Volume One: The Kingdom of the God of Long Night - Chapter 67: The Divine Fruit Status (Part Two)

Jiang Wang said with a blank expression, "Am I not strong?"

The Night Wandering Deity rolled over, presenting its backside in a silent gesture of mockery.

Jiang Wang immediately stepped forward and delivered a swift kick.

The Night Wandering Deity let out a shrill, miserable scream.

Immediately following, a fierce gale whipped up, its form expanding rapidly in the wind. Its wings unfurled, blanketing the entire mountain, and its pair of crimson eyes stared fixedly down at Jiang Wang.

"Look, I was just making a joke. What are you doing..."

Compared to the Night Wandering Deity, Wuhou’s exaggerated size was mere sesame seed. This creature was absurdly, overwhelmingly large.

Yet the Night Wandering Deity clearly could not let go of the grudge from their previous encounter, letting out a long howl that caused the towering mountain to tremble. The divine kingdom was instantly filled with Jiang Wang's even more miserable screams.

...

Jiang Wang lay sprawled on the grass, looking utterly defeated.

The Night Wandering Deity preened its feathers with its beak, wearing a distinctly human expression of post-satisfaction and ease.

"Fallen deities all suffer a reduction in their cultivation, and some even perish directly. That divine statue is indeed very strange; since it has never served a new master, its divine throne should be quite fragile. Yet it possesses a dense, lingering malevolent aura. There is definitely something deeply problematic about this."

Jiang Wang said flatly, "So the fact that I couldn't destroy it proves that it's not because I'm not strong enough?"

The Night Wandering Deity replied, "Although a sealed divine throne contains the majority of a deity's cultivation, until a new master is found, the statue's throne remains somewhat fortified. Ordinary cultivators at the peak of the Cave-Nether realm might be helpless against it, but your power was sufficient to destroy it."

"That deity is out of the ordinary. The fact that you failed to shatter it with a single blade strike might mean you have already been detected, and he will use that divine statue to lock onto your aura."

Jiang Wang's eyes widened. "What do you mean?"

The Night Wandering Deity said, "If there are no other delays, within a day or two at most, that deity will appear in Hun City and take your dog's life."

Jiang Wang: "..."

He said angrily, "You did that on purpose!"

The Night Wandering Deity flapped its wings and said, "I didn't expect you to fail to destroy the stone statue either. As long as the statue is completely destroyed, even if the deity could still sense it, he wouldn't be able to pinpoint your location."

Jiang Wang's face turned pale. "We're doomed, we're doomed!"

Although he still hadn't fully grasped the true extent of the Night Wandering Deity's abilities, the divine kingdom had completely drained its power, yet it still possessed strength comparable to the demon Aoyin. As fellow deities, one whose power hadn't been drained must possess an unfathomably deep cultivation.

"You don't need to scare yourself like this. That stone statue is problematic, and whether its deity is dead or alive remains unknown. Besides, with me here—having once served immortals—he will surely show some respect."

The Night Wandering Deity laughed inwardly while offering superficial comfort to Jiang Wang.

Jiang Wang immediately struck a praying pose, muttering under his breath, "I hope he's already dead, dead down to the very last speck of dust..."

The Night Wandering Deity turned serious. "Because a divine throne contains a deity's cultivation, only cultivators with profound cultivation can safely receive it. Low-realm cultivators who attempt to plunder a divine throne will only meet an end of total annihilation."

"Yet that stone statue is filled with malevolent energy. Based on deduction, either the deity experienced something that filled him with grievances, accumulating into malevolent energy."

"Or else he has already perished, but due to some inexplicable reason, the divine throne still remains, turning into an evil artifact. I lean more toward the latter, because as long as a deity lives, he would not abandon his divine throne."

"Even if he renounced his status as a deity, the divine throne is always his foundation. No matter the reason, it makes no sense to throw away one's life, unless he simply no longer wished to live and willingly made his divine throne a wedding dress for another."

Jiang Wang: "I feel so comforted."

He fell silent for a moment, then suddenly asked hopefully, "Since the time has been short, if I can find a way to destroy that stone statue, would that cut off the deity's ability to trace my aura?"

The Night Wandering Deity said, "As long as the deity is alive, the moment his divine throne is threatened, he will perceive it instantly. But you might as well try; the possibility of him having already perished is higher. An evil artifact full of malevolent energy lingering in Xixia Street is never a good thing anyway."

Jiang Wang closed his eyes in deep thought.

"Is there any possibility... that the stone statue was actually sealing a massive demon that might exist beneath Hun City?"

"If I destroy the stone statue, wouldn't the sealed demon break right out?"

The Night Wandering Deity realized, "That is indeed possible!"

...

"A divine throne filled with malevolent energy is something I have never heard of, but there must be a reason for it. If an immortal back then suppressed a massive demon but lacked the remaining strength, they might have directly used their subordinate deity as the focal point of the formation. Year after year, eroded by the demonic aura, it is entirely possible for it to turn into malevolent energy."

"It is precisely because the divine statue was eroded by malevolent energy that the seal loosened, leading to the demons attacking Hun City. Now the logic is completely clear."

Jiang Wang said with a headache, "If that's the case, the stone statue cannot be destroyed! But what if I'm just overthinking it? What if that deity is still alive? What if he really has locked onto my aura? What if he's already on his way? What if..."

"Stop with the 'what ifs'!" The Night Wandering Deity was speechless. Such matters inherently lacked definitive answers, and any possibility existed. Just as humans could theoretically choke on drinking water, does that mean they should stop drinking water for the rest of their lives?

Jiang Wang said indignantly, "Right now, I can only fight for my own survival! If I were invincible across the world, why would I fear a mere deity? It's only two days; I will do everything in my power to become stronger. If he doesn't show up, fine, but the moment he appears, I'll make sure he never returns!"

The Night Wandering Deity hadn't expected this incident to actually motivate Jiang Wang to strive for greatness.

Although Jiang Wang had previously provoked enemies indiscriminately regardless of the occasion just to nourish his divine kingdom, his inherent laziness had made him increasingly perfunctory. Upon learning he was born a Cave-Nether realm cultivator, he had only thought of slacking off—which, of course, was a very bad thing.

The Night Wandering Deity rolled its eyes and said solemnly, "I think the possibility of the deity being alive is much higher. Becoming stronger before the crisis arrives is indeed the only path to survival."

Jiang Wang also adopted a death-defying expression and said, "I'm going to the pleasure houses to listen to music!"

The Night Wandering Deity: "..."

...

There were demons in Chunyi Pavilion, and powerful ones at that.

Currently, all the immortal-seekers in Hun City wore flattering smiles, eager to plunge themselves back into danger, and visiting the pleasure houses for music was the sole way out.

This was the first time Jiang Wang had demanded to visit a pleasure house with such righteous indignation.

It left the Night Wandering Deity unable to find a single flaw to pick on, even though it had plenty of complaints to voice.

This time, Jiang Wang went alone.

The first floor of Chunyi Pavilion was noisy and bustling, filled with all sorts of alluring sights and sounds.

Jiang Wang paid them no mind, pulling a purse directly from his bosom and letting himself be guided to the second floor.

His target was very clear.

He pulled out his purse once more, intending to ascend to the third floor.

Then, out of the corner of his eye, he spotted a familiar figure.

It wasn't Ning Shisi.

It was Zhao Si.

He patted Zhao Si on the shoulder.

Zhao Si turned around: (❁´ω`❁)

His coy expression instantly turned deathly pale.

Jiang Wang smiled with narrowed eyes.

Zhao Si rigidly turned his head back around.

"Where did you get the silver?"

Jiang Wang's voice came in an eerie, chilling tone.

Zhao Si felt his hair stand on end.

"I'm not doing unpaid labor at the Marquis's estate, is it so strange to have a little savings?"

Jiang Wang chuckled, "Your savings must be quite substantial to actually afford the second floor of Chunyi Pavilion."

Zhao Si reacted quickly, raising his voice and shouting, "What are you doing here?!"

Jiang Wang smiled, "I'm here to subdue demons."

Zhao Si was slightly stunned, then looked at him with disdain. "Do you think I believe that?"

Jiang Wang said, "You proclaim yourself an upright gentleman who never visits pleasure houses to listen to music. I never said such a thing, so using that to refute me is already problematic. Even if I came here just for the music, it would be normal; but you, you're just being hypocritical."

Previously, he had cared deeply about his face, subconsciously wanting to sneak around if he ever visited a pleasure house. But now, he spoke with absolute righteousness.

As expected, everyone was hypocritical and wore multiple faces.

Yet Jiang Wang would never admit to it.

Because Zhao Si had spoken loudly, the surrounding people all cast their gazes over, and Jiang Wang's claim of coming to Chunyi Pavilion to subdue demons reached their ears. Most of them naturally sneered in contempt.

However, a few had witnessed Jiang Wang drawing his blade in the East Market. Although they hadn't seen the true appearance of the demon, the scene of cultivators flying everywhere remained fresh in their memories.

Valuing their lives above all else, they quietly slipped away from Chunyi Pavilion.

Jiang Wang's purpose in coming to Chunyi Pavilion was to fight.

Regardless of whether the fight was legitimate or not, there were simply too many people in Chunyi Pavilion, which was far from ideal.

He stated flatly, "I am here to subdue demons. Those who don't want to die had better leave now while you still can!"

Some people's expressions changed.

Some continued to sneer.

Uproar and commotion erupted all around.

"The demon this young master wants to subdue... probably isn't a proper demon, is it?"

As soon as those words were let loose, those who understood burst into boisterous laughter.

Zhao Si felt deeply embarrassed. Although he wanted to distance himself from Jiang Wang, he couldn't help muttering in a low voice, "If you're here for the music, just enjoy the music, what's with all the excuses? You're far more hypocritical than I am."

Since Jiang Wang had already made his stance clear, he didn't care whether these people stayed or left. He simply tapped Zhao Si's shoulder lightly and said, "I assume this is your first time as well, and I shouldn't ruin your good time. Even though you're a hypocrite, we are good brothers after all. How about this—your expenses here today will be paid for by this young master."

Zhao Si asked in shock, "Are your words true?!"

He clearly chose to ignore everything Jiang Wang had said prior.

Without any further nonsense, Jiang Wang tossed him a heavy pouch of silver.

Zhao Si was overjoyed. "You really are a good brother! From now on, whether you want me to write poems, paint, cook, sharpen blades, or even act as an ox or a horse for you, I will do it without hesitation and without a single complaint!"

Jiang Wang raised an eyebrow. "You used to have complaints?"

Zhao Si said with a straight face, "Absolutely not!"

Watching Zhao Si happily sprint up to the third floor—operating on the logic that the most dangerous place is the safest place, with a beauty by his side and the door tightly shut, whatever happened outside was of little consequence—

Jiang Wang glanced over the patrons of the second floor and declared, "One final warning: I am here to subdue demons. Leaving now is still not too late."

Naturally, no one paid him any mind.

Jiang Wang walked straight up to the third floor.

He knocked softly on the door.

The maid serving Bai Chuanling opened the door and, upon seeing Jiang Wang's handsome face, her cheeks instantly flushed red.

She reported his arrival to her mistress and then stepped outside.

Bai Chuanling was just an ordinary girl in Chunyi Pavilion. At least in the maid's eyes, her mistress seemed to do nothing all day, with no other patrons besides that one scholar.

Having such a handsome young gentleman seek her out made the maid happy for her mistress, while also harboring a secret fantasy that if her mistress couldn't handle him, she herself might be able to step in and help out.

With that thought, she leaned eagerly against the door, waiting for her mistress to call her in.