Chapter 1030: Higher Magic, Higher Tao (Part 2)

"Lu Shan Jun?"

Upon hearing the name, Shen Jie was momentarily stunned. However, he had no time for further thought, as the color of Lu Shan Jun’s clothing began to deepen, displaying black cloud patterns—the typical appearance of Lu Wu. A terrifying aura emanating from him exerted immense pressure on Shen Jie.

After decades, Lu Wu had grown far more formidable. Now that he had specifically sought out Shen Jie, the encounter would likely not end peacefully.

Frankly, Lu Wu appeared refined and scholarly, while Niu Batian seemed honest and jovial. Yet, both were among the most terrifying demons in the entire realm. Although Shen Jie was half-immortal and half-demon, he personally wished it were an immortal cultivator confronting him now, even one with a higher cultivation. After all, they were in a mortal city, and righteous cultivators would exercise some restraint—that was Shen Jie's advantage. However, a demon like Lu Wu, even after their past battle, was not someone Shen Jie would ever consider benevolent. This was evident as Lu Wu unleashed his demonic energy without any reservations.

"Lu Wu, there are hundreds of thousands of people in this city. Are you going to fight me here? Aren't you afraid..."

"Hehehehe... No matter what happens to this city, or how many die, won't they all blame you, Shen Jie, the demonic scoundrel? What concern is it of mine?"

Lu Shan Jun’s lips curled into a terrifying grin, revealing pale teeth. Though he was in human form and his teeth were perfectly even, they glinted with a sharp, chilling light.

Lu Wu opened his mouth, as if to devour a person...

Shen Jie understood. Lu Wu had no regard for the city's inhabitants; he might even desire to involve them. His Path of the Cháng Guǐ grew stronger with each person devoured, a method that had claimed countless demons in their previous battle. The innkeeper, whose hands and feet had turned to ice, carefully retreated a few steps before bolting. The two individuals before him were monstrous figures beyond his wildest nightmares.

Lu Shan Jun’s demonic energy, rising like flames, pierced through the inn’s protective barrier and ascended into the sky. Dark clouds gathered above, and strong winds swept through the city. This bizarre weather shift panicked the city’s residents and, naturally, alerted the local deities and spirits, as well as cultivators from various schools and sects within the city.

Outside the City God Temple, the local City God watched the sky in alarm. The gathering dark clouds and terrifying demonic energy were truly horrifying. Even during the world’s most turbulent eras, let alone these more peaceful years, such astonishing demonic energy had never been witnessed here.

"Lord City God, this is not the aura of an ordinary demon..."

A Confucian scholar gripped his book tightly, his face slightly pale.

Inside the inn, Shen Jie's expression became increasingly grim.

"You lunatic!"

Lu Shan Jun's roar answered Shen Jie.

"Aow roar—"

In that instant, Shen Jie shimmered and used an escape art to burst through the inn’s barrier, fleeing as a faint streak of light. Lu Wu clearly disregarded collateral damage, which meant staying in the city would offer Shen Jie no advantage; on the contrary, it would be exceedingly dangerous. He knew the deities, immortal cultivators, and masters from various schools would soon be alerted, and if he didn’t leave now, he might never escape.

"Trying to escape? Not that easy! Roar—"

Lu Shan Jun's roar shook the inn's barrier. Almost the moment Shen Jie fled, Lu Shan Jun instantly transformed into a streak of demonic light and pursued him. Yet, as his demonic light soared, another faint glow converged from within the inn, forming a scroll of calligraphy and painting that also flew towards Lu Shan Jun in the sky.

Watching Shen Jie flee ahead, Lu Shan Jun caught the flying scroll, a cold smile appearing on his face. This scroll was Lu Shan Jun's own work, naturally not comparable to his master's. Thus, even if unfurled within the city, fighting someone like Shen Jie with it would inevitably cause damage.

However, Lu Shan Jun’s true form, Lu Wu, was vastly different now. His mastery over the emotions of all beings had reached its pinnacle, allowing him to subtly influence others. He had precisely gauged Shen Jie’s obsession, even his demonic fixation: the delusional desire for revenge against his master. He knew Shen Jie would not easily throw away his life.

"Roar—"

Before Shen Jie could even leave the city limits, Lu Shan Jun directly attacked. With a roar, a demonic spell spewed black flames skyward, sweeping forward with utter abandon. The demonic fire chased Shen Jie, startlingly transforming into the gaping maw of a colossal black tiger, poised to devour him from behind.

As Shen Jie fled, he merely glanced back and felt a chill course through him, his scalp tingling. Inside the black tiger’s colossal maw, human heads were densely packed, a chaotic intertwining of auras filled with resentment and malevolence.

"Urgh—" "Shen—Jie—"

"Come join us..."

"Don't leave..."

In an instant, Shen Jie realized these were all individuals Lu Wu had once devoured. If he, too, were consumed, he would become one of them!

‘Ridiculous, utterly ridiculous! Those immortal scholars and martial arts masters, who all claimed to be righteous, allowed a monstrous fiend like Lu Wu to exist in the world. How absurd!’

At that moment, Shen Jie actually laughed. Just from this display of power, he knew he might no longer be able to defeat Lu Wu. However, a demon like Lu Wu, a terrible threat in both chaotic and peaceful times, was a good sign.

"Lu Wu, it won't be that easy to kill me!"

Shen Jie sneered, pointing a finger skyward. A bolt of lightning erupted from his hand, transforming into thunder that struck the sky, instantly tearing a large hole in the rolling demonic clouds.

"Aow—"

A tiger's roar erupted from the demonic clouds, which formed into a giant human-faced tiger head before dissipating. It turned out that plunging into those clouds would have been dangerous for Shen Jie. By shattering this illusion, he increased his escape speed by several tenths, allowing him to get away.

Neither Lu Shan Jun’s demonic fire nor his demonic clouds touched Shen Jie, but he showed no frustration. Instead, he smiled, riding the wind as he followed, his voice eerily echoing.

"Shen Jie, why run? You must know that the righteous energy of heaven and earth is currently at its zenith. In your current state, you can't achieve much. I'm no easy opponent. Wouldn't it be better if I devoured you? Once you're a Cháng Guǐ, I can release you. Even if you die outside, as long as I wish it, you can instantly 'come back to life.' Isn't that safer than your current predicament?"

"Shen Jie, if other righteous masters catch you—like those from Changjian Mountain, or the righteous gods from the Heavenly Realm—you'll surely be annihilated, body and soul. It's best if I devour you; it will make things much easier for your endeavors. I'm helping you out of consideration for our past, you know—"

Lu Shan Jun’s words relentlessly echoed, disturbing Shen Jie’s mind and emotions. Although already a demon, he couldn't shake off this interference, growing increasingly agitated instead. As the terrifying aura gradually moved away from the city, everyone within—from the City God and other deities to traditional cultivators and masters of all disciplines—breathed a sigh of relief.

As Shen Jie frantically fled, dark clouds slowly gathered in the distant sky, spontaneously forming. A faint celestial might converged within them. He instinctively looked up, and it seemed as if lightning, forming indistinct seal characters, flashed within the clouds.

"Booming..."

The heavenly lightning struck Shen Jie directly and impartially. Even with his defensive spells, he found it difficult to fully resist, and his entire body was engulfed by the lightning.

"Booming... Booming..."

Bolt after bolt of lightning struck, making it impossible for Shen Jie to maintain his escape. At that moment, his heart pounded. He looked up in horror amidst the lightning, feeling as if he were facing Ji Yuan unleashing lightning spells. But he quickly realized this was impossible; this was the convergence of heavenly lightning, a sign that a lightning tribulation was forming.

"Hahahahaha, Shen Jie, even heaven wants to destroy you!"

"Lu Wu, don't rejoice too soon. With the lightning tribulation gathering, you won't fare well either!"

"Then we'll see if the lightning tribulation strikes me!"

"Roar—"

Lu Shan Jun directly revealed his true form. The gigantic Lu Wu stepped on clouds and flew, pouncing on Shen Jie, who was entangled in lightning. Eschewing intricate demonic spells, he simply returned to simplicity, sweeping with his claws and tail. He struck Shen Jie, sending him crashing into mountains and shattering rocks, making the mountains tremble amidst the rolling heavenly thunder.

Batted around by Lu Wu's true form like a mere mouse, Shen Jie realized that simply fleeing would not succeed. He fiercely retaliated, engaging Lu Shan Jun in battle. Both possessed extraordinary cultivation, causing the heavens and earth to darken from their clash.

Unbeknownst to him, Shen Jie found more and more familiar voices calling his name. They were laughing, crying, or sighing, some even offering advice. They were all Cháng Guǐ, pervading a wide area, filled with eagerness and desperate to drag Shen Jie into Lu Wu's belly as well. Lu Shan Jun’s thoughts and mental power had permeated this area, bringing endless negativity. More and more Cháng Guǐ appeared; some were mere blurry mists, while others had even regained their cultivation from life. Fearless of death, fearless of pain, they all swarmed Shen Jie, attacking with spells, strange arts, and even biting with claws and teeth.

Shen Jie, once near the pinnacle of immortal cultivation and later capable of rivaling true immortals after embracing demonic arts, now felt a rising dread, like a mortal about to plunge into a bottomless abyss. But Shen Jie constantly pushed himself, struggling fiercely, even breaking through his own limits to some extent. He had but one thought: he absolutely could not die; he must kill Ji Yuan. Compared to when the Heavenly Dao collapsed years ago, it might now be more possible to kill Ji Yuan.

Even after so many years, Shen Jie refused to believe Ji Yuan would die of old age. He couldn’t believe it, or rather, he couldn't accept it.

"Ji Yuan—"

Amidst a frenzied roar, Shen Jie, bound for half a month, burst from his predicament with a desperate resolve. With a "boom," he shattered the thunderclouds, passed through the Cháng Guǐ, and fled with his broken body and demonic intent. Even Lu Shan Jun was extremely surprised that Shen Jie, on the verge of death, still had the strength to break free. But even so, it was merely delaying the inevitable. Lu Shan Jun reabsorbed his Cháng Guǐ and resumed the chase, willing to expend his vital energy. Even if he couldn't devour Shen Jie, he absolutely wouldn't let him live.

Shen Jie was nearly insane by now. He continuously muttered Ji Yuan’s name, his body broken and decaying, his face contorted, and his eyes gleaming with a bloody light. He simply kept fleeing. The scenery between heaven and earth constantly changed: mountains, forests, plains, and finally, flowing water...

"You son of a bitch, you're not dead yet? Get down there—"

A violent roar erupted in the sky as a terrifying, red-glowing hand suddenly descended, striking Shen Jie fiercely and causing an explosion at the point of impact.

"Boom..."

Shen Jie was struck by Old Niu’s palm, sent crashing to the ground, then with another "boom," he smashed through a section of a mountain. His body continuously rolled through the mountains, initially breaking trees and shattering rocks, then merely stirring up fallen leaves and dead branches. Finally, he tumbled down a slope and, with a "plop," plunged into a river.

"Old Niu, what are you doing here?"

Lu Shan Jun's voice showed slight displeasure, but Old Niu paid no mind, just laughing heartily.

"You can't even handle a stray dog, Old Lu. If you keep this up, you won't be my match anymore!"

Old Niu was about to speak again when he saw the approaching Lu Shan Jun frown and look towards the river.

"Oh no, a fishing boat!"

Though Lu Shan Jun remained silent, he and Old Niu swiftly descended from the sky. They had failed to notice a small fishing boat on the river, and Shen Jie’s broken body, his fate unknown, was drifting towards it. But as the two demons flew above the river, Lu Shan Jun’s heart suddenly leaped. He abruptly stopped, while Old Niu, momentarily stunned, still surged towards the fishing boat and Shen Jie. Yet, Old Niu too quickly stiffened, as if struck by lightning, hovering paralyzed above the river.

A person emerged from the fishing boat's inner cabin. Dressed in a green robe, their temples were frosted with white. Their loosely tied bun was secured by an ink-jade hairpin. Just as they first met, their face was serene, and their pale eyes were profound.

Shen Jie had already climbed onto the fishing boat. At that moment, he knew he couldn’t possibly escape the combined might of Lu Wu and the Ox Demon King. Even as he watched the "boatman" approach, he surprisingly felt no desire to kill him.

"Master..."

An extremely agitated Lu Shan Jun was about to pay his respects when he suddenly realized something and lunged fiercely towards the fishing boat again. But Ji Yuan merely glanced at him, and Lu Shan Jun’s movements immediately slowed.

"Shen Jie, haven't you always been looking for me?"

Shen Jie, his breath weak, trembled. He turned in disbelief to look at the so-called boatman. Ji Yuan’s voice, unforgettable and carrying a deep-seated resentment, was one he never expected to hear here.

"You... Ji, Ji Yuan? Hah... hah... you're not dead. Indeed, you're still alive..."

"Thank you for your concern. Perhaps it's my lingering attachment to this mortal world, but I am indeed still alive!"

Ji Yuan calmly looked at Shen Jie, showing neither mockery nor pity, as if merely observing a memory. He reached out, helped Shen Jie sit up, then surprisingly turned and walked back into the cabin. At that moment, Shen Jie’s malevolence surged, and he longed to charge at Ji Yuan and kill him. His murderous intent was intense, yet his body remained still. Lu Shan Jun and Niu Batian, standing on the waves by the boat, watched nervously, their eyes fixed on Shen Jie, ready to strike even faster if he dared to make a move.

Ji Yuan emerged from the cabin again, holding a porcelain cup. Inside was what appeared to be murky wine; though cloudy, its aroma was rich and potent.

"Ji Yuan, do you intend to persuade me to let go of our grievances, to return to goodness?"

Shen Jie sneered, knowing that if he attacked Ji Yuan now, he would surely be the first to die. Ji Yuan, however, smiled.

"I, Ji Yuan, have always disdained speaking of 'letting go of grievances.' Even the Path of Yin and Yang Reincarnation I established ensures nothing but retribution. If you seek revenge, I naturally understand."

This slightly surprised Shen Jie. Then, a cup of wine appeared in his hand, and before he could fully register it, Ji Yuan's hand, which had offered the wine, had already withdrawn.

"It's just that while you undoubtedly desire revenge, even if I, Ji Yuan, were powerless, you would likely not succeed in front of my disciple. Even if I ordered him not to intervene, he wouldn't listen."

Ji Yuan did not remain aloof; instead, he sat directly on the boat.

"Please, have a cup of this wine, my own brew, called 'Mortal Drunkenness.' Perhaps after you're drunk, you can curse me a bit, and if I can bear it, I won't retort."

Niu Batian looked at the fully concentrated Lu Shan Jun, then at Master Ji, and couldn't help but scratch his head, a smile gracing his face. Indeed, he was Master Ji.

Shen Jie merely stared blankly at Ji Yuan, then lowered his gaze to the murky wine in his hand. The porcelain cup creaked in his grip, slowly cracking.

"Hah, hehehehe... I never thought, never thought I'd be humiliated by you even unto death..."

Shen Jie gulped down the wine, crushing the porcelain cup. He had intended to attack directly, disregarding his life, but the wine’s potency took effect faster.

Childhood joys, youthful recklessness, carefree freedom, a lifetime of triumphs filled with laughter and merriment, and even romance... Tears had welled up in Shen Jie’s eyes at some point. As the fragments of the cup fell one by one, his body slowly collapsed, losing all signs of life…

A long while later, Ji Yuan, still seated on the boat, looked at Lu Shan Jun and Old Niu. Seeing their expressions, he smiled and offered an explanation.

"It's not poisoned wine..."