Chapter 542

Chapter 542: Two Leeks

"Master, how high is Yan Changkong’s cultivation?" the Third Young Master asked again. The Star Master was a talent he’d invested heavily in cultivating. Now that the Star Master had healed his injuries and stabilized his cultivation level, he’d simply run off. How could he possibly swallow such an insult?

"One billion divine stones."

Ye Xu replied with a faint smile.

"Deal!"

Clenching his teeth, the Third Young Master produced a One Tribulation Dao Sovereign treasure – an octagonal Han sword radiating a sharp sword intent.

[Congratulations, Host. Obtained one billion Hongmeng points.]

Ye Xu stated, "That man is a Five Tribulations Dao Sovereign."

"Old Xu, let’s go."

With the information secured, the Third Young Master immediately bid farewell to Xu Taishou and departed, heading toward Baiyunzhou in the Penglai Immortal Domain.

Li Ruoyu’s gaze flickered slightly.

Given his cultivation level, he wasn’t qualified to intervene in matters between the young masters.

Ye Xu’s thoughts stirred. The next moment, Su Mu materialized within Heaven’s Secret Pavilion. He was completely confused, utterly unaware of what had transpired.

"Master, something urgent?" Su Mu asked, his face full of grievance. He had been cultivating alongside Yue Lingxi only to suddenly find himself whisked here by Ye Xu’s whim.

Hmm!

Ye Xu activated the Book of Changes. His magic power condensed into a wisp of sword energy, which he sealed into a piece of jade. He looked at Su Mu and commanded, "Take this jade sword immediately to Falling Star City in the Penglai Immortal Domain."

A trace of killing intent surfaced on his face. "If anyone dares to target Ning Wudao, Xixi, Feng Wuji, or the others, infuse it with magic power. It will trigger the sword energy I’ve left inside."

"Understood."

Ye Xu’s tone was exceptionally grave. Su Mu sensed the urgency of the situation.

"Let me give you a lift."

Ye Xu flicked his sleeve. Instantly, Su Mu appeared at the border between the Canglan Immortal Domain and the Penglai Immortal Domain, traveling dozens of times faster than the Third Young Master and Xu Taishou.

"Master, are you worried they might be implicated?" Li Ruoyu inquired with a smile.

Ye Xu nodded. The jade sword contained a strand of Heavenly Lord-tier sword energy. Though he lacked extensive practical combat experience, he was still a genuine Heavenly Lord.

A single wisp of his sword energy was sufficient to slay a Five Tribulations Dao Sovereign.

…

"Who in the world are you?"

Above Baiyunzhou in the Penglai Immortal Domain, the Star Master was covered in wounds. He frantically shifted divine abilities, explosively unleashing one hundred and eight great daos. His magic power manifested terrifying portents in the sky as he attacked Yan Changkong, who pursued him relentlessly.

Swish!

Yan Changkong casually swung his sword, effortlessly shattering the Star Master’s divine ability. Yet, he held back from delivering a fatal blow. Instead, he seemed like a cat toying with a mouse, driving the Star Master toward his intended destination.

"What exactly are you trying to achieve?" the Star Master roared in desperation.

Ever since in the Divine Capital of the Immortal Court, he had sensed someone spying on him. The longer it lasted, the stronger his sense of impending crisis became.

He knew all too well he was merely a dog raised by the Third Young Master; the Celestial Lord of Fortune would never personally intervene to save him.

Therefore, the Star Master employed a distraction technique to escape unscathed.

But he underestimated Yan Changkong’s strength.

Ever since he left the Divine Capital of the Immortal Court, Yan Changkong could accurately track down his location, catch up to him at the fastest speed, yet did not attempt to kill him.

It seemed Yan Changkong was driving him toward a certain place.

The Star Master was utterly furious but powerless.

He had never met Yan Changkong before and couldn’t fathom why Yan Changkong was pursuing him.

Moreover, he was filled with deep confusion.

His divine powers seemed full of flaws in Yan Changkong’s eyes; Yan Changkong effortlessly broke through them without any difficulty.

Yan Changkong saw the Star Master as plainly as lines on a palm.

"Whoosh!"

A whistling sound tore through the air as Yan Changkong pointed a finger at the Star Master mid-air, his fingertip wreathed in green light, manifesting the essence of yin and yang and the true meaning of the five elements, compressing heaven, earth, and the void into that single point.

"Crack!"

That finger strike shattered the Star Master’s divine powers, smashed through his magical treasures, and burst open one Great Dao World after another.

In the blink of an eye,

one hundred and eight Great Dao Worlds were breached.

The Star Master’s physical body was like a punctured bellows, his magical power scattering wildly.

He paled in terror; Yan Changkong seemed to know his fatal weaknesses. With just that strike, he nearly lost half his life. The Star Master dared not linger and fled desperately.

Yan Changkong pursed his lips in a faint smile.

"What a pity. If you hadn’t botched my technique into an unrecognizable mess, you might have been worthy of becoming a part of me," Yan Changkong sighed softly, shaking his head.

Dutian Dao Xuanjing was a miraculous technique he had created within the Dao Lord realm.

This technique was the pinnacle of Dao Sovereign techniques.

But it contained one most fatal flaw.

As the creator, Yan Changkong mastered that flaw and spread the deadly technique far and wide, inviting all to practice it.

Every being who cultivated Dutian Dao Xuanjing was just a cabbage head or a fattened pig, ripe for the harvest when fully grown.

This was an evil art.

It was precisely why Time Palace could not tolerate him; he was expelled from Time Palace and sank to becoming a rogue cultivator.

In the distance, a woman followed closely behind.

She was Yan Ruyi.

Since first seeing Yan Changkong, she hadn’t left, always lurking in the shadows and observing his every move.

Seeing Yan Changkong strike at the Star Master, she understood that the Star Master, too, was a cabbage head.

But she didn’t grasp why Yan Changkong hadn’t killed the Star Master.

His goal seemed more like driving the Star Master toward a certain location.

Swish!

Pursuing one and fleeing the other, they traversed millions of miles in an instant as an ancient, majestic city came into view.

Falling Star City.

"Hahaha…"

Gazing at the city, Star Master suddenly halted, ceasing his escape. He sensed a familiar aura—someone who had once plundered his Dao rhythm within the Taixu Domain.

"Falling Star City… Falling Star City…" Star Master laughed wildly and unrestrainedly.

The moment he detected Feng Wuji’s presence, he fully awakened to Yan Changkong’s true intentions.

"So… I’m just a leek too!"

Star Master mocked himself bitterly.

He had created the Taixu Domain, hunting Dao Sovereigns solely to gather one hundred and eight perfect Great Dao Worlds—all to ascend as a Five Tribulations Dao Sovereign and contend for the Celestial Sovereign throne.

His methods were cruel, yet correct.

Now,

Discovering himself as merely a leek, with lifelong cultivation soon to become another’s gain, Star Master plunged into despair. An overwhelming sorrow surged from his heart.

Yan Changkong stood with hands clasped behind his back, robes fluttering sharply.

"You realized it too late," Yan Changkong remarked icily.

"I know your aim."

Star Master guffawed, "You spare me only so my entire cultivation can ‘make a wedding dress’ for someone in the city. Because that leek is more perfect than me."

"You use me to cultivate him—accelerating your harvest!"

"I’ll grant your wish!"

Star Master’s laughter twisted into a grotesque, anguished snarl.

Whoosh!

He plunged into Falling Star City like a blazing star crashing into the mortal realm.

"What was that?!"

Air ignited. The void collapsed. Flaming meteors rained down as if bringing apocalyptic destruction.

Human, demon clan, divine clans, and cultivators within Falling Star City stared in terror at the spectacle.

"Go! Now!"

Huang Zimo shouted sharply, transforming into her true phoenix form. She swallowed Feng Wuji, Ning Wudao, and Xixi into her Purple Palace, then spread her wings to flee the city.

"He’s coming for me."

Abruptly,

Feng Wuji grinned. Two familiar auras washed over him—Star Master, and those unseen eyes that had watched him from darkness before.

Their arrival was no accident.

Mere peak Sovereign of the World, he knew escape was impossible against such beings.

Without a word, he activated the Dutian Dao Xuanjing, swaying out of Huang Zimo’s Purple Palace and rushing toward the Star Master in the sky, like a firefly against the stars and the bright moon.

Feng Wuji unfolded his one hundred and eight Great Dao Worlds.

Boom!

The Star Master’s Great Dao World kept shrinking until it collapsed entirely. The immense force surged into Feng Wuji’s one hundred and eight Great Dao Worlds.

The source of both men’s power was identical.

Feng Wuji didn’t need to worry about rejection.

Moreover,

the Star Master sought only death. He had channeled all his power into one hundred and eight Dao fruits, which now hung suspended within Feng Wuji’s one hundred and eight Great Dao Worlds.

“Young fellow, we meet again.”

A faint, blurred face appeared within Feng Wuji’s Purple Palace. The Star Master wore a teasing smirk, his eyes no longer carrying the despair and sorrow they once held.

“The last time we met, I stole your power, Daoist brother. This time, you’ve gifted me your entire cultivation base. This debt of kindness, I shall repay you in the next life.”

Feng Wuji’s primordial spirit gazed at the Star Master, bowing deeply.

“You are cleverer than I.”

The Star Master’s voice softened.

Feng Wuji nodded.

He was confident that his talents and insights belonged to no one. If the Star Master’s Zhoutian Dao Xuanjing had been entrusted to him—Feng Wuji—he would have surely mended its flaws. Even if he failed, the outcome would never have been so tragic.

“Ha ha ha…”

The Star Master chuckled mockingly. “Such a pity… you and I are alike—merely livestock cultivated by others. Your growth is just deeper, your value greater. But livestock remains livestock. One day, harvest will come!”

“I refuse!”

“I refuse!”

As he spoke those last words, the Star Master became hysterical.

All his life, he had pursued the Dao… only to become another’s sustenance in the end!

“Rest in peace, Daoist brother.”

Feng Wuji murmured softly.

Boom!

The Star Master’s primordial spirit shattered completely.

From this day forward,

the Star Master was no more.