Tales of Herding Gods Chapter 1841 - 92. The ocean was full of hidden tides

Chapter 1841: Chapter 92. The ocean was full of hidden tides

Xu Ying was equally startled. She lowered her voice and inquired, “Are all these generals, ministers, and the Prime Minister actually Nuo Immortals?”

Xu Qi shook his head. “I am uncertain. The records didn’t specify. However,” he hesitated, not daring to speak further. This gray-clad elder was a Nuo Immortal who had opened nine heavenly passages! He wasn't even listed among the Pei family officials mentioned in the texts. “I suspect the Pei clan possesses even more Nuo Immortals than we thought.”

Xu Ying stood there, dazed. If a single noble house produced at least 87 Nuo Immortals over two millennia, were they being manufactured in groups? Or was there a deeper secret at play?

“Does this Pei family actually belong to the Leek family?”

Contemplating the grim later years of Nuo Immortals, a sense of mockery filled his heart. He whispered, “How is the 'Pei' in Pei Family written?”

Using the tip of his tail, Lei Qi traced the character for “Pei.” Upon seeing it, Xu Ying had a moment of clarity. He remarked, “The character for 'leek' is contained within it. No wonder Nuo Immortals are so abundant here.”

Lei Qi added, “The moment they stepped onto the mountain, they began provoking us. They were incredibly arrogant, claiming this wasn't unclaimed territory and that their ancestors originally owned the property. They even produced a land deed with freshly wet seals before trying to evict us. Niu Gan grew so enraged he wounded over a dozen of them, but he was hurt as well. That’s why I demanded they set a boundary for a fair duel.”

Glancing toward Pei Jingting, Xu Ying noted, “I was their true objective from the start. The others were merely convenient pretexts to cause trouble.”

Observing their hushed conversation, the elder in gray clothes felt ignored. He cleared his throat and said, “Demon King Xu, the Pei family extends an invitation for the Young Master to enter the capital. I wonder if you will accept?”

Xu Ying consented without hesitation, saying, “I accept. Since I have long-standing ties with the Guo and Yuan families, I was already intending to visit the capital.”

The gray-robed Elder Pei Jingting was slightly taken aback. He hadn't anticipated such an easy agreement. Smiling, he clarified, “What I mean is that the Pei family wishes to host the Young Master in the capital privately, independent of the other noble houses.”

Still agreeable, Xu Ying replied with a pointed tone, “If your Pei family is capable of standing against all the other aristocratic families alone, I will comply with anything. However, I doubt your family can pay such a price.”

A sense of dread filled Pei Jingting as he analyzed the hidden meaning. His heart raced as he thought, 'The day the white-browed ancestor faced his tribulation on Mount Wuwang, the patriarchs of every noble house were present. They must have recognized the youth with the giant serpent. Yet, these old foxes have remained idle for over ten days. It makes no sense.'

Beads of cold sweat formed on his brow as he realized, 'The Clan Head didn't come himself; he sent me instead. This journey is clearly fraught with peril. The Clan Head must be lurking in the shadows to guarantee success, while I am the one being used as bait. Truly, he is the Clan Head for a reason, while I am just an errand runner.'

Lei Qi whispered, “Ah Ying, are we really just going to the capital under such pressure?”

Xu Ying smiled and replied, “When a Nuo Immortal comes to invite us personally backed by so many experts, refusal isn't an option. Besides, it remains to be seen who is truly being led into a trap.”

He turned his gaze toward the Pei family's Nuo Masters and mused, “I wonder how many of these people will actually survive the trip back to the capital?”

Deeply concerned, Lei Qi asked the bell, “Master Zhong, are you able to slay a Nuo Immortal?”

Zhong responded, “I’ve been steal— I mean, training diligently, and my wounds have healed by nearly half. If it were just one Nuo Immortal, they would be dead. But there are too many here; I cannot fight them all.”

“Too many Nuo Immortals?”

Confused, Lei Qi scanned the area. Aside from Pei Jingting, no other Nuo Immortals were visible. He wondered, 'Where are these other Nuo Immortals Master Zhong is talking about?'

Xu Ying gave instructions to Niu Gan and Niu Zhen: “I will be away in the capital for some time. Guard the cave well. Ensure you perform your morning duties and focus on your Cultivation every day. Do not become slothful while your martial uncle and I are gone. I shall examine your progress upon my return.”

The two oxen stood quickly, crossing their hooves over their chests. They bowed, saying, “We shall obey Master’s commands.”

Xu Ying packed a few sun-dried clothes and shoved them into Qu Qi’s mouth. Then, he grabbed the massive stone axe from the corner and gestured for Qu Qi to open wide.

Qu Qi was horrified. “It’s too enormous! It won't fit inside; you'll hurt me!”

The head of the stone axe was taller than Xu Ying himself, and its handle was even longer. It was indeed a difficult fit.

Xu Ying insisted, “We might encounter Yuan Tiangang’s kin in the capital, so the sword case must be returned. Furthermore, we might need to cut some people down during our stay. How can we manage that without the right weapon?”

Left with no choice, Xu Qi stretched his jaws as wide as possible. Xu Ying shoved the axe into his gullet for storage and stepped outside.

Once finished, Xu Ying smiled at Pei Jingting. “Elder Pei, after you.”

Pei Jingting replied politely, “Demon King Xu, this way. I have a magnificent carriage waiting at the mountain's base.”

As Xu Ying followed, a massive bell drifted from behind and vanished into the back of his head. Qu Qi swam through the air, his form shrinking until he leaped onto Xu Ying’s shoulder. Hooking his tail onto the collar, the snake peered curiously at their surroundings.

Meanwhile, the Pei family was tending to nearly fifty wounded men who were groaning in pain.

“Elder Pei, you can just ask me directly next time,” Xu Ying remarked.

“Why bother with this theater of land deeds and duels? Even us rustics find it laughable. We are simple people who don't know how to hold back. If we had accidentally killed them, Elder Pei would surely have been displeased.”

Pei Jingting nodded and signaled to a subordinate, “Bring that servant here to treat the wounded.”

A moment later, the “servant” was led forward. Xu Ying observed the man: he had a protruding belly, a dog chain fastened around his neck, and a sharp hook pierced through his collarbone. Covered in blood, he crawled on all fours like a beast, panting heavily as he moved.

A Pei family disciple kicked the “slave” and barked, “Get up and heal the masters' injuries, quickly!”

The slave mumbled an acknowledgment and stumbled toward the wounded.

Xu Ying’s eyes narrowed. “Slave, lift your head.”

The disciple kicked him again, shouting, “Old Master Xu told you to look up!”

The slave raised his face but refused to meet Xu Ying’s eyes, looking away in shame.

“Ah Ying, that’s Zhou Heng, the provincial governor of Yong Zhou!” Xu Qi cried out.

Xu Ying remained silent. He knew Zhou Heng well. The governor had ruled Yong Zhou for years with an iron, despotic fist. His list of atrocities was endless. Xu Ying had witnessed the misery of the people under his command. Even the correspondence between Zhou Qiyun and Xu Ying had passed through his hands.

Seeing him reduced to a dog-like slave shook Xu Ying deeply.

“Master Xu, when the tree falls, the monkeys scatter,” Zhou Heng said, his expression a twisted mask of laughter and tears.

Xu Ying dismissed him with a wave, and the disciple dragged Zhou Heng away.

Pei Jingting remarked, “The Zhou family was merely a young aristocratic house that lacked restraint. Relying on a single peerless ancestor, they were ruthless in all things. They didn't just exploit the commoners; they alienated the other noble families. Now that the white-browed ancestor is gone, the Zhou family lacks the strength to hold their position or their wealth. They brought this disaster upon themselves.”

Walking beside him, Xu Ying asked, “Is the Pei family aware that Zhou Qiyun has passed?”

Pei Jingting smirked. “Every move the Zhou family makes is watched. They are like a swarm of locusts fleeing in panic. One only needs to catch a few and interrogate them to learn everything.”

He sighed. “Zhou Qiyun failed his tribulation, leaving a trace of ascending light behind. Mount Jiuyi is now a place of Ascension. The patriarchs of various families are tearing each other apart for control of that site. The body count is already staggering.”

Xu Ying, having spent his time cultivating at the Mount Wuwang ascension site, was unaware of these developments. “Has the Pei family seized the Mount Jiuyi ascension ground then?”

Pei Jingting sighed again. “We wished to claim it solely for ourselves, but the Divine Great Land is full of hidden masters. Other aristocratic families have their own ancient elders standing guard. Total control is impossible. Luckily, the Pei family is skilled at mediation. Please, enter!”

They reached the base of the mountain where a luxurious carriage waited, drawn by two white rhinoceroses. Their bodies radiated a potent mix of demonic Qi and the scent of incense!

White rhinoceroses live long lives. Once they become demons, they can live for two thousand years. By consuming incense and becoming demon gods, they could develop golden bodies of immense power.

“These two were raised by my ancestors and are eighteen hundred years old. We only bring them out for the most distinguished guests,” Pei Jingting noted.

Xu Ying boarded the carriage. As the rhinoceroses began to move, clouds formed beneath their feet, lifting the vehicle into the sky as they flew toward the northeast.

“When Mount Jiuyi ascended, it was my Pei family that acted as the peacemaker, ensuring the benefits were shared among everyone.”

Pei Jingting smiled faintly. “We established a schedule and a limit on disciples so everyone could utilize the site. My family didn't join the fray. If a family lost no one, they still got a share. Such is the wisdom of an ancient clan.”

The interior of the carriage was as spacious as a palace hall, with separate seating for everyone. Xu Ying, unfamiliar with such etiquette, relied on Qi Qi whispering in his ear to avoid sitting in the wrong spot.

The sound of flutes and zithers filled the air as seven alluring women emerged from the back, dancing gracefully. Their green sleeves brushed past Xu Ying as they swayed rhythmically.

Xu Ying felt out of place but forced himself to stay calm. He thought, 'City girls are truly striking. They smell like flowers and their skin is so pale... though they must be very poor if they can't afford enough fabric to cover themselves while they dance.'

“What is this melody?” he inquired.

“It is called 'Qing Ping Le',” Pei Jingting answered.

Recognizing the youth’s lack of worldly knowledge, he continued, “We are heading to the capital, also known as Shen Du. Long ago, the Great Holy Emperor of Zetian seized the throne and intended to create a divine realm where imperial and divine power were one, renaming the city Shen Du. She didn't live to see it finished. It was only after she ascended and entered the Netherworld that her vision was realized. Back then, when all nations paid tribute, the capital rivaled the Heavenly Court. It was a sight to behold!”

Looking out the carriage window, Xu Ying saw Pei family disciples mounted on winged demon gods, flanking the carriage as guards.

Mount Wuwang and Mount Jiuyi were now visible as distinct landmarks in the newly emerged territory. At the horizon, a massive rift continued to churn, signaling that the Netherworld's encroachment had not ceased.

More land was being vomited from the Abyss.

Xu Ying had been confined to the new lands of Yong Zhou, the epicenter of this transformation. Only now, from this height, did he realize how much the world had changed.

New territories had materialized across the Divine Great Land, making the world vast and perilous. The empire founded by the three great emperors was now fractured and scattered across these new expanses.

The ancient lands were in grave danger.

Turning back to the interior of the carriage, Xu Ying saw only luxury and peace. Prosperity masked the lurking threats; everyone saw the danger, yet they chose to ignore it in favor of music and dance.

They all believed the sky would not fall on them specifically.

Lei Qi poked his head out from Xu Ying’s collar. “Elder Pei, with so many Nuo Immortals in your family, did they suffer any strange fates in their final years?”

Pei Jingting’s face stiffened. He turned to an attendant and asked, “Go check if the tea is ready yet.”

“It hasn't reached a boil, Elder,” the man replied.

“Since the water isn't boiling, let us not speak of it,” Pei Jingting said tersely.

Lei Qi, understanding the social cue, dropped the subject.

Despite their long cultivation, the white rhinoceroses grew weary after half a day of flight. The other mounts were also flagging, so the group descended to find a place to rest.

They landed in a mountain town, drawing the stares of the locals. Pei Jingting scanned the crowd, and a chill ran down his spine. He noticed that some of the townspeople had incredibly slow breathing—one breath for every ten of a normal person!

“We are being watched.”

Pei Jingting’s eyes sharpened. He whispered, “Pei Yu, take the kin and offer incense to the rhinoceroses so they can recover their strength quickly! And warn everyone: stay out of the town and do not consume any local food!”

The disciple, sensing the danger, hurried to comply. However, many younger disciples had already wandered off into the town to enjoy themselves during the break.

Ever cautious, Pei Jingting had his own cooks prepare a meal. When it was time to eat, over thirty people were missing. Some of the Pei family's senior Nuo Masters went to search for them, but they too failed to return.

Though the group waited, Pei Jingting finally shook his head. “We cannot wait any longer. We leave now!”

The group scrambled onto their mounts. The white rhinoceroses took to the sky once more, pulling the carriage into the clouds. As they pulled away from the town, a heavy silence fell over the survivors. Dozens of their comrades had simply vanished into that small village.

Pei Jingting stepped onto the carriage balcony and looked down at the tiny town below. He sneered and thrust his palm downward toward the earth. The town buckled and collapsed, sinking over a hundred feet into a massive crater shaped like a handprint.

“I couldn't act while we were inside, but I can still settle the score,” Pei Jingting said coldly.

Suddenly, a light breeze drifted past. The head of the lead white rhinoceros abruptly slid off its neck. Within that same breeze, Pei family experts began to fall apart into bloody pieces. Pei Jingting turned in horror as cold glints flashed in the wind, slaughtering more than half of his escort in seconds!

The two white rh