest, would never forgive her. Her fate would not be good.

"You rats almost ruined my great plan. If I find an opportunity in the future, I will grind your bones to dust."

"I know who your masters are – Liu Futong, Zhang Shicheng, Zhu Hongwu... Not a single one of you will escape."

As she roared, a powerful call emanated from within Li Wa.

She abruptly turned her head and shouted into the mountain wall:

"Spirit Embryo, return quickly!"

As soon as the words left her mouth.

A strange movement occurred deep within Sunset Mountain. With rustling sounds, a monster that made one's skull split and soul twist climbed out along the mountain wall from the opening.

Its demonic body seemed to be a mass of constantly shifting Fishy Bloody Mud.

The gems that had trapped the souls of the young heroes and prodigies were now empty, all transformed into soul-stirring Evil Eyes.

Looking further up, one could clearly see a Maiden's Head, as clear and ethereal as a celestial being, naturally beautiful and graceful.

As she climbed out and surged madly towards Li Wa.

The young heroes and prodigies who had been rescued but only had their bodies, now began to awaken.

Everyone was utterly exhausted, as if they had engaged in countless rounds of intimate pleasure, and this included some female martial artists.

Beside the waterfall, Ge Xian, who was waiting for an opportunity to escape, immediately made a judgment upon seeing this:

"Li Wa is going all out!"

"She was supposed to get the primary credit. Now that the other altars have been activated, she's been held up. If she fails, she'll likely perish."

"She has no choice but to prematurely summon the spirit embryo that hasn't completely devoured all the young heroes' souls. She plans to merge spirit and desire, first repelling Yang Bi, then igniting the blood cloud. In short, she'll first shroud Jiangzhe Province in blood rain to forge that army of Red Pill Blood Soldiers."

As expected, before these two thoughts of his even settled.

Over there, Li Wa and Li Su, this "mother and daughter" pair, began to merge with each other. The scene was truly horrifying.

As flesh and blood, Jade Demonic Body, and blood flowers and ice crystals crushed and ground against each other, with each within the other, a potent demonic aura spread in all directions. Even those with insufficient cultivation would suffer immediate damage to their souls just by looking.

Even the Lu Hualong Couple, Faxian, and Shi Er involuntarily retreated.

Ge Xian, possessing Supernatural Perception and the Outer Sky Gray Eye, only took one glance before cursing inwardly:

"No wonder the Myriad Laws Sect doesn't accept the evil god behind the Eternal Life Cult. What kind of cultivation methods are these?"

"First forge the most beautiful and sacred Skin Sac, then crush it and mix it with foul-smelling flesh and blood into a slurry... This ghastly scene is eerily similar to something that disgusted me in my past life, something called the Song of Saya."

Ge Xian's grumbling couldn't stop the mother and daughter from merging.

Meanwhile, Yang Bi, that cunning, insidious, stingy yet shameless and greedy spy chief, finally understood the power of information asymmetry. How could he have known that Li Wa had mastered an Eternal Life Cult Secret Technique? The power of the "Great Venerable White Lotus" he invited was also precisely calculated. He had even intentionally invited more, at the cost of sacrificing a few more fanatical White Lotus Cultists.

It should have been just enough to suppress Li Wa and seize the Flesh Altar.

But now, with Li Wa and Li Su merging into a monstrous entity of flesh and blood that nearly enveloped Sunset Mountain, his plan fell through.

The "World-Descending White Lotus," capable of devouring all impurities in the world, was directly covered and chewed up by the mother and daughter's flesh and blood bodies.

Yang Bi could only sigh mournfully and avoid their sharp edge.

He watched helplessly as the mother and daughter smiled stunningly at the same time, their bodies spontaneously combusting, the fire of spirit and desire reappearing, and sinking into the altar.

But at this very moment!

A shocking change erupted simultaneously across various locations in Jiangzhe Province.

Visible divine abilities and spells such as Thunderclap, Skyfire, and Yin Thunder erupted all at once.

In an instant, they destroyed nearly half of the cloud mist energy pillars. The Spirit Desire Blood Cloud, which was already merging and spreading violently, was also dissolved, revealing patches of emptiness. The torrential blood rain falling in various regions was intercepted and halted.

This scene not only drove Li Wa mad.

It also startled the three factions of rebels, as well as the Lu Hualong Couple.

They weren't fools. That scene clearly showed the imperial court had acted. And it was obvious they had received advance notice, allowing them to strike simultaneously and destroy more than half of the Flesh Altars in one fell swoop.

Even if Li Wa could ignite the array core now, it would be of little use.

The Eternal Life Cult's grand plan to refine the Red Pill Army could be declared a failure.

"No!"

Li Wa and her daughter, two Cold Fairy heads, simultaneously showed expressions of disbelief and wailed.

"This is impossible!"

"Who leaked the secret? How did the court find out? How did they manage to destroy the altars in time?"

"You lowly servant of the Yelü Family, speak! Is it your Yelü Family..."

Severely wounded, Li Wa turned her accusation towards Yelü Yuyan.

Just as the two powerful female cultivators were about to clash, two figures, one large and one small, suddenly flew over from the distance.

The smaller one was none other than the Dairy Cow Spirit Demon Bai Fugui, who had left a deep impression on Ge Xian.

The larger one also had a bovine body, covered in black scales, with a green mane, a single horn on its forehead, and bear-like feet treading exotic flames.

As it flew through the air, everyone, including Ge Xian, was inevitably drawn to its pair of eyes, which seemed to be perpetually wide with rage.

Ge Xian had seen Lu Hualong's eyes, which blurred the lines between good and evil. But what he saw now was the complete opposite.

Right and wrong!

Good and evil, loyalty and treachery!

It seemed all of it was contained within those eyes.

And when he spoke, his voice was indeed clear and bright:

"Yelü Tianzheng of Jiangzhe Province, in collusion with his daughter, son-in-law, and accomplices, sold the province to the Eternal Life Cult, intending to build eighteen altars and refine the Red Pill Demon Army."

"Now, most of the altars are destroyed, and the evil deed has failed."

"You fiendish rats of the Eternal Life Cult, Yelü Yuyan, Lu Hualong, why don't you quickly kneel and surrender to await judgment."

If one only heard these three rigid sentences, anyone would have thought this expert of the Mortal Transformation Realm, who had cultivated the "Righteous Spirit Demon" Dharma Body, was a fool. Who would obediently kneel and surrender at your command?

But soon, everyone realized they were mistaken.

This person was also quite insidious.

As he was halfway through speaking, Ge Xian sensed something and abruptly looked up at the sky.

When the last word fell, the thick clouds were actually blasted open with a boom. Immediately, a colossal "meteorite" wrapped in Skyfire was seen plummeting from the heavens, hurtling towards Sunset Mountain.

With incredible precision, it was aimed directly at the gap in the altar, its size almost identical.

Everyone present was dumbfounded. Ge Xian cursed inwardly again.

"What happened to 'Son of Bao Hanzhang is fair and just'?"

"Distracting me while casting [Meteorite Spell] to smash me?"