Chapter 372: Sun Golden Rope, Authority of the Zhengyi Alliance
In the sky, the "strong reinforcement" summoned by Chen Xiyi, the Golden Ape descended from Fangcun Mountain, grappled fiercely with Ying Qingdi.
Chen Xiyi had previously stated in the belly of the Nine Sons Ghost Mother was in no way an exaggeration, and was even understated.
This Ape Practitioner, named "Sun Xiaosheng," possessed combat strength more ferocious than anyone else present.
He found the Dharma Image of Ying Qingdi too large, so he too used divine power to enlarge himself.
The two, almost like divine spirits, clashed together, soon turning the area into a realm of chaos, to the extent that the reinforcements called by Qi Daozhen, Shen Ruolan, Liu Yuying, and Dai Feipeng couldn't intervene.
The only one who could interfere was the treasure from Taishang Dao, the Taiji Demon-suppressing Immortal Sword.
In the midst of this, there was an episode.
Sun Xiaosheng, disliking how the Demon Suppressing Sword coordinated with him, forcibly snatched it up, wanting to wield the Immortal Sword in one hand and the golden staff in the other, claiming he would chop Ying Qingdi into pieces—truly an unparalleled evil god.
Had not Mei Su from Taishang True Inheritance timely cast a spell to make the Demon Suppressing Sword cooperate with this fierce ape, the stubborn Immortal Sword might have turned to chop the ape's head instead.
This scene, to bystanders, made the ape descended from Fangcun Mountain seem extremely arrogant.
But inside Tao Qian's embrace, Yuan Gong was even more delighted and eagerly murmured:
"Good monkey, truly a good monkey."
"Born a Golden Ape of an alien species, mastering both Daoist and Buddhist Laws, skilled with the staff, and adept in swordsmanship—free of restrictions, with unmatched hegemony... good disciple, tell me, isn't our Secret Demon Sect the most suitable place for this little monkey's cultivation?"
"You listen to my advice, it won't be hard to coax him over."
"I see that this little monkey, although cloaked in Buddha Light, has devilish aura and hostility within his soul that hasn't been diminished at all. He must have had a period of idle wandering and mixing before he joined Fangcun Mountain, already having developed a wild nature."
"I know how Fangcun Mountain trains disciples; now that this little monkey has just developed his supernatural powers, they will surely send him to tumble in the mortal world next, to stabilize his fickle mind and tether his willful heart, refining the ferocity from his soul. If he can achieve a pure child's heart, Fangcun Mountain might eventually have a genuine Buddha to preside... hiss, this monkey's talents surpass mine; Fangcun Mountain is really in luck!"
"But all is not lost, he surely won't be able to return to the mountain soon; you just need to make friends with him, and I'll contact a few old friends to arrange some calamities to deepen your camaraderie, then..."
As Tao Qian listened, initially, all was fine.
It was merely Yuan Gong admiring the Golden Ape, murmuring incessantly.
However, as the talk went on, it certainly turned towards "how to entice someone into the Secret Demon Sect."
It must be said that the Secret Demon Sect, being a demon sect, had means that didn't seem very righteous.
Tao Qian's brows twitched, and he quickly sent a telepathic message back:
"Stop, stop!"
"Master Yuan, are you sure you see clearly, I, Tao Qian, am still officially the Spirit Treasure True Inheritor; how can I do such things."
"Don't make it difficult for me, earlier you had me try to coax Ruolan sister, saying she was a promising seed in Sword Dao, and it's a waste for her to cultivate the 'Yue Girl Demon Slaying Scripture.' Now you want me to coax this Golden Ape, who clearly is a favorite true inheritor of Fangcun Mountain, with astonishing supernatural powers and a host of treasures; our Secret Demon Sect's reputation doesn't seem very good either. If I coax him and it enrages the monkey to spit or strike me with his staff, where shall I put my face?"
"Moreover, you know well that Fangcun Mountain isn't easy to provoke, with a host of fierce cultivators proficient in both Daoist and Buddhist paths up that mountain; would they allow someone to snatch away their beloved?"
"We still need to worry about rebuilding the Secret Demon Sect; why bother provoking such a huge monster? What if it stirs up several in the Daoist Transformation Realm, or even a Tribulation Immortal? That could only complicate our major task of re-establishment, how would that be good?"
Tao Qian finished speaking, and Yuan Gong couldn't help but be silent.
Though he immensely coveted the Golden Ape's talents, when compared to the major task of rebuilding the Secret Demon Sect, the latter was more essential.
With this thought, Yuan Gong couldn't help but sigh:
"Disciple, your words are reasonable; for now, we shouldn't provoke Fangcun Mountain, but if it were members of Taishang Demon Sect, we could plot something."
"Fangcun Mountain won't do; there are several tough ones on that mountain, unbeatable, unbeatable."
"Hmph, just unbeatable for now; once our Secret Demon Sect shakes off this rundown state, sooner or later we'll show them."
"Disciple, you must strive harder; don't let others look down on us."
As his voice fell, the statue trembled once or twice and then fell silent, evidently Yuan Gong adopting an out-of-sight, out-of-mind approach.
These telepathic messages, though complex, had all transpired in an instant.
Back in the arena, the Golden Ape from Fangcun Mountain was still locked in combat with Ying Qingdi. Even though the latter's cultivation realm and supernatural powers were stronger, he was constantly entangled by the Golden Ape, occasionally having to have large swaths of dense yellow tendrils cut down or being hammered by the dark gold staff on his Dharma Body—it was a pitiable sight.
Taking advantage of this lull, Tao Qian still had the leisure to observe some other unexpected guests.
No need to mention other reinforcements; there were soon many more surprising presences.
The most noticeable was a female cultivator!
Also, an old acquaintance of Tao Qian.
A prominent figure within the National Salvation Congress supported by the Primordial Sect... the Shaoqing Witch, Shi Yingqiong!
While Shen Ruolan, who practiced the Yue Girl Demon Slaying Scripture, was certainly a menacing star, she paled in comparison to the Shi family's girl.
Tao Qian had heard of her news when he previously hung the sky lantern.
Moved by the corruption of the world, she had persuaded the Shaoqing Sect and, wielding a sword, visited many Sword Cultivation Sects in the Cultivation World, forming an alliance of slayers that swept through province by province, slaying Evil Demons and suppressing ghosts... After such an experience, compared to her days in Demon City, she had transformed multiple times, extraordinary beyond measure.
Tao Qian went to look at her, and even though she didn't turn to look back, he could feel as if sword light was piercing towards him.