Chapter 55: The Madman
\nWild Power?
\nLi Yuanyuan suddenly recalled the young man named Ding Hao from Ask Immortal Pavilion she’d once met. He’d invited her to join their ranks, but she refused. Later during their clash, Luo San killed that youth who’d used this very energy – though he’d called it “magical power” back then. The matter eventually faded as no more Ask Immortal Pavilion members appeared, and with time, Li Yuanyuan forgot about it – until now.
\nWhat she didn’t know was that after the youth’s death, a powerful member from Ask Immortal Pavilion did come. But before he could strike, Zuo Meng quietly crushed him to death. The Pavilion grew cautious after losing such strength, and combined with pressures elsewhere, shelved the matter entirely.
\n“This is Buddhist Dharma, sir. You misunderstand.”
\nDemon Monk Wu Fa retreated atop the freed mudfish totem after his failed attack, using Wild Power’s destructive force to break the giant ape’s hold. He now sat solemnly like an enlightened monk.
\n“Lies!”
\nKilling intent filled Si Mo’s eyes – he resolved to eliminate this demon monk at all costs.
\n“Wild Power’s the oldest force. Powerful but deeply corrupt. To wield it, one must kneel as slaves to Ancient Deities, surrendering completely for their gifts.”
\nThe imperial court had researched this power too. Discovering these harsh terms, the royal family abandoned it immediately – widespread worship of Ancient Deities would undermine the Great Chu Emperor’s authority.
\n“Ancient Deities?”
\nThough The Immortal Palace had grown stronger over years, they still weren’t at Ask Immortal Pavilion’s level. This was their first hearing of such beings.
\n“Just a title. Royal records mention little beyond one core character – ‘Wild’.”
\nAs The Immortal Palace now served Dragon Guards, Si Mo shared this non-confidential information freely.
\nAncient Deity Wild!
\n“Look out!”
\nDuring their talk, Demon Monk Jie Ming struck again with a blazing lotus.
\nSi Mo reacted first, followed by Zhi Hua and others. All four totems concentrated their strike on the lotus. A dull explosion followed – the totems shattered, sending all four coughing blood as they staggered back.
\n“Fools all! Why defy heaven’s will? The Buddha holds celestial mandate. Fellow immortality-seekers should recognize his greatness!”
\nDemon Monk Wu Fa hovered above, no longer using totem power but crushing them with Wild Power-forged lotus flames.
\n“This surpasses Golden Core strength!”
\nSi Mo spat blood, having borne most attacks. Li Yuanyuan’s group proved far weaker in both skill and magic. Zhang Tu, the former Master Jie Nian, barely clung to life.
\n“Amitabha.”
\nIgnoring Si Mo, Wu Fa chanted. His mudfish emitted strange vibrations – totem power merged with Wild Power into a crushing blow.
\n“Ready yet? I can’t hold much longer!”
\nSi Mo shouted into the darkness behind. Knowing Wu Fa targeted Zhang Tu, Dragon Guards had prepared countermeasures – but the demon monk’s swift assaults delayed their setup, forcing Si Mo’s prolonged defense.
\nBoom! Boom! Boom!
\nAs the voice faded, three Formation flags crashed down from the sky, forming a triangular array.
\nEach flag bore a standing figure.
\n“Activate!”
\nThree totems materialized from the void. The trio channeled their Power of the Totem into the flags, which flared to life. Towering ten zhang high, primal Barbarian Gods manifested \u2013 savage colossi roaring to break free from their flag prisons. The nearest Barbarian God smashed its palm down at Demon Monk Wu Fa.
\n“Did we get him?”
\nZhi Hua and her companions gulped. Even the gravely wounded Zhang Tu stared in awe.
\nThis was the royal family’s might \u2013 developing such a Formation in mere months. The three flag-bearers each matched Si Mo’s strength, the so-called ‘third-ranked’ Dragon Guard. Blindly trusting court rankings would get you killed without knowing how.
\n“Triad Barbarian God Formation,” someone breathed. “The court’s killing array merging Wild Power with totemic energy. It harnesses Wild Power without Ancient Deity interference. That demon monk should be…”
\nCrash!
\nRubble scattered as bloodied Wu Fa emerged from the dust-clouded wreckage.
\n“Three more ambushers? Almost ended me.”
\nWild Power surged around the monk. His wounds knit shut as black runes crawled across his skin. When the dark glow faded, Wu Fa stood whole \u2013 even the blood stains retracting into his pristine robes.
\n“Complete devotion to Ancient Deities?”
\n“All Cold Mountain Temple (current abbot’s domain) monks are lunatics!” cried the Dragon Guards maintaining the Triad Formation.
\n“Blind mortals.”
\nWu Fa retrieved his staff, eyeing the Formation flags. “You think these rags can contain me?”
\nBoom!
\nHis furious mudfish totem erupted, now grown to leviathan proportions. The monstrous creature chomped through a flag, devouring both banner and its guardian. Striding past the carnage, Wu Fa addressed the fallen Zhang Tu:
\n“Master Jie Nian, journey to Western Paradise. When our Buddha attains Ancient Deity status, the Buddhist realm shall reserve your seat.”
\nAncient Deity ascension!
\nA Buddhist realm!
\nSuch words revealed Cold Mountain Temple’s madness \u2013 and how far Jie Ming had progressed.
\nZhang Tu chuckled bitterly. He’d considered himself strong after surpassing hermit Xue, but facing Cold Mountain Temple, Ask Immortal Pavilion, and the court? They remained powerless weaklings.
\n“Ascend to Ancient Deity?”
\nSi Mo spat blood, rallying the two surviving flag-bearers. “Mere humans dreaming of godhood? Madness!”
\nDuring Wild Power research, Great Chu’s court had tried contacting Ancient Deities. Every attempt failed. Contactees went mad \u2013 not by divine will, but from the chasm between mortal minds and primordial truths. Hearing an Ancient Deity’s voice shattered ordinary people’s souls, manifesting as cultivation deviation and inner demon infestations.
\nAfter countless deaths, the court learned:
\nMortals shouldn’t gaze upon immortals, nor hear gods speak.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Chapter 55: The Madman Wild Power? Li Yuanyuan suddenly recalled the young man named Ding Hao from Ask Immortal Pavilion she’d once met. He’d invited her to join their ranks, but she refused. Later during their clash, Luo San killed that youth who’d used this very energy – though he’d called it “magical power” back then. The matter eventually faded as no more Ask\u2026<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"","categories":[3],"tags":[],"fcn_genre":[],"fcn_fandom":[],"fcn_character":[],"fcn_content_warning":[],"class_list":["post-1434","fcn_chapter","type-fcn_chapter","status-publish","hentry","category-dreaming-to-become-a-creator"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/tmp.gravitytales.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/fcn_chapter\/1434","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/tmp.gravitytales.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/fcn_chapter"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/tmp.gravitytales.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/fcn_chapter"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tmp.gravitytales.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tmp.gravitytales.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1434"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/tmp.gravitytales.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/fcn_chapter\/1434\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/tmp.gravitytales.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1434"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tmp.gravitytales.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1434"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tmp.gravitytales.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1434"},{"taxonomy":"fcn_genre","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tmp.gravitytales.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/fcn_genre?post=1434"},{"taxonomy":"fcn_fandom","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tmp.gravitytales.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/fcn_fandom?post=1434"},{"taxonomy":"fcn_character","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tmp.gravitytales.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/fcn_character?post=1434"},{"taxonomy":"fcn_content_warning","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tmp.gravitytales.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/fcn_content_warning?post=1434"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}