Before Old Goat could respond, the Little Rabbit Spirit stepped forward first.
"It's not an illusion, I felt it too." As she spoke, the Little Rabbit Spirit's pair of rabbit eyes flickered, clearly tempted to go up and touch the black, thick liquid. After all, just one touch could cause an immediate surge in cultivation—no demon wouldn't be moved by that.
The Sparrow Spirit and other little demons present were also tempted.
"Don't touch that thing." Old Goat stopped them, and just as he was about to continue speaking, a roar burst out from the Squirming Bug.
Boom!
Like a balloon filled with too much water, the Squirming Bug exploded with a bang, spraying blood and flesh everywhere.
The little demons were startled. But Old Goat wasn't surprised. He rubbed his goat beard and sternly ordered, "Go notify the surrounding mountain spirits and wild beasts—no one is allowed to touch the black liquid. Anyone who disobeys, don't blame me for being rude."
The Little Rabbit Spirit looked over. "Grandpa, what is that thing? Is it really that dangerous?"
However, before Old Goat could reply, like a domino effect, ancient great demons deep in Changbai Mountain spoke out one after another.
"All of my clan, listen! It is forbidden to touch the black liquid. Whoever violates this will have their cultivation abolished!"
The one who spoke was a thousand-year-old locust tree spirit of Changbai Mountain.
Voices of ancient great demons continued to echo in their ears. Upon hearing this, the Little Rabbit Spirit, even without Old Goat's explanation, understood the danger of the black liquid.
The little demons couldn't tell what was wrong with the thick black liquid.
But Old Goat and the ancient great demons could see it clearly.
And even more, from the current situation before him… the collapse of the Southern Heavenly Gate, Old Master Hu San's abnormality, the ancestor of the Maoshan Sect being summoned out of seclusion—Old Goat faintly deduced the truth.
"Seems like the disappearance of the mountain god wasn't caused by underworld spirits, but because something went wrong in the Heavenly Court."
At the same time, deep in Changbai Mountain, of the three ancient great demons who previously intended to come down the mountain, only two remained.
One of them was hiding in a cave, its two dim beast eyes glowing faintly.
"That black liquid doesn't seem like something that should exist in the Heavenly Court or the Underworld. What is it, exactly? But..."
It muttered while raising its beast eyes and looking up at the sky, continuing to speak, "It should be related to the destruction of the Southern Heavenly Gate."
At this moment, although the ancient great demon had guessed the reason, whether in speech or action, it no longer had the previous murderous intent—it stayed dormant in the cave, showing no intention of coming out.
As for the reason, not only because of being shocked by the brilliance of Li Hanguang, but also because of what was happening in the sky…
"Roar~~"
Old Master Hu San let out wave after wave of roars.
Just now, Old Master Hu San's body spasmed violently, black liquid oozing from his seven orifices. Not long after, he stopped moving, silently standing in the sky—until Old Master Hu Ba asked with worry.
In an instant, Old Master Hu San suddenly raised his head. His gaze clashed with the Red Dust Immortals.
Li Hanguang's pupils contracted. At this moment, Old Master Hu San's eyes were entirely pitch black—even the whites of his eyes—thick and inky black.
Just one look into his eyes, Li Hanguang felt a jolt in his heart.
As if an ordinary person were staring into an abyss—staring into a bottomless pit—and feeling a groundless fear arise from within.
Immediately after, without a word, Old Master Hu San opened his mouth and sprayed out saliva—more accurately, thick black liquid, and let out a heaven-shaking roar.
The vast Changbai Mountain range, at that moment, shook and trembled. Majestic mountains collapsed, forests swayed, and even massive trees that required two people to encircle them shook violently.
If it hadn't been for Old Goat and the ancient great demons acting, their surging demon energy covering all directions to protect the depths of Changbai Mountain, then the Changbai Mountains would've experienced an earthquake comparable to magnitude eight.
Old Master Hu San moved. His entire body pitch black, his old eyes swiveled, and in a flash, locked onto Li Hanguang.
Li Hanguang's heart skipped a beat. Without a shred of hesitation—
Shhh!
The horsetail whisk in his hand lashed out like a whip, striking forth a beam of Dao light, hitting Old Master Hu San who had appeared before him in the blink of an eye.
"Brother Hu San!" Old Master Hu Ba's expression changed, but he didn't blame Li Hanguang—on the contrary, he shouted, "Daoist Friend Li, be careful! Don't let the black liquid touch you. I'll help you!"
Although Old Master Hu San was his brother, he wasn't blinded by emotion. It was clear to see—in both aura and bloodline—that Hu San was no longer himself.
"Ancestor, I'll help too!" Elder Zhang joined in.
Holding a thousand-year-old peach wood sword, his other hand used two fingers to draw an exorcism talisman in midair.
Golden light burst forth. A fifty-meter-wide exorcism talisman appeared in the sky.
Old Master Hu San turned his head and looked at the descending talisman—suddenly, nine fox tails appeared behind him. Each tail was a hundred meters long and thick. With a swing, they struck the talisman.
Boom!!
The exorcism talisman was instantly shattered. But Old Master Hu San didn't stop there. Five of his tails, like five claws, attacked Li Hanguang. Another tail struck toward Old Master Hu Ba, who was trying to assist.
The remaining fox tails lashed at Elder Zhang and the other Old Masters of the Five Family Immortals who had joined the fight.
In an instant, Old Master Hu San was fighting against all the Red Dust Immortals.
The sight deeply shocked all the demons of Changbai Mountain—from little demons to ancient great demons.
"Grandpa, didn't you say that back in ancient times, when the Jade Emperor sent divine generals to exterminate the demons of Changbai Mountain, it was Old Master Hu San who pleaded and got the Jade Emperor to spare them? Isn't he supposed to be a kind person? Why doesn't he seem like that now?" The Sparrow Spirit asked curiously.
It had only just become a spirit and wasn't very intelligent—equivalent to a 7 or 8-year-old human child.
Old Goat didn't say much. His gaze never left the battle in the sky, and after a while, he slowly said, "Because he's no longer Old Master Hu San."
The battle continued.
Old Master Hu San fought against Li Hanguang and the Red Dust Immortals. Even while facing many at once, he was only slightly disadvantaged.
The ancient great demons of Changbai Mountain watched.
And they gradually understood why Old Master Hu San could, in ancient times, stop the divine generals from exterminating the demons of Changbai Mountain, and even be granted by the Jade Emperor the position of leader of the Five Family Immortals, ruling over all northeastern demons.
His power was immense.
Aside from Li Hanguang, the other Red Dust Immortals and Old Master Hu Ba were all Red Dust Immortals—but clearly not in the same league.
Boom!
The Old Masters of the Five Family Immortals were swept away by one tail, coughing blood as they flew backward.
Elder Zhang was entangled with one of Hu San's fox tails, and when another joined in, his peach wood sword was broken despite trying to block. He stumbled back repeatedly.
Even Old Master Hu Ba was attacked.
Two of Hu San's fox tails, like furious dragons rising from the abyss, slashed through the sky and hit Old Master Hu Ba, smashing his protective treasure and continuing on to strike his head.
Old Master Hu Ba's eyes widened with despair and disbelief.
He never imagined, that one day, the brother who had loved him dearly since childhood would try to kill him.
Old Goat saw this all clearly. He couldn't help but sigh, "Old Master Hu San is truly dead. What stands now is probably just an uncontrollable shell."
He spoke softly, filled with emotion, but even more confusion, muttering, "What exactly did Old Master Hu San experience at the Southern Heavenly Gate, to become like this..."
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