ATEG Chapter 53

Feiying had no time to concern himself with Shuoyue. His fingertips formed hand seals, circulating his spiritual power as he vigilantly surveyed his surroundings to analyze the formation.

Though he was arrogant, he was also an extremely cautious person. Had this not been the case, in the type of sect Feiying came from, he would likely have been devoured long ago, not even his bones remaining!

The place where Feiying currently stood appeared on the surface to be merely an ordinary residence, but the surroundings had long been set with many hidden arrangements. The slightest fluctuation of spiritual power would be detected by him.

Who could have evaded his arrangements and set up this trap formation right under his nose?

Feiying’s mind raced like lightning. Though he did not yet know the cultivation level of whoever set the formation, the other party must have known much about his situation already, and who knew how many hidden tricks were waiting for him.

With this thought, Feiying decisively struck out. Tremendous blood-fury spiritual power condensed in his palm and crashed thunderously toward the formation’s weak point.

The spot Feiying struck suddenly revealed soft, greenish-black threads, condensed with resentful ghost qi. The moment his palm touched these threads, he suddenly felt a bone-chilling, piercing pain. His heart jumped in alarm. Quick as lightning, he withdrew his hand and looked at his palm.

On his palm were several greenish-black bruise marks.

Feiying was very familiar with this kind of pain—these were wounds caused by the backlash of vengeful souls. But all his magical treasures refined from vengeful souls and malevolent qi had been properly handled—where could this backlash have come from?

Magical treasures refined from resentment and malevolence were indeed powerful, but if one could not suppress the treasure oneself, the backlash would be especially difficult to handle.

Regardless of where this backlash came from, he had already determined through testing that the formation’s creator was far less powerful than himself. He had plenty of methods to deal with this kind of backlash.

Feiying’s expression turned vicious. Just as he was about to forcibly break the formation, he suddenly heard an angry shout from the distance:

“As expected, a hidden evil cultivator!”

This angry shout was still far away when it first rang out, but by the time the words fell, it had already entered the trap formation. A great seal came crashing down toward Feiying!

The seal was like yellow jade in texture, condensed from earth qi, extraordinarily solid and heavy. Incense and prayer power swirled around it, gathering the thoughts of all living beings in a region, condensing thousands of years of meritorious divine power of a Earth God.

How could the Taiwu Earth God have come here?!

Feiying’s heart filled with shock and fury, but in that split second, he only had time to activate a magical treasure in hasty response. A blood-colored light barrier instantly activated, covering his body. Resentful malevolence shrieked upon it, blood-colored phantoms flitting about ceaselessly—who knew how many living souls had been refined to create it.

The Earth God’s divine seal crashed thunderously into the barrier. Feiying shuddered, his face suddenly flushing red as he spat a mouthful of blood onto the barrier. The flitting blood-colored phantoms became even more ferocious, each one howling as they rushed at the seal, blocking it for a moment.

Taking advantage of this momentary respite, Feiying was about to employ other methods when suddenly the trap formation rang with the sound of insect chirping, heavy with resentment.

At this sound, the vengeful soul phantoms on the blood-colored barrier immediately became agitated and showed signs of backlash.

Feiying’s expression became even uglier. He had no choice but to interrupt the hand seal he was halfway through casting and forcibly suppress the magical treasure’s backlash.

His heart was filled with bitter hatred. The Taiwu Earth God had somehow received word and suddenly appeared, catching him completely off guard.

Fortunately, this place was not within the Taiwu Earth God’s domain, so the god could not borrow the earth power of Taiwu. Otherwise, he would likely have already been captured.

If it were only the Earth God attacking, Feiying need not be in such dire straits—he had plenty of methods to contend with the Earth God. But there was also this vengeful ghost who had set up the formation and was lurking somewhere unknown!

This vengeful ghost’s cultivation was not high, yet could trigger the backlash of his treasures refined with souls, instantly crippling most of his methods, making him hesitant and unable to employ them freely.

The Taiwu Earth God was difficult to deal with. To resolve the predicament before him, he must first eliminate this vengeful ghost!

Feiying steeled his heart viciously. Blood light around his body suddenly intensified. Enduring several blows from the Earth God, his palm formed like a blade and suddenly slashed toward the trap formation.

The Taiwu Earth God saw through his intention and sneered coldly. A thick earthen wall rose up from the ground, blocking Feiying’s path.

But unexpectedly, Feiying transformed into a blood-colored light and in a flash passed through the earthen wall. Coming here to take this risk, how could he not have prepared in advance for encountering the Taiwu Earth God?

When Feiying reappeared, he was already positioned no more than three inches from the trap formation. His complexion had paled considerably—this was a method he had prepared to use to escape from the Earth God’s grasp, and it consumed a great deal of energy. Feiying did not hesitate. A blood blade shot from his palm edge and instantly struck the trap formation!

A mass of greenish-black threads suddenly appeared in the formless air, trembling violently as they blocked the blood blade, emitting buzzing sounds like insect chirping.

Qing Fu was forced to reveal herself. This trap formation utilized the power of karma. The deity had drawn out karmic ties with one stroke, and within it had also infused invisible power. It was by relying on these powers that Qing Fu had been able to evade Feiying’s perception and set up the trap formation here. It was also because of this karma that she could trigger the backlash of Feiying’s evil consequences.

However, the deity’s divine might was powerful, while Qing Fu herself was weak. Revenge ultimately relied on her own efforts.

The trap formation was nearly broken by Feiying. Qing Fu had no choice but to reveal herself to stabilize the formation. Greenish-black qi emerged from her eyes, and insect wings faintly appeared on her back.

Shuoyue had quietly hidden herself as soon as the Earth God appeared. This trap formation only targeted Feiying. However, she still had Feiying’s blood gu in her body—it would be easy for Feiying to control her through it. Moreover, Feiying’s interrogation just now had also consumed a great deal of her stamina. Now was not the best opportunity. Shuoyue was not certain she could escape.

Wait a bit longer, Shuoyue told herself. She had a feeling deep down that before long, she would be able to end this six-hundred-year life of constant fear!

Upon seeing Qing Fu, Shuoyue suddenly remembered her origins. 

Feiying had once suddenly changed his style of conduct for a period. He no longer captured demons to refine their essence. Those magical treasures refined from souls were all put away. The fierce blood qi around him gradually converged until traces were difficult to detect. His arrogant and cold gaze also became peaceful and serene.

It was as if he was not merely hiding himself, but truly wanted to make a change—like a righteous cultivator traveling everywhere, even occasionally helping people on a whim.

Once, they encountered a woman searching for her child. Daoist Feiying gave that woman a pair of green cash bug coins.

Green cash bug coins were not particularly precious magical treasures—they were probably practice artifacts Feiying had made earlier for training. Apart from producing an eternally usable copper coin, they had no special functions.

Those green cash bug coins were stained with the resentment and obsession of the spirit insect mother and child toward Feiying. When he handed the green cash bug coins to that woman, perhaps he truly did feel a trace of compassion and goodwill?

At that time, Shuoyue felt she was gradually unable to understand Daoist Feiying. Could it be that this cruel and brutal daoist was truly going to abandon evil and turn to good?

But no matter how long the disguise lasted, it was still just a disguise.

Feiying’s “abandoning evil to turn to good” was merely a means to achieve his goals.

……

Shuoyue recognized Qing Fu, so naturally Feiying recognized her as well.

This woman who had become a ghost, likely because of the green cash bug, had come to trouble him.

Feiying’s face, pale as paper, became even more severe, yet from his bloodless lips came gentle, mournful words of bewitchment. “Did you find your child? I once helped you—is this how you repay me?”

“Don’t listen to him!” Shuoyue took the risk to call out a warning.

The words Feiying spoke were not ordinary speech—within them was the bewitching rhythm of his cultivation, capable of shaking one’s heart and mind.

However, Shuoyue’s warning came slightly too late. Qing Fu’s expression became dazed, memories from her life surfacing in her mind. She had no money and later relied on begging as she searched for her child, crying until her eyes nearly went blind and could only see blurred shadows.

Then someone gave her two green cash bug coins and taught her how to use them.

She used the green cash bug coins countless times afterward, following what that voice taught, exchanging them for a flatbread, a bowl of water. That was this person’s voice! 

Qing Fu’s heart wavered for an instant. Since her thoughts changed, karma also changed. The trap formation that had confined Feiying in place suddenly was no longer so perfectly seamless.

The Taiwu Earth God rushed forward urgently and struck Feiying on the back with his seal.

Feiying’s figure thunderously transformed into countless blood shadows, shooting toward all sides of the trap formation.

Some blood shadows were blocked by the greenish-black threads and instantly shattered into blue smoke. Some blood shadows were intercepted by the Earth God and forcibly destroyed. But still some blood shadows passed through the Earth God’s blockade and escaped through the gaps in the trap formation.

The Taiwu Earth God’s form flashed and he gave chase. Qing Fu’s expression changed several times before settling again.

She was not only the ghost of the woman Qing Fu after death, but also the resentment and obsession of the green cash bug mother and child. Should she be grateful that Feiying killed another mother and child to help her search for her child?

Malevolence appeared on Qing Fu’s face. She likewise flashed away, following the karmic thread in pursuit.

The courtyard that had just been the scene of fierce battle became empty and silent in the blink of an eye. Shuoyue took the opportunity to escape.

She recognized the spell Feiying had just used when escaping, transforming himself into myriad blood shadows—it was a type of body-dispersal technique with an extremely high cost. After the spell’s power was exhausted, Feiying would inevitably be severely injured and weak for a period of time. During this time, as long as she was far enough away from him, Feiying would be powerless to control the blood gu in her body.

This was the opportunity she had waited six hundred years for—the best opportunity!

……

These past few days, Wangyue had been hiding in the vicinity of the residence where Daoist Feiying was staying. She dared not get too close, fearing she might trigger the bad outcome High God Li Chi had mentioned. But she also dared not relax her vigilance, so she carefully observed that place at all times.

The more she observed, the more details she noticed. Though that Daoist Feiying disguised himself as a righteous cultivator, Wangyue could increasingly see what a terrifying and sinister cultivator he truly was.

That Shuoyue had fallen into the hands of such a person caused her heart to suffer constantly. The karmic thread between her and Shuoyue trembled and condensed almost ceaselessly, pulling at Wangyue with the desire to go rescue Shuoyue.

Over that karmic thread also hung a clear, peaceful power offering protection, urging Wangyue through hidden means to remain calm.

Though her heart was anxious, the more anxious she became, the more she restrained herself, telling herself to be careful and cautious. Since High God Li Chi had already said she and Shuoyue would eventually reunite, then the most important thing now was to endure, to calmly wait for the opportunity.

On this day, Wangyue was cautiously observing Feiying’s residence as usual when she saw that residence, which had been peaceful for several days, suddenly erupt with intense power fluctuations. In mere moments, the Taiwu Earth God also hurried over.

Wangyue’s heart was uneasy, not knowing what to do, when she saw countless blood lights shoot out from within and disappear, with the Taiwu Earth God following close behind.

In the hidden realm, the karmic thread suddenly trembled.

A thought instantly arose in Wangyue’s heart—the time had come!

……

In the Li Manor within the Daqing Mountain range, the deity suddenly stopped preaching. His gaze extended far away, as if falling upon an endless distance.

The white-browed, white-whiskered old monkey sitting on the stone steps stammered out. “High God, what are… are you, looking at?”

After cultivating here at Li Chi’s place for a long while, this old monkey had finally refined away the transverse bone in his throat and gained human speech. However, since he had never spoken human words before, he was not yet very skilled at it, and his speech was somewhat halting.

Divine light shone brilliantly in Li Chi’s eyes. After obtaining the third Seven Emotion Trigger and refining it with the Seven Emotions, his power had recovered somewhat more.

The karmic ties of the world, like a vast fog, peeled away thread by thread in his vision, finally leaving only a few sparse karmic threads.

Qing Fu and the green cash bugs, Chi Zhenzi and the Dream-Eating Tapir, Wangyue and Shuoyue—these matters connected to him originally seemed completely unrelated, yet in the end converged together in this manner.

Karma, fate—myriad entanglements within, like a person in a web. If one does not move, one does not touch it. But when the heart moves and intent moves, with one thread clinging, the entire web is pulled. The more one struggles, the more one becomes entangled, difficult to break free.

But even if a person does not move, will the web not move?

All beings grow within this realm of heaven and earth, as if trapped in a spider’s web. Even if one maintains an unmoved heart, what if the wind rises?

Li Chi withdrew his gaze and raised his hand to catch a small insect swept down by the mountain wind. Suddenly, he smiled.