The 136 formation nails were made out of 136 different materials, combined together to form 136 types of formations. Every single one of them was unique.
Despite the cruel exterior, the nails were supplying gentle energy to the Ox-nosed Old Daoist, nourishing his body. Even though he was trapped in place, he wasnât in a feeble state at all. If anything, he was more energized than ever.
âBrother Yuankong, you should have seen everything that has happened earlier, right? You do have a good eye for disciples. That disciple of yours⦠has already surpassed his master,â Master Yin Ren told the Ox-nosed Old Daoist.
It turned out that he was aware of Chu Feng and the Ox-nosed Old Daoistâs relationship all along.
âDid you get afraid with just that? Then youâll have much more to look forward to. That disciple of mine possesses true capabilities. Itâs no use even if you choose to kneel down and beg for mercy now. Chu Feng wonât let you off,â the Ox-nosed Old Daoist said.
It turned out that Master Yin Ren was Sima Xiangtu, a friend of the Ox-nosed Old Daoist while they were still juniors.
The two of them were talented world spiritists, and the Ox-nosed Old Daoist used to harbor unreserved trust for Sima Xiangtu. However, as the Ox-nosed Old Daoist became the strongest world spiritist of the Ancestral Martial Galaxy, envy started breeding in the heart of Sima Xiangtu.
When the Ox-nosed Old Daoist had a life-and-death duel with Dao Comprehension Sage Exalted, Sima Xiangtu made use of the opportunity to feed the Ox-nosed Old Daoist a bowl of poisoned soup, causing the latter to perform worse than expected and lose to Dao Comprehension Sage Exalted.
Everyone thought that the Ox-nosed Old Daoist died in that battle, and Dao Comprehension Sage Exalted naturally became the most powerful world spiritist of the Ancestral Martial Galaxy.
As for the culprit, Sima Xiangtu, he left the Ancestral Martial Galaxy for the Nine Souls Galaxy under a new identity.
The Ox-nosed Old Daoist had been searching for Sima Xiangtu over the years, and he finally found clues about the latterâs whereabouts. When he parted ways with Chu Feng at the Dragon Clan back then, his goal was to look for Sima Xiangtu.
He did manage to achieve his goal.
The only problem was that Sima Xiangtu was no longer the same person he used to be. He had become much stronger. The Ox-nosed Old Daoist fell in defeat and ended up becoming a captive to Sima Xiangtu.
Sima Xiangtu used his eyeball as a confinement formation, bringing the Ox-nosed Old Daoist everywhere he went and allowing him to see everything that was going on.
âBrother Yuankong, you have changed. You werenât such a braggart before. A mere brat who could only frantically flee from me a moment ago; did you think that I would be afraid of someone like that?â Sima Xiangtu asked.
âYouâre only saying that because you donât understand Chu Feng. Heâs unlike those young masters of reputable clans. As long as thereâs a breath left in him, the ones who will eventually die are indubitably his enemies.
âSima Xiangtu, you have infringed on his reverse scale. Nothing can save you anymore. The countdown on your life has started,â the Ox-nosed Old Daoist spoke confidently, as if he could already see a guillotine hanging above Sima Xiangtuâs head.
âYouâre right. It would be troublesome if I gave Chu Feng time to grow. He could potentially become a threat. However, with how sentimental Chu Feng is, once he learns that his master is in my grasp⦠donât you think that he will feel obliged to make a move?â Sima Xiangtu asked with a devious smile.
The Ox-nosed Old Daoist wasnât worried at all.
âChu Feng will come to save me, but that fellow doesnât fight a losing battle. You may use me as bait, but you ought to pray hard that he doesnât come. If he does, the one who will suffer is you,â the Ox-nosed Old Daoist said.
âTrying to scare me? Youâre really looking down on me if you think that you can intimidate me with such words.
âBrother Yuankong, you should know how valuable your and Chu Fengâs souls are to me. You donât have to worry; I donât plan on killing your disciple. I canât be bothered to use you to lure him in right now either. He canât escape from my grasp anyway,â Sima Xiangtu said with a confident smile.
âHehâ¦â
The Ox-nosed Old Daoist burst into laughter. Despite being trapped by Sima Xiangtu, he showed no fear.
âWhat do you need their souls for?â Princess Xiaoxiao suddenly asked.
He sensed that both she and Xian Miaomiao were just tools for Master Yin Ren too.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om
âYoung lass, he cultivates a unique skill that requires the tribute of high-quality souls. Did you naively think that heâs here to treat your affliction? All heâs doing is to strengthen your soul so that you would be of greater use to him,â the Ox-nosed Old Daoist said.
âYouâre intending to use my soul to cultivate?â
Princess Xiaoxiao stared at Sima Xiangtu in horror.
âIndeed. Itâs such a pity that your Nine Souls Sacred Clan doesnât have too many people who are useful to me. Many people in your clan are doomed to die,â Sima Xiangtu said.
âOur Nine Souls Sacred Clan has treated you well. Why are you doing this? Do you still have a conscience?â Princess Xiaoxiao roared angrily.
Sima Xiangtu only laughed in disdain.
âConscience? What can conscience do? If your father had a conscience, he wouldnât have become the clan chief. Your Nine Souls Sacred Clan is far dirtier than I am. I doubt that even you, Princess Xiaoxiao, havenât really done much good in the world yourself. Since weâre all just using each other, whatâs the point in talking about meaningless morals and principles?â Sima Xiangtu said.
He grabbed Princess Xiaoxiao and placed her into the confinement formation trapping the Ox-nosed Old Daoist. The formation then contracted back into the form of an eyeball, and he popped it back into his eye socket.
By this point, it was impossible for anyone to tell that the eyeball was actually a confinement formation.
â¦
Meanwhile, Chu Feng and the others had appeared elsewhere. It was the Divine Deer who had brought them there.
âElder, Iâm begging you. Please lend me your strength. I need it just this once. As long as you aid me in saving Princess Xiaoxiao, Iâm willing to do anything you ask of me,â Chu Feng said.
He had been begging the Divine Deer for a while now. The latter had only brought Shengguang Baimei, Shengguang Buyu, and Daoist Niantian with him, leaving Princess Xiaoxiao behind.
Putting aside his ties with Princess Xiaoxiao, Xian Miaomiaoâs life was now tied to her as well. He couldnât just leave them to the lurch.
The problem was that they didnât have the strength to stand against Master Yin Ren now, unless the Divine Deer was willing to lend its unfathomable power to Chu Feng.
âBrat, Iâm already being magnanimous by saving you, but youâre still demanding more? Why donât you ask me to get rid of that old man for you instead?â the Divine Deer spat in displeasure.
âElder, Iâ¦â
Chu Feng was unwilling to give up just like that, but the Divine Deer wasnât willing to listen to his justification.
âBrat, get your own position clear. I only chose to save you because you have some talent in you. Iâm doing this out of goodwill, not obligation. I have no reason to save that woman. If you treasure her and wish to protect her, do it yourself. I donât have that much time to bother with your personal affairs.
âAlso, I ought to remind you that my trial for you is soon approaching. If you arenât able to grow to a level that satisfies me, it would only mean that youâre unworthy of my strength. If so, Iâll be finding someone else,â the Divine Deer said.