Chapter 71: Encountering Demons In Black Pine Forest
However, the six from the Western White Tiger Seven Mansions had been gone for a long time, with no news.
The crowd in the outer world grew impatient waiting. Jiao Mu Jiao said:
“Great Sage, waiting like this is not a solution. Why don’t we all go down together to take a look.”
Wukong said: “That’s fine.”
The crowd descended from the clouds.
The Twenty-Eight Mansions had never seen Kui Mu Lang’s formation and did not know its power, so they were completely unprepared and walked ahead.
Wukong and Nezha had suffered from this formation before, so they did not dare to be careless and cautiously followed behind.
As the crowd approached the inside, they saw Kui Mu Lang, Lou Jin Gou, Wei Tu Zhi, Mao Ri Ji, Bi Yue Wu, Zi Huo Hou, and Can Shui Yuan—these Western White Tiger Seven Mansions—all walking out from the great hall together.
Jiao Mu Jiao said: “Kui Mu Lang, hurry and come with us to Heaven to report back!”
Kui Mu Lang shook his head and said: “Forgive me, I cannot obey.”
Jiao Mu Jiao said: “If you resist the decree, do not blame us for not considering our colleague bond!”
Kui Mu Lang said: “Then please let me experience the supernatural power of you colleagues.”
Jiao Mu Jiao said: “Then do not blame us for being ruthless! Lou Jin Gou, what are you waiting for? Hurry and capture him!”
Lou Jin Gou said nothing and silently stood by Kui Mu Lang’s side. The other five also stood on either side, next to Kui Mu Lang.
Wukong saw this and felt something was off, so he silently retreated a few steps. Nezha saw Wukong retreat and followed suit, retreating together.
Jiao Mu Jiao frowned and said: “What are you doing? Are you planning to rebel?”
Lou Jin Gou said: “Brother Jiao, we are also forced by others!”
Can Shui Yuan said: “That’s right, we have no choice!”
Jiao Mu Jiao looked at these people and could not see any sign that they were being forced. He had originally thought recalling Kui Mu Lang would be a simple matter of a word, but he had not expected this situation.
The other Star Constellations behind saw this and each took up their weapons, pinching their magic formulas. The atmosphere instantly became tense.
Jiao Mu Jiao said:
“If you Western White Tiger Seven Mansions remain stubborn and ignorant, we will really have to make a move!”
Kui Mu Lang laughed and said: “Then give it a try!”
Jiao Mu Jiao said: “Attack!”
In an instant, various magics were cast.
Kui Mu Lang was not afraid at all. He unfurled the formation diagram, and the other six Star Lords cast spells together. Starlight fell from the sky.
Wukong saw this scene and thought it bad! He turned and did a somersault cloud to leave. Nezha stepped on his Wind Fire Wheels and left almost at the same time as Wukong.
The twenty-one Star Constellations including Jiao Mu Jiao were unprepared and were all covered by the formation.
Previously, when Kui Mu Lang manned the formation alone, he was overstretched, and the formation’s power was limited. Now, with seven Star Lords manning it together, each urging the formation and drawing the power of stars, the formation’s power greatly increased. Countless beams of starlight flew chaotically, smashing down overwhelmingly.
Jiao Mu Jiao was struck by dozens of starlights and knocked over.
Kang Jin Long raised his dragon horn and flew upward desperately, but no matter how he flew, he could not escape the formation. After taking over a hundred starlights, he fell into the void.
Dou Mu Xie swung his weapon to block the starlight, but how could he block it? From front, back, left, and right, he took dozens of hits and was knocked into the void.
Jing Mu An saw several people fall into the void and disappear, thinking the void was the formation’s life gate, so he did the opposite and drilled downward into the void.
But in this formation, up, down, left, and right were all endless. Going down was the same as going up. Soon after, Jing Mu An followed in their footsteps.
The remaining Star Constellations soon fell one after another.
Kui Mu Lang withdrew the formation diagram, and all the Star Constellations on the field were unconscious.
The Western White Tiger Seven Mansions dragged these people back into the hall together.
Wukong and Nezha watched this scene from afar, feeling some lingering fear in their hearts. Fortunately, they had left quickly.
The two discussed and found no plan, so they returned to Heaven and reported the matter to the Jade Emperor, requesting reinforcements.
The Jade Emperor was quite surprised and said: “The twenty-seven Star Constellations actually could not subdue Kui Mu Lang?”
Nezha said: “Your Majesty, it is only because Kui Mu Lang has some unknown formation that can draw star laws. Together with the Western White Tiger Seven Mansions setting up the formation, it is thus hard to subdue.”
Upon hearing this, the Jade Emperor issued a decree to seal the Zhou Tian Stars, dispatching Li Tianwang to lead 100,000 Heavenly Soldiers and Heavenly Generals, along with the Thunder Department’s twenty-four Guardian Heavenly Lords, the Fire Department True Gods, and the Nine Luminaries, to the Mortal Realm to subdue Kui Mu Lang and the others.
Li Tianwang assembled the soldiers and generals, and together with the gods, descended to the Mortal Realm. Heavenly might was vast as they surrounded the Bao Xiang Kingdom Imperial Palace.
Sealing the stars in Heaven and assembling the soldiers and generals all required time.
By the time Li Tianwang and the others descended to the Mortal Realm, another half a month had passed.
The progress in the Ao Tu System had reached 151 days, less than a month—29 days—from the half-year reward.
Outside the Bao Xiang Kingdom Imperial Palace, the sky was overcast with dense clouds, lightning flashing and thunder rumbling.
Countless Heavenly Soldiers and Divine Generals stood in the air, surrounding the Imperial Palace.
Kui Mu Lang and the other twenty-seven Star Constellations walked out together.
Li Tianwang saw this and bellowed majestically:
“Kui Mu Lang, the Jade Emperor has decreed and sealed the Stars. Will you not surrender! Jiao Mu Jiao, what are you doing here? Do you intend to aid the tyrant too?”
Jiao Mu Jiao said: “Li Tianwang, we are also forced by others. I have no choice!”
The other Star Constellations all said: “Yes, yes, we were all forced!”
Li Tianwang glared angrily and said: “Still daring to quibble!”
Li Tianwang immediately ordered the Nine Luminaries to descend and challenge, while the Thunder Department gods unleashed Divine Thunder to assist.
The Nine Luminaries descended from the clouds. Kui Mu Lang released the formation diagram, and instantly starlight fell, drawing the Nine Luminaries into the formation. Moments later, the Nine Luminaries were all unconscious.
Li Tianwang said in great alarm:
“The Stars have clearly been sealed, so why can they still draw starlight to the Mortal Realm?”
The gods all looked puzzled and said: “We don’t know! We don’t know!”
Among the Thunder Department’s twenty-four Guardian Heavenly Lords, several were extremely proficient in formations. Li Tianwang asked:
“Qin Tian Jun, can you tell what formation that is!”
Qin Tian Jun was holding a Heaven-standard thunder hammer, occasionally tapping it twice to strike thunder for momentum.
When Li Tianwang asked him, he pretended not to hear.
Li Tianwang asked twice, but he did not respond at all.
Wukong snickered from behind.
Li Tianwang felt he was losing face and could not help but angrily say: “Stop tapping! The Nine Luminaries have already been captured. What are you still tapping for!”
Only then did Qin Tian Jun stop, as if just noticing Li Tianwang, and said in surprise: “Ah, it’s Li Tianwang. When did you arrive?”
Li Tianwang said: “Qin Tian Jun, can you tell what formation that was just now?”
Qin Tian Jun said: “Formation? Heavenly King, I have never been skilled in formations and cannot tell.”
Li Tianwang angrily said: “Qin Wan, you!”
Qin Tian Jun ignored him.
Li Tianwang fumed and said: “Qin Tian Jun, I order you to immediately go down and challenge, to capture Kui Mu Lang!”
Qin Tian Jun said: “Heavenly King, I am not skilled in combat. Please send someone else to fight. I will summon thunder to assist.”
Li Tianwang said: “This Heavenly King wants you to go challenge!”
Qin Tian Jun said: “Heavenly King, I am not skilled in combat. Please send someone else to fight. I will summon thunder to assist.”
Li Tianwang said: “I want only you to go!”
Qin Tian Jun said: “Heavenly King, I am not skilled in combat. Please send someone else to fight. I will summon thunder to assist.”
Li Tianwang was furious beyond measure and approached, saying: “Qin Wan, how dare you bully me like this!”
Nezha saw this and hurriedly pulled Li Tianwang back, fearing he would lose composure.
Li Tianwang was startled, but seeing Nezha only holding his right arm, he relaxed.
