Chapter Eighteen: The Rift Between Zhunti and Jieyin

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“Ju Mang, go and have a look,” ordered Emperor Jiang.

They were nurturing a Great Shaman at a critical moment and could not leave, lest something unexpected happen. After all, this Great Shaman was being cultivated with a great expenditure of their own essence and blood, utterly unlike the common shamans before.

“Understood.” Ju Mang was a burly man clad in green armor, his muscles bulging. His true form was a bird-bodied, human-faced being, with an affinity for wood.

Obeying Emperor Jiang’s command, he rose and strode outside, though he did not take the matter too seriously. The Twelve Ancestor Shamans had been born with late-stage Da Luo Golden Immortal cultivation; united, even late-stage quasi-saints were no threat to them. Their long-standing invincibility had fostered an arrogance that made them scorn all others.

In their eyes, even the once-mighty dragon, phoenix, and qilin clans were nothing but chickens and dogs. Were it not for their limited numbers, would those three clans ever have been able to dominate the world?

But now, having discovered the method of nurturing their kin with their own blood, they believed that it would not be long before their shaman tribe replaced the three clans and ruled the primordial world.

“Wretch, halt!”

Ju Mang exited the Hall of Pangu and, seeing Zhun Ti trying to escape on a cloud, bellowed like thunder, his voice shaking Zhun Ti to the core. Turning back, Zhun Ti was inwardly terrified—such overwhelming might!

At present, Zhun Ti was only at the early Da Luo Golden Immortal stage, while Ju Mang was late-stage; he could not muster even a shred of resistance and thought only of fleeing.

“Where do you think you’re going?”

Seeing Zhun Ti fly off on his cloud, Ju Mang transformed into his true form, flapping his heavy wings in pursuit. Yet, though he was powerful, he did not cultivate the primordial spirit and could not use dharma power, so his speed was inferior to Zhun Ti’s.

...

Elsewhere, after Zhun Ti had left, Li Tian waved his hand to conjure a stone table and stools, took out some spiritual fruits and wine from his storage treasure, and planned to get Jie Yin drunk—then find an excuse to leave with Nuwa and Fuxi...

Unfortunately, Jie Yin stubbornly refused to drink. Only then did Li Tian recall that in later generations, Buddhism abstained from alcohol—apparently, even now this rule was in effect. Thus, he abandoned the plan and began searching for an excuse to take his leave from Jie Yin.

Lost in thought, he saw Zhun Ti suddenly return. With his life at stake, Zhun Ti cared nothing for appearances and shouted from afar, “Senior brother, save me!”

Startled, Jie Yin sprang to his feet.

Zhun Ti landed from his cloud, letting out a sigh of relief—until he glanced back and cried out, “Senior brother, that monster’s coming!”

Following Zhun Ti’s gaze, Jie Yin’s expression grew grave. Such formidable power—there was bound to be a fierce battle.

Li Tian looked as well, but instead felt relieved. Judging by the aura, it was only a late-stage Da Luo Golden Immortal, and alone—not a threat.

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But watching Zhun Ti’s cowardice, Li Tian was troubled. If he did not act, it would not be easy to eliminate Zhun Ti by trickery... With this thought, Li Tian glanced at Jie Yin, his eyes narrowing.

My apologies, Fellow Daoist Jie Yin...

After pondering a moment, Li Tian approached Jie Yin’s side, smiled, and said, “Fellow Daoist Jie Yin, though that monster’s body is strong, he does not cultivate the primordial spirit, so he should not be too difficult to handle. Why not go and convert him?”

Hearing this, Jie Yin extended his divine sense to examine Ju Mang, discovering, as Li Tian said, that he did not cultivate the primordial spirit. He nodded, relieved. His power of conversion specifically targeted the soul, and since the monster did not cultivate the primordial spirit, his soul should be weak—unlikely to resist conversion...

Little did he know, the shaman tribe did not merely neglect cultivation of the primordial spirit—they had none at all! Moreover, each of the Twelve Ancestor Shamans possessed innate magical powers and unmatched physical might; among their peers, they were invincible. How could a mere mid-stage Da Luo Golden Immortal like him hope to prevail?

As Jie Yin soared forth, Li Tian was secretly delighted. Though he had failed to get rid of the shameless Zhun Ti, eliminating Jie Yin was still a fine outcome.

He was already prepared: if Jie Yin was in danger, he would immediately escape with Nuwa, Fuxi, and even Zhun Ti... By then, Zhun Ti would probably thank him for saving his life. Ha!

“Fiend, surrender at once!”

Jie Yin flew to confront Ju Mang, his brows drawn in anger, reciting those classic words used when subduing monsters.

“How dare you!”

Ju Mang was instantly enraged. The Twelve Ancestor Shamans prided themselves as the true heirs of Pangu—since birth, they regarded themselves as superior. To be called a fiend by Jie Yin was intolerable.

“Hmph!” Jie Yin snorted coldly, calmly raising his Conversion Banner, preparing to use his power to convert Ju Mang. At that moment, he suddenly noticed countless vines had appeared beneath him, rapidly winding up his body.

Startled, Jie Yin tried to escape, but moving only hastened the vines’ attack, and he was immediately ensnared.

Seeing Jie Yin fall into the trap so easily, Ju Mang sneered. So weak—how dare you challenge me?

Jie Yin’s heart sank, but he still had confidence in his power of conversion. Finding the vines only restrained him without harm, he ignored them and raised his Conversion Banner, clearly resolved to stake everything on this.

With a flourish, the banner erupted in dazzling golden light, enveloping Ju Mang.

“What is this?” Ju Mang was startled, thinking it a strange attack, and tried to dodge, but it was too late.

“It worked.”

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Below, Zhun Ti was also overjoyed, but in the next instant, his expression froze.

Ju Mang, bathed in golden light, instinctively raised his arm to block. A moment later, he opened his eyes in confusion, flapped his wings, and found he was completely unaffected. Instantly furious, he believed he was being toyed with.

“How dare you mock me—prepare to die!”

Jie Yin’s face turned ashen. His conversion power had no effect on this monster, and now he was bound by these strange vines—impossible to escape for the moment. His heart sank, but in desperation, he still raised his Conversion Banner to defend himself.

“Senior brother!”

Zhun Ti was frantic, wanting to help but too afraid to act. As he hesitated, Li Tian suddenly grabbed his arm.

“Fellow Daoist of the Supreme Heaven?” Zhun Ti asked, confused.

“Fellow Daoist Zhun Ti, that monster looks extremely formidable. We should retreat quickly, or none of us will escape!”

Zhun Ti was stunned, glancing at Jie Yin and torn with indecision.

Seeing this, Li Tian knew to strike while the iron was hot. He gripped Zhun Ti tightly and summoned a cloud. To his surprise, Zhun Ti allowed himself to be pulled away without the slightest struggle, evidently resigned to this course...

Was the bond between these so-called bosom friends truly so fragile?

Narrowing his eyes, Li Tian released Zhun Ti as if by accident, curious to see his reaction. But Zhun Ti only stood there, dazed, as if he hadn’t noticed at all. Li Tian sneered inwardly, all the more contemptuous.

Realizing Li Tian genuinely intended to flee with Zhun Ti, Nuwa and Fuxi exchanged a look, their expressions unreadable. In their eyes, the “monster” might seem formidable, but compared to Ancestor Dragon or the original Phoenix and Qilin, he was far inferior. Even if they were overmatched, there was no need to flee without a fight.

Still, they made no comment, trusting that Li Tian had his reasons. Nuwa was even pleased—no wonder Li Tian had been acting oddly all along; clearly, he had planned for this...

As for Jie Yin? They had long disliked him, and would be quite content to see him and Zhun Ti perish together.

...