I Pick up a Lost Godhood

Chapter 425: Chapter 408: Blown Up

Ling Fei couldn’t help but frown. Zhao Yong’s Heart Bewitching Lock was quite formidable. Once caught by it, even if you didn’t die, you would be severely injured, and the damage was incurable. This type of Life Artifact included a Spiritual Attack that would inflict permanent damage on one’s Sea of Heart.

But... Ling Fei couldn’t possibly stop everything. She sighed, only able to watch and see what would happen.

Seeing that Wang Meng truly wasn’t putting up any Magic Defense, nor had he brought out his own Life Artifact, Zhao Yong couldn’t help but sneer. ’So arrogant. Go die!’

No one believed Wang Meng merely had a Five Elements Body. He certainly had a Life Artifact, perhaps even a Holy Statue; he was just keeping it hidden.

The Heart Bewitching Lock abruptly vanished, and a massive version, five or six meters long, appeared around Wang Meng. The shackle was slowly closing. In Magical Combat, this was the moment to resist with all one’s might. If you were locked down, it was really over. It didn’t matter what kind of constitution you possessed; if the initial attack defeated you, you’d have no way to use your strength.

But for some reason, as if in a daze, Wang Meng didn’t even try to resist.

CLANK...

The Heart Bewitching Lock clamped shut. Zhao Yong gave a cold smirk; no one who was trapped by his Heart Bewitching Lock had ever escaped.

Everyone watched on. They all knew Jii Wanli had arranged this deliberately. If Wang Meng was finished, his junior martial brother could naturally take his place, and no one could object to the outcome of a public match.

Wang Meng was trapped by the Heart Bewitching Lock. Life Artifacts were no trivial matter, and Zhao Yong was a Quasi-Star Alliance member. If this had been a fight to the death, Wang Meng would have eliminated him in an instant. However, Wang Meng actually wanted to use this opportunity to test the limits of the synergy between his Life Wheel and Divine Sense. ’This Heart Bewitching Lock sounds like a two-pronged attack focused on the Sea of Heart,’ he thought. ’That’s the one thing I’m not afraid of. My Godhood is just sitting idle anyway. The old man needs to stretch his arms and legs every now and then.’

However, Wang Meng had still underestimated the power of the Heart Bewitching Lock. It was a peculiar force. The true strength of Life Artifacts and Holy Statues lay in a power that ordinary Life Mark Combinations could never achieve. They couldn’t be deciphered, which made them incredibly difficult to defend against.

The Heart Bewitching Lock had two effects. First, it imprisoned the Sea of Fate. While not enough to cripple it completely, it could drastically reduce its power, which for a Cultivator meant a drop in Cultivation. The second effect was a force that assaulted the Heart Spirit directly. Once a target was trapped by the Heart Bewitching Lock, it was like being plunged into a nightmare from which they could never awaken.

Gazing at Wang Meng’s slightly pale face, Zhao Yong broke into a triumphant smile.

Ma Tian’Er was very worried, but Linglong held her back. "He’s tough. He’ll be fine."

’Even the White Dragon couldn’t do anything to him,’ she thought. ’There’s no way he’ll capsize in a small ditch like this.’

"Wang Meng, I’ll give you a choice," Zhao Yong said smugly. "Give me your Star Alliance membership, and I’ll let you go. Otherwise, don’t blame me for being ruthless!"

It wasn’t just Jii Wanli; a few others were also perplexed. Even they wouldn’t have been caught by the Heart Bewitching Lock so unprepared. Since Wang Meng was a Star Alliance member, this shouldn’t have happened.

Wang Meng’s eyes snapped open, a cold smirk playing on his lips. Zhao Yong’s triumphant expression froze on his face.

Then, everyone noticed something was wrong. Cracks... were actually appearing on the Heart Bewitching Lock!

’I have to admit,’ Wang Meng thought, ’this Life Artifact is indeed a bit more formidable than Zheng Dasheng’s Spirit Rhinoceros Finger. It took my Divine Sense a little while to analyze it.’

Zhao Yong’s face was a grimace. He didn’t even have the strength to cry out as he struggled to stop his Life Artifact from dissipating.

Jii Wanli’s eyebrow twitched. He offered a faint smile. "Heh, it’s just a friendly spar, Brother Wang. Impressive skills. Let’s leave it at that."

Master Wang had dealt with plenty of pricks like this before and had no intention of stopping. Zhao Yong had brought this upon himself. ’When you arrive in a new place, you have to make an example out of someone with ill intentions. He just served himself up on a silver platter.’

Jii Wanli hadn’t expected Wang Meng to refuse to give him face. He took a step forward, and with a slight sway of his body, he began to exert pressure on Wang Meng.

Just as Wang Meng was about to make a move, a faint, pleasant fragrance drifted past him. Jii Wanli was suddenly forced back a step before he could regain his footing.

The entire crowd was stunned.

"There’s a limit to how shameless a person can be."

Linglong’s voice was cold, yet beautiful to the ear. The crucial part was that she had forced Jii Wanli to retreat, which was more than enough to pique everyone’s curiosity.

Some suspected that Jii Wanli was just putting on a show for the beautiful woman. At that moment, however, all the color had drained from Zhao Yong’s face. His Heart Bewitching Lock was on the verge of shattering. While the destruction of a Life Artifact wouldn’t kill him, his Elemental Qi would be severely damaged.

Jii Wanli shot Linglong a surprised glance, but the Dragon Maiden paid him no mind at all.

"Brother Wang, impressive skills. My junior brother has lost. Please, let him go."

Wang Meng smiled faintly. "Brother Jii, you’re too polite. This Brother Zhao here kept saying what he would do to me after he won, and that he’d take my life if I didn’t agree. If you were in my shoes, what would you do?"

Wang Meng had just tossed the question right back at Jii Wanli. It was obvious at a glance that he was the type of person with an inflated sense of self-importance who cared deeply about his reputation.

Jii Wanli glanced at Zhao Yong, who was on the verge of collapse. "He will never appear in the same place as you again."

Wang Meng smiled faintly. "Zhao Yong, did you hear that? If you understood, give me a nod."

At this point, Zhao Yong could only nod. He was truly terrified.

With a sudden jolt from Wang Meng, Zhao Yong collapsed limply to the ground, and the Heart Bewitching Lock finally returned to his body.

Wang Meng wasn’t as vicious as Zhao Yong, but a person like that definitely needed to be taught a lesson. The Heart Bewitching Lock had been severely damaged; it would take several years of nurturing for it to recover.

Jii Wanli waved a hand, and his men carried Zhao Yong away. When he turned back to Wang Meng, his smile was even more brilliant. "There’s no better way to get acquainted than a good fight. Brother Wang, you are truly profound and unfathomable."

"Brother Jii, you flatter me. It was merely self-defense." Master Wang was not one to be so easily deceived.

After that exchange, no one knew what kind of ability Wang Meng possessed. He could somehow resist the Heart Bewitching Lock and even counterattack, yet they couldn’t sense any overwhelming power from him. He remained a complete enigma.

"Brother Wang, you’re too modest. And this beautiful young lady is... might I have an introduction?"

Jii Wanli said, suddenly looking at Linglong. At this moment, Crown Prince Wanli’s interest was no longer on Wang Meng.

Wang Meng was taken aback. ’Damn, this guy’s no good either. The old drunkard isn’t really interested in the wine.’

"Brother Wang, congratulations! Your power has grown by leaps and bounds. I always say, good people have good luck." A man waving a fan parted the crowd, and the people on either side automatically cleared a path for him.

In these circles, status was paramount.

There was only one person who would dare say something so flippant on an occasion like this.

Lin Jinghao of the No Illusion Demon Sect, wielder of the Nine Luminaries Cyan Dragon Body—Goodman Lin.

Jii Wanli’s expression didn’t falter. "Brother Lin, you’re late. What, you know Wang Meng as well?"

Lin Jinghao blinked. "Brother Wang and I are old friends. We’ve known each other since our time in the Four Directions Small Thousand World."

Wang Meng quite admired Lin Jinghao’s personality. In his world, people weren’t simply divided into friends and enemies.

"Brother Lin, I still have to thank you for what happened back at the Dragon Tomb." Wang Meng knew that Lin Jinghao could have entered to absorb the Dragon Soul. Even with Mingren trying to stop him, it was unlikely he could have truly blocked Lin Jinghao.

"Ah, Brother Wang, you’re too kind," Lin Jinghao said, giving an awkward smile. "My goal was never there in the first place. A classic feint, you see. I already got what I came for."

Lin Jinghao beamed, his frankness so disarming it was almost hard to believe. He was even publicly admitting that he had profited from the Dragon Tomb.

But with his status as the Young Master of the No Illusion Demon Sect, there was truly no one, aside from perhaps the Pure Land, whose covetousness he needed to fear.

Jii Wanli shifted slightly. The surrounding Cultivators began to whisper amongst themselves, surprised that Lin Jinghao actually knew him.

Lin Jinghao’s gaze fell upon Linglong, and his eyes lit up with a peculiar brilliance. "May I have the pleasure of your acquaintance? I’m really a good person."

Everyone knew the Demon Crown Prince was a bit... "unique." Privately, some even wondered if he had suffered a cultivation deviation. The heir to the greatest Demon Sect was always clamoring about renouncing evil and following the righteous path, yet he didn’t seem to be insane.

Wang Meng wasn’t too surprised. As someone with the Nine Luminaries Cyan Dragon Body, it would be impossible for him not to react to a member of the Dragon Race.

Linglong gave Lin Jinghao a detached glance, her gaze carrying a hint of condescending scrutiny. However, it was clear she wasn’t displeased by someone possessing the aura of the Dragon Race. She gave a slight nod, and Lin Jinghao immediately became so delighted that he started fanning himself vigorously.

At that moment, the Tiger Crown Prince, Zou Chuang, who had been silent all this time, walked up to Wang Meng. "My master invites you to be his guest. He wishes to thank you in person."

Zou Chuang’s icy gaze swept over Wang Meng like a knife, but it didn’t contain much hostility.

Hua Jianyu and Ji Rushan had been observing the shifting dynamics. They had expected Wang Meng to be taught a harsh lesson, to learn that in a new environment, one must be low-key. But the situation had taken an unexpected turn and was now spinning out of control. Lin Jinghao was one thing—almost no one had ever seen the Demon Crown Prince truly lose his temper—but Zou Chuang was famously stern and impartial with everyone.

’...So what is Wang Meng’s relationship with the Taiyin Sect?’

’Is the Holy Hall really a Sect that was once ranked close to 200th?’

"Is Old Mo doing well?" Wang Meng said. "He helped me a great deal more. I will certainly pay him a visit."

Zou Chuang nodded.

The Spirit Princess, Longyue, and the Ghost Crown Prince, Wu Wang, watched on coldly from the sidelines until the Dean of Star Academy, Mengg Gu, arrived.

Mengg Gu walked to the front, his eyes sweeping over the crowd. His gaze lingered for a moment when it fell upon Wang Meng and Linglong.

The moment Mengg Gu appeared, everyone rose to their feet. For a true core figure of the Star Alliance like Mengg Gu, even powerful individuals like Jii Wanli and Wu Wang had to show the utmost respect.

"It truly makes me happy to see so many outstanding young people," Mengg Gu began. "This old man won’t take up too much of your time, so I’ll get straight to the point. I’m sure you’ve all heard the news released by the Pure Land. I’m taking this opportunity to confirm that the Star Alliance will fully cooperate with the Pure Land in the coming battle for the Other Shore. The ten strongest among you will also be inducted into the core of the Star Alliance!"

His words were like a stone cast into a calm lake, sending a thousand ripples through the crowd. Those present were all either members or quasi-members of the Star Alliance, especially individuals like Jii Wanli. Far from underestimating the Star Alliance, their membership had only given them a deeper sense of its immense power. There were secrets within the Star Alliance, but they were inaccessible at their current level. However, becoming a core member would grant them access to that ultimate power.

No one could say for certain what kind of existence the Pure Land was, and its relationship with the Star Alliance was even more of an enigma. But one thing was certain: anything jointly supported by both the Star Alliance and the Pure Land was an absolutely heaven-sent opportunity.

The various great Sects would also lend their full support.

"Lord Mengg Gu," Jii Wanli said, "the wait feels a bit long. I believe everyone is growing rather impatient."