Chapter 166: Chapter 165: The Golden Wind Divine King Is Prepared

The end of the year was approaching.

The construction of Daluo Palace had reached its final courtyard, which featured the main Three Pristine Hall flanked by the Taiyi Salvation Hall and the Nine Heavens Thunder Ancestor Hall. One was for praying for blessings and salvation, the other for demon suppression.

"This world also has four distinct seasons: spring, summer, autumn, and winter." Taoist Yan Song looked at the pure white snow surrounding Daluo Palace. Within the palace grounds, however, it was like spring all year round, with flowers even in full bloom. "Xiaolan’s effect is truly immense."

The Orchid Demon in a pact with Wang Yue, the head of landscaping, had not yet achieved Transformation, but she was already powerful enough to manipulate the earth’s veins within Daluo Palace. She could melt the falling snow and make flowers blossom, keeping the palace grounds in a state of perpetual spring.

"But it means we can’t enjoy the snowy scenery," Taoist Ming Yu said with a touch of regret. Dragon Tiger Heavenly Mountain was in Zhang Province, where it rarely snowed in winter anyway.

Taoist Yi Hong chuckled. "That’s because the surrounding side courtyards haven’t been built yet. When they are, Daluo Palace will be like spring all year round, while the nearby Celestial Master’s Institute and Dragon Gate Courtyard will each have their own snowy landscapes. That will be the true Daluo Saint Realm described on the main gate’s plaque."

Taoist Jing Feng walked out of a side hall, his eyes dark and profound. "The blueprints will have to be changed. The original design doesn’t include a Fengdu Courtyard."

Everyone broke into laughter.

Gu Zhao saw that Taoist Jing Feng was full of vigor and had a smile on his lips, so he couldn’t help but ask, "Daoist, have you completed the Nine Prisons?"

Taoist Jing Feng nodded, then shook his head. "It’s better to master one move than to know a thousand. I’ve only constructed the Mingling Prison, but it’s enough to imprison Fierce Ghosts."

Yunyang’s eyes lit up. "Martial Uncle, why don’t you let us see it?"

Taoist Jing Feng looked at Yunyang and gave a slight smile.

It was clearly meant to be a kind smile, yet it looked so sinister and cold that Yunyang couldn’t help but shiver. He then realized his surroundings had changed.

One moment, he was in the ever-spring-like Daluo Palace; the next, he was in a valley filled with jagged, bizarre rocks.

The sky above the valley was black as ink. A frigid chill permeated the air, turning his breath to frost and freezing any drop of water. As far as the eye could see, there were only frost-covered, withered trees, surrounded by ice pools and caves of all sizes, filled with instruments of torture.

A cold wind howled, carrying with it the wails of ghosts. The shrill cries echoed in his ears, then seeped, strand by strand, into his mind, like a Demonic Sound assaulting his very Divine Soul.

Yunyang channeled his Pure Yang True Qi and barely managed to resist the Demonic Sound and the cold. He couldn’t help but exclaim in shock, "An Illusion Realm? Or a Domain?"

SWOOSH—

The Mingling Prison dissipated in an instant.

Taoist Jing Feng said with a smile, "It is both an Illusion Realm and a Domain."

Yunyang didn’t understand. Taoist Jing Feng gestured to the others. "Why don’t you ask them what they saw?"

Yunyang turned around, and Gu Zhao said, "We didn’t see anything just now. We only saw Taoist Jing Feng envelop you with a strand of Telekinesis."

Taoist Yan Song had a sudden realization. "So that Magic was able to target only Yunyang, without affecting anyone else?"

Taoist Jing Feng nodded. "Only he felt it. I used a strand of Yin Qi Telekinesis as a tether to pull him into the Mingling Prison. If he can break through that strand of Yin Qi Telekinesis, the Mingling Prison is an Illusion Realm. But if he can’t, then the Mingling Prison becomes real."

"Whoa!" Yunyang exclaimed again. "And it doesn’t even affect anyone else? That’s so convenient!"

Taoist Ming Yu, however, was curious. "Can it only target individuals?"

Taoist Jing Feng shook his head. "Of course not. If I wish, I can make it real for everyone."

As his voice fell, Taoist Jing Feng formed a spell seal. Then, a strand of Yin Qi Telekinesis connected with the heavens and earth. His Divine Sense spread out over a radius of dozens of yards, triggering a change in the surrounding Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi and instantly transforming the area into the Mingling Hell.

The Mingling Hell appeared and vanished in a flash. Taoist Jing Feng pointed to a large tree beside him, which was now covered in frost. "The Mingling Prison has a huge impact on the surroundings and will also interfere with your spellcasting. Although it’s powerful, it’s not easy to use."

Taoist Yi Hong shook his head. "That’s because you’re being too considerate. A true Mingling Prison, with you at its center, wouldn’t be an illusion that just anyone could break through at will."

Taoist Jing Feng smiled faintly and didn’t argue. He simply asked, "When are we going to Changping Prefecture?"

The group all turned to look at Gu Zhao. He tapped his palm with his folding fan and declared, "Tomorrow!"

...

Changping Prefecture, Golden Wind Hall.

After dismissing four panting Golden Wind Divine Maidens with seductive eyes, along with two mortal female believers whose gazes were hazy and whose life forces were faint yet who were clearly in a state of excitement, the Golden Wind Divine King, now fully dressed, walked out of the magnificent underground palace.

"His Majesty the King." A beautiful woman walked forward. She wore a floor-length, light-gauze dress of white with a cloud pattern, and her expression was poised and her posture elegant.

"My dear consort." The Golden Wind Divine King wrapped his arm around the woman, and one of his hands slipped through the gap in her dress at the waist, sliding first up, then down.

"Your Majesty, this servant has important matters to discuss." The beautiful woman let out a soft gasp, her eyes glistening like water, but she still reached out a hand to stop the Golden Wind Divine King’s actions.

"What is it?" the Golden Wind Divine King asked.

"That Daluo Palace... it’s almost complete." A cold light glinted in Consort Yun’s eyes.

Daluo Palace!

The Golden Wind Divine King’s eyes narrowed, and he stopped his movements. "They still haven’t made a move on Xiuyue County?"

"No." Consort Yun shook her head.

The Golden Wind Divine King’s eyes narrowed slightly, a half-smile playing on his lips. "They’re certainly being cautious. I’m afraid they’ll be coming for us very soon."

"What does Your Majesty mean by that?" Consort Yun asked, confused.

"I was originally prepared to cede Xiuyue County and Wuhe County to them, then divide and conquer. I didn’t expect them to avoid the trap." The Golden Wind Divine King sneered. "But if they need Incense, yet won’t touch Xiuyue and Wuhe counties, then their target is naturally me."

"Could it be that they don’t dare to fight us?" Consort Yun asked.

"If they didn’t dare, they would have sent a formal notice of their visit long ago," the Golden Wind Divine King said indifferently.

"Was Sister Consort Yu... was she killed by them?" Consort Yun asked again.

"Not just Consort Yu. I suspect Bian the Old Turtle also died at their hands." The Golden Wind Divine King’s gaze sharpened. "If not for that, I would have already charged to their gates and annihilated them."

Consort Yun was a little surprised. "Bian the Old Turtle?"

The Golden Wind Divine King nodded. "Bian the Old Turtle could hide in the water and move without a trace. Even I would find it troublesome to kill him. The enemy must have some way to trap that old turtle."

"They’re building Daluo Palace on Cuiluo Mountain with great fanfare, not worried in the slightest that we’ll find out. They want to lure me there and use the same method on me. A pity for them that they already revealed their hand when they dealt with that old turtle at Crescent Bay."

The Golden Wind Divine King’s eyes narrowed. "Although I don’t fear their methods, one must be cautious when two armies are at war. But since they didn’t fall for my bait, they will inevitably come for me on the day Daluo Palace is completed."

Consort Yun deeply agreed. "I’ve heard that Daluo Palace is a grand complex with three courtyards and four halls. They would never be content with holding just a single county."

"But right now, they lack sufficient Incense and don’t dare to divide their forces. This means they are about to walk into my trap."

At this, the Golden Wind Divine King smiled faintly and turned to Consort Yun. "Are the eighteen Guardians in position?"

Seeing the Golden Wind Divine King’s handsome face and his confident, all-knowing expression, Consort Yun’s eyes filled with infatuation. Hearing his question, she nodded. "All eighteen Guardians are in position. If the enemy dares to come, we’ll make sure they die beneath Golden Wind Hall!"