Undying Life

Chapter 811: The Mythical Beast

"Kong Lietian, what are you doing?" Kong Lietian screamed in shock.

Betrayed by Wang Chen, humiliated by Zhong Shan, played by Kong Xuan, and targeted by Daoist Shen Crow, Kong Lietian found himself utterly defeated in the twenty breaths since the Primeval Banner brought him back.

Kong Lietian realized how deeply he had failed. Why had everything turned out this way? Why had everyone he "trusted" betrayed him? What had he done wrong to deserve this?

In Kong Lietian's twisted mind, he believed in trust. But in reality, Wang Chen was merely a pawn, Daoist Shen Crow an ally, and Kong Xuan a senior. There was no friendship, loyalty, or affection among them.

How could they support him unconditionally?

Kong Lietian couldn't understand this. To him, the world had suddenly become unrecognizable. Everyone had betrayed him! Everyone!

But the most unexpected betrayal came from Sekong, who had always appeared timid and cowardly. Kong Lietian's soul scanned the hall, noticing that it was filled with arrays.

"You... you're betraying me too?" Kong Lietian screamed in disbelief.

Sekong smiled wickedly, "It's not betrayal; I've never been loyal to you."

"Ha ha ha ha, I can't believe that after thousands of years of madness in this small world, not a single person is loyal to me!" Kong Lietian laughed bitterly.

"You're wrong. There were people loyal to you, but you abandoned them! More than one!" Sekong shook his head.

"What are you talking about?" Disbelief flashed in Kong Lietian's eyes.

"The Emperor of Da Jin, the one who controlled the Demon Legion in the northeast of Shenzhou for you, the one who refined the Ming Yuan Pills, your 'junior uncle.' Oh, right, those Ming Yuan Pills were rumored by Zhong Shan to be 'immortality elixirs,' causing chaos in the Da Li Dynasty. But that 'junior uncle' was extremely loyal to you. The Demon Legion was slaughtered by sects from all directions, surrounded by crises, and he willingly committed atrocities for you. He was loyal to you, very loyal. But what happened? He was only at the Royal Extreme Realm, without strength, wisdom, or special abilities, just loyalty. You looked down on him and didn't assign any strong protectors to him. You abandoned him," Sekong shook his head.

"Him? The Emperor of Da Jin?"

"I bet you've forgotten his name by now. There were many like him, whom you sent as 'foolish cannon fodder' to die at the hands of other forces in exchange for 'benefits.' They were your most precious assets because they were willing to die for you. How many fools are there in the world? They were 'foolish cannon fodder' because they were loyal to you, willing to die for you, but you discarded them like old shoes. Who's to blame?" Sekong mocked.

"Why... why didn't you tell me this then?" Kong Lietian regretted.

"I'm not a loyal minister. Why should I tell you? I've been waiting for this day for a long time. I anticipated this outcome before your expedition. This setup is specifically for you!" Sekong grinned evilly.

"What do you want? Are you trying to oppose the Kong family? Do you know the consequences of going against me? Aren't you afraid of the Kong family hunting you down if you kill me?" Kong Lietian shouted in horror.

"Your death has nothing to do with me. I will soon go to the Kong family and shift the blame for your death to the recent battle. The 'culprit' isn't my concern!" Sekong approached step by step.

"The Kong family? You kill me and still want to go to the Kong family?" Kong Lietian retreated, but the array behind him flashed, bouncing him back.

"What are you doing, Sekong?" Kong Lietian screamed.

Betrayed by Wang Chen, humiliated by Zhong Shan, played by Kong Xuan, and targeted by Daoist Shen Crow, Kong Lietian felt utterly defeated in the brief twenty breaths since the Primeval Banner brought him back.

Kong Lietian realized how deeply he had failed. Why had everything turned out this way? Why had everyone he "trusted" betrayed him? What had he done wrong to deserve this?

In Kong Lietian's twisted mind, he believed in trust. But in reality, Wang Chen was merely a pawn, Daoist Shen Crow an ally, and Kong Xuan a senior. There was no friendship, loyalty, or affection among them.

How could they support him unconditionally?

Kong Lietian couldn't understand this. To him, the world had suddenly become unrecognizable. Everyone had betrayed him! Everyone!

But the most unexpected betrayal came from Sekong, who had always appeared timid and cowardly. Kong Lietian's soul scanned the hall, noticing that it was filled with arrays.

"You... you're betraying me too?" Kong Lietian screamed in disbelief.

Sekong smiled wickedly, "It's not betrayal; I've never been loyal to you."

"Ha ha ha ha, I can't believe that after thousands of years of madness in this small world, not a single person is loyal to me!" Kong Lietian laughed bitterly.

"You're wrong. There were people loyal to you, but you abandoned them! More than one!" Sekong shook his head.

"What are you talking about?" Disbelief flashed in Kong Lietian's eyes.

"The Emperor of Da Jin, the one who controlled the Demon Legion in the northeast of Shenzhou for you, the one who refined the Ming Yuan Pills, your 'junior uncle.' Oh, right, those Ming Yuan Pills were rumored by Zhong Shan to be 'immortality elixirs,' causing chaos in the Da Li Dynasty. But that 'junior uncle' was extremely loyal to you. The Demon Legion was slaughtered by sects from all directions, surrounded by crises, and he willingly committed atrocities for you. He was loyal to you, very loyal. But what happened? He was only at the Royal Extreme Realm, without strength, wisdom, or special abilities, just loyalty. You looked down on him and didn't assign any strong protectors to him. You abandoned him," Sekong shook his head.

"Him? The Emperor of Da Jin?"

"I bet you've forgotten his name by now. There were many like him, whom you sent as 'foolish cannon fodder' to die at the hands of other forces in exchange for 'benefits.' They were your most precious assets because they were willing to die for you. How many fools are there in the world? They were 'foolish cannon fodder' because they were loyal to you, willing to die for you, but you discarded them like old shoes. Who's to blame?" Sekong mocked.

"Why... why didn't you tell me this then?" Kong Lietian regretted.

"I'm not a loyal minister. Why should I tell you? I've been waiting for this day for a long time. I anticipated this outcome before your expedition. This setup is specifically for you!" Sekong grinned evilly.

"What do you want? Are you trying to oppose the Kong family? Do you know the consequences of going against me? Aren't you afraid of the Kong family hunting you down if you kill me?" Kong Lietian shouted in horror.

"Your death has nothing to do with me. I will soon go to the Kong family and shift the blame for your death to the recent battle. The 'culprit' isn't my concern!" Sekong approached step by step.

"The Kong family? You kill me and still want to go to the Kong family?" Kong Lietian retreated, but the array behind him flashed, bouncing him back.

"What if I devour your soul and simulate the soul of the Peacock Clan? I suffer a bit, but if I claim to be your descendant in this world, will the Kong family accept me?" Sekong smirked wickedly.

"My descendant? You dream of being my son!"

"The whole world knows you favor me. What can't be accepted about this? Once you're dead, isn't it all up to my word?" Sekong continued to approach.

"No, impossible! Simulate? You're not from the Peacock Clan; how can you simulate it?" Kong Lietian screamed.

Having consumed most of his soul energy crossing space, Kong Lietian had little power left. But in a final struggle, the Primeval Banner's black aura surged.

"Snap!" Sekong grabbed the Primeval Banner, his hands glowing with purple light.

"Simulate? I can simulate the origin of all things. No one can tell, not even a Sage." Sekong said.

As he spoke, Sekong's head suddenly swelled grotesquely, his eyes bulging, and his face turning into a disgusting, writhing mass, resembling a giant worm's head—his true, hideous form.

"A Chuyan? A mythical beast Chuyan with eyes? Impossible! There hasn't been a Chuyan beast in millions of years, and you are one...!"

Sekong's mouth generated immense suction, and with one hand gripping the Primeval Banner, he directed the suction straight at Kong Lietian.

The suction was too powerful for Kong Lietian to resist. He screamed in terror.

The suction was overwhelming. Kong Lietian couldn't withstand it. "No, no! I am not willing, not willing～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～!"

Kong Lietian screamed in anguish, but utterly powerless, he couldn't resist. A once-dominant figure, now tragically dying in the mouth of this seemingly insignificant person.

It was too unjust!

Swallowing Kong Lietian's soul, Sekong's body radiated a vast amount of purple light. His grotesque worm head rapidly transformed, becoming a peacock's head, bearing an eight-tenths resemblance to Kong Lietian.

Shaking his head, Sekong transformed back into the bald monk's appearance.

In high spirits, Sekong looked at the Primeval Banner in his hand.

"What a waste, such a treasure, and he couldn't refine it! This place is no longer safe. I must refine this treasure quickly and leave this world!" Sekong muttered.

At that moment, sounds of the hall being attacked came from outside.

Sekong's eyes narrowed, "A mantis stalking the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind? Someone's trying to trap me too?"

No time to refine the Primeval Banner, Sekong swallowed it and quickly retrieved a purple jade talisman—the Kong Clan Talisman—ready to transport him to the Kong family's headquarters in the Great Thousand World.

At the battlefield.

"Damn it～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～!"

Zhong Shan roared with bloodshot eyes. He was so close to defeating Kong Lietian, so close to seizing the Primeval Banner, but in the end, he failed.

"Ah～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～!"

Zhong Shan roared in frustration.

Kong Xuan blocked Zhong Shan. Daoist Shen Crow surrounded him, and eight more strong figures flew in, each evidently a Heaven Extreme Realm expert.

The longevity world had pulled out all the stops, clearly intending to kill Zhong Shan.

Moreover, the most troubling thing for Zhong Shan was the golden light that had blocked him from retrieving the Primeval Banner—the enormous presence within that light.

A massive golden Dharma body appeared, seemingly made of pure gold. This Dharma body resembled Kong Xuan, but with a third eye on its forehead. More strikingly, it had eighteen arms, each holding a different magical treasure. Water, fire, thunder, and lightning swirled around, indicating an array of powerful attributes.

Zhong Shan suppressed his rage, focusing on Kong Xuan and the eighteen-armed, three-eyed golden Dharma body before him.

"Zhunti Dharma Body? Did Sage Zhunti pass it down to you?" Zhong Shan's pupils contracted, memories flooding his mind.

Sage Zhunti, a legendary figure whose tales Zhong Shan had heard in his youth. He had even seen a sculpture of the Zhunti Dharma Body in a temple on Earth, with eighteen arms and three eyes.

Had Zhunti taught Kong Xuan the method to cultivate this Dharma Body?

Zhong Shan stood on high alert. Meanwhile, several powerful figures from the Lingxiao Heavenly Court quickly flew over.

Emperor Xuan Sha, King Ku, Zhong Tian, the Clay Buddha, Zhao Suoxiang, Yin Luori, and other Heaven Extreme Realm experts surrounded them. Even Hao Meili joined in.

Kong Lietian had escaped, but Kong Xuan posed an even greater threat.

"You know that old Zhunti?" Kong Xuan's eyes narrowed.

"The eighteen-armed golden Dharma body isn't a secret in the Great Thousand World, is it?"

Zhong Shan took a deep breath, his eyes fixed on Kong Xuan.

"Senior Kong Xuan, we have no real conflict of interest. Why must it be a fight to the death?"

"A fight to the death? What do you think? The Immortal Realm was destroyed, the Three Swords of Immortal Execution were taken by you, and you weakened my fate. Isn't that cause for a fight to the death? You probably wish me dead too, don't you? The world says Zhong Shan is formidable in encounters and strength, but I think your greatest weapon is your tongue, twisting truths and deceiving everyone. Flattery and deceit!" Kong Xuan said coldly.

"And you're no less insidious. Calculating against your own Kong family members!" Zhong Shan sneered.

Zhong Shan knew there would be no peaceful resolution, feeling a surge of frustration within him.

"What did you say?" Kong Xuan's eyes narrowed further.

"If you didn't want it known, you shouldn't have done it. Why didn't you save Kong Lietian earlier? Only intervening when he was about to be killed by me? You didn't want Kong Lietian to die in front of you because you couldn't explain it to the Kong family. Yet, you also wanted him dead to seize his Primeval Banner. You set up your men in the Taishang capital, ready to swoop in. Such a vicious plan! Such a ruthless heart!" Zhong Shan retorted coldly.

"Hahaha, ruthless heart? I didn't kill Kong Lietian, but even if I did, so what? A peacock killing a peacock is ruthless, but a human killing a human isn't? How many people have you killed, Zhong Shan? Hmph!" Kong Xuan snorted coldly.

The tension between them escalated as they prepared for the inevitable clash.