However, just because his body wasnât badly injured didnât mean he was fine. The damage heâd sustained was far more serious than he thought.
The Evil Golden Eye consumed a cultivator from within. The wart-faced cultivator wasnât stupid enough to ignore the confining power over his consciousness.
Cold sweat broke out on his back. He tried to gather his consciousness and push out the force that was rampaging about within his mind. Alas, he noticed too late that this devious force was far stronger than he.
His consciousness couldnât expel the offending culprit, which spread out as briskly as wintry frost.
âWhat... what is all this?â
In the midst of his hesitation, a second wave of attacks from the six demigods landed upon him, searing his body with pain.
âNot good!â
No amount of audacity was enough to prevent the wart-faced cultivator from panicking. âDaoist Zijing,â he called out as loudly as he could, âI need help right now. Thereâs a trick here!â
The space wasnât entirely sealed off. His voice, coupled with some divine energy, allowed his message to pass into his comradeâs ear.
Unfortunately, the other god wasnât having a good time himself. On the other side, he was locked in combat by a different god; a familiar cultivator, in fact, one that theyâd met often in the Boundless Prison. The bald cultivator, Yu Gong, who had astutely surrendered to Jiang Chen when heâd been given the opportunity to.
âAre you crazy, Yu Gong? Why are you turning your weapons on me? Donât you know Master Lightford is right outside?â
The other god that Lightford had brought was named Yuan Zijing. Genteel and graceful, he looked rather wise at a glance. In actuality, he had a terrible reputation back in the Boundless Prison.
He was a hopelessly perverted philanderer who much âenjoyedâ female cultivators.
In fact, heâd even almost succeeded in abducting Huangâerâs mother, An Yuâerâ though the timely appearance of Divine Kasyapa had foiled him.
Thus, this Yuan Zijing was very much an animal wearing an urbane skin.
He wasnât capable of doing many dastardly deeds right now, however. Yu Gong was every bit his equal in battle, with a blazing fighting spirit to boot.
Yuan Zijing knew the strength differential between his opponent and himself quite well. Thus, he could hardly spare much attention to his cornered partner.
When waiting didnât yield help from Yuan Zijing, the wart-faced cultivator began to wail. âMaster Lightford, please help me!â
More and more of his body was freezing. He felt his flesh harden and almost congeal, but to stone rather than ice.
When Jiang Chenâs Evil Golden Eye succeeded in taking effect, its power only amplified with the passage of time. A stricken foeâs defenses against it would gradually weaken as it invaded his body.
Astonishingly enough, the young lordâs coordinated ambush had worked!
The young man wasnât going to let his prey simply turn into metal though. When the god had lost the bulk of his strength as well as the motion in his limbs, Jiang Chen stepped forward and seized the man.
A divine realm cultivator that couldnât be won over was still good material for refining life essence from. His divine decree would also be useful.
Although transforming him into a statue wouldnât affect the latter, his life essence would be irrevocably lost. What life was there to glean from cold metal?
The incapacitation of one of the gods was like cutting off one of Lightfordâs arms. Jiang Chen was more confident in their victory now.
âCome, letâs go help over there.â
Yu Gong was still holding off the genteel cultivator Yuan Zijing by himself.
The latter swore as they fought. âYu Gong, youâve always been the quiet type, but to think you would betray Master Lightford! Why didnât you try this hard when you were on our side, eh?â
Though Yu Gong was outwardly brutish, he had a discerning heart. He completely ignored Yuan Zijingâs insults, only grinning in response when the cursing got particularly colorful.
âMaster Lightford is right behind me. Are you still blind to the light?â Yuan Zijing tried in a last-ditch attempt to entice Yu Gong back to his side, but he might as well have been talking to a rock.
It was at this time that Jiang Chen and the others returned to the area that Yu Gong defended. The latter was quite pleased at the sight of them.
âHowâd it go?â Yu Gong asked without turning his head.
âWe took him down.â Jiang Chen laughed.
Yu Gong was positively gleeful. âThis Yuan Zijing is a bit stronger, but Iâm not scared of him. One on one, weâre evenly matched.â
âHow loyal is he to old Lightford?â
âJust like that cultivator with a wart. Steadfast and diehard.â Yu Gong sighed. âDonât bother trying to convert these two. If I remember correctly, they were supposed to have been sent to the competition of geniuses. What are they doing here?â
âThey probably managed to escape from Sandplain.â Jiang Chen shrugged. âStill, if Lightford has to resort to using these defeated dogs, he doesnât have much left at his disposal. Shall we take that Yuan Zijing down as well?â His eyes glimmered with interest.
Old Lightford had heard the wart-faced cultivatorâs call for help. As much as heâd wanted to answer it, being attacked by three other gods simultaneously greatly taxed his attention.
A moment later, the man whoâd cried out became silent. This cast a momentary shadow upon the old manâs heart.
âZijing, go see whatâs with him.â Since Lightford was himself occupied, he ordered his flunky to do it.
Yuan Zijing wanted to cry. âSir, Iâm surrounded by a bunch of cultivators myself. He... heâs probably dead!â
Being held up by Yu Gong was one thing, but a mysterious surge of suspended runes was preventing him from going much of anywhere. This kind of lockdown wouldnât confine him forever, but it did serve to annoy and hinder him.