Witch Wind

Chapter 398 Unworthy of Being a Son (Part 1)

"Your Prime Minister!"

A muttered sound tinged with resentment rang out. The white-haired old man, who had been drawing upon the life essence of those three-foot-tall figures in the massive, blood-red, eerie array at the heart of the plaza in his quest for a breakthrough, slowly rose to his feet.

The aura of the peak Taiyi realm surged within him, and his energy had already faintly touched the threshold of the Great Gong, but he was still one step short and had not been able to break through.

Zhang Bao, holding Sima Shi in his arms, glanced sideways at the white-haired, white-bearded old man: "Sima Po, you old man, you're getting worse as you get older... At your age, you still can't break through, and you've even resorted to this evil technique!"

The old man, Sima Po, looked at Zhang Bao with a smile: "That makes sense. I had no other choice but to use such methods to break through... Wow, cultivation is indeed not easy."

With a sigh, Sima Po murmured, "This is also your Prime Minister's fault. He is like a mountain, pressing down on the hearts of so many people in our Sima family, causing our inner demons to emerge one after another. If we don't seek external help or borrow strange techniques, I'm afraid there won't be many decent members of our Sima family who can break through their cultivation levels through normal means."

Shaking his head, Sima Po walked step by step toward Zhang Bao with his hands behind his back, saying, "It's truly pathetic!"

“When we were all just ordinary people, we accepted being suppressed by your Prime Minister… But among ordinary people, there are always extraordinary individuals, and your Prime Minister is one of those extraordinary individuals… We ordinary people have no way to deal with extraordinary individuals, and we accept being suppressed by him for so many years!”

"But everyone has cultivated themselves to the point of enlightenment and become the legendary immortals on land."

"We have all cultivated our divine souls. Whether it is memory, analysis, calculation, judgment, or many other abilities, they are hundreds or thousands of times stronger than our past selves. We are no longer ordinary people. Each of us is infinitely intelligent and capable of endless calculations. When we think about problems, we can be said to have no flaws. In every aspect, there are absolutely no mistakes."

"Under these circumstances, our Sima family is still being suffocated by your Prime Minister."

"Is there any justice left in this world?"

"Is there any justice left?!"

"When we were mortals, we were bullied by your Prime Minister... Now that we've all become immortals, we're still bullied by your Prime Minister... Sigh, sigh, sigh, we immortals are really pathetic!"

Zhang Bao blinked frantically: "Hey, hey, hey, the way you're saying it, I'm starting to feel sorry for you... Wow, that's really pitiful. But... hahaha, I'm thoroughly enjoying it!"

"Our Prime Minister has bullied you, so what?"

"With the Prime Minister in charge, no matter how many schemes and tricks you have, we can bully you without any problem. What can you do about it?" Zhang Bao laughed loudly, feeling smug, and slapped Sima Shi's pretty face several more times.

Sima Shi was so angry that his face turned black. He tried his best to tear at Zhang Bao's fingers, wanting to break free from his grasp. However, no matter how hard he tried, Zhang Bao's fingers were like iron hooks. No matter how much Sima Shi struggled, his fingers just gripped his flesh tightly and he couldn't break free at all.

Sima Shi struggled for a while, then cried out in despair, "Ancestor, make your move! Zhang Bao is here; this is a big fish!"

Sima Po chuckled dryly, and at the same time, countless drops of blood gushed from every pore of his body.

Those mantis demons had slaughtered countless tiny people. Sima Po, seemingly devouring the essence of these tiny people in the center of that strange formation in order to break through, actually used very little of the essence for his breakthrough. The vast majority of the essence was stored in his own body.

At this moment, his essence blood gushed out, and the powerful aura of his essence blood surged, condensing into a small array that looked like it was carved from blood-red crystal.

Sima Po now wore a long, purple robe with wide sleeves. With a flick of his sleeve, fist-sized blood-red crystals flew out and embedded themselves in a small, floating array. Powerful spatial fluctuations surged from the array, accompanied by hysterical laughter, and figures strode out of the small array.

Eight hundred burly warriors, clad in heavy armor, whose auras clearly surpassed those of the Taiyi Realm.

These armored warriors were nearly ten feet tall, each carrying eight javelins on their backs. In their left hands, they gripped heavy shields with animal-face patterns that were almost as tall as their bodies, while in their right hands they wielded double-edged heavy axes that were only six feet long. Behind them followed a line of tall, black-coated steeds. On hooks beside their saddles hung three-edged armor-piercing lances that were over two feet long. They also carried heavy bow and quiver saddles, with each horse carrying twelve quivers filled with specially made heavy arrows.

The armor on these eight hundred warriors, the shields and heavy axes in their hands, the javelins on their backs, the tack on the eight hundred tall horses, and even the lances, longbows, and heavy arrows, all gleamed with a sinister light.

Even through the Circular Light Technique, across a distance of tens of light-years, Xing Tianli could tell at a glance that the equipment on these armored soldiers was all Taiyi Immortal Weapons forged from innate spiritual metal, and the forging techniques were quite exquisite. He even saw many familiar techniques and details in them!
Yes, these pieces of equipment are all crafted using the techniques of the Jie Sect.

Not part of the true teachings, but a method passed down by unorthodox cultivators from the mountains and islands of the Jie Sect's outer sect... Although not the core weapon-refining method of the Jie Sect's true teachings, the weapon-refining techniques of these unorthodox outer sect disciples are more extreme and more wicked. Although they have various flaws and shortcomings, their power and growth rate are incredibly astonishing!

"The methods of the Jie Sect?" As soon as Xing Tianli discovered the secrets revealed by certain details on these equipment, boundless auspicious light surged from the Tongtian Sword Canon in his soul, and a large number of Jie Sect's true teachings and unorthodox methods of weapon forging flooded into Xing Tianli's soul like a tide.

Having experienced over a hundred worlds, refined the Heavenly Dao of over a hundred worlds, and cultivated the Universal Salvation Sutra for so long, Xing Tianli's divine soul has broken through to the Quasi-Saint realm.

A vast array of weapon-refining techniques flooded in, but Xing Tianli merely frowned slightly before absorbing them all.

Through the Radiant Light Technique, and by carefully examining the equipment worn by these Sima clan warriors, Xing Tianli had a clear understanding of the situation. He knew exactly which school of magic these armors and weapons used, which disciple among the many outer disciples of the Jie Sect had passed down their magic, and the strengths and weaknesses of these equipment, even their most vulnerable points.

This is what they call a "dimensional reduction attack".

If Xing Tianli were facing these eight hundred elite armored soldiers of the Sima clan, even if he were wielding an ordinary celestial-level sword, he could easily cut through these Taiyi-level heavy armor!
This is pure dimensional reduction attack, hey—Xing Tianli is the personal disciple of that saint, while these methods of the Sima family are just minor tricks passed down from the outer disciples of the Jie Sect.

Zhang Bao paid no attention to the armored soldiers who emerged from the small air-breaking formation. His attention was entirely focused on the disheveled, barely clothed young man walking at the front of the armored soldiers.

This young man had long, disheveled hair and unkempt clothes. He wore a loincloth around his waist and a tattered robe riddled with holes. He was barefoot, and as he walked, his eyes were wild, his face was feverish, and he was gesticulating wildly. His mad and delirious aura caused the surrounding void to distort and vibrate.

He laughed maniacally, his laughter causing the mantis spirits from all directions to look around in disbelief, almost joining him in dancing and singing.

"Prince Pingyuan, Sima Gan!" Zhang Bao sneered, "You madman, you think you can outsmart me?"

A flash of inspiration struck Xing Tianli: Sima Gan, the Prince of Pingyuan of the Western Jin Dynasty, the fifth son of Sima Yi. This guy... doesn't care about fame and fortune, but there seems to be a record that he has schizophrenia.
Looking at this guy's disheveled and insane appearance, Xing Tianli muttered, "He's already cultivated to the level of a Great Luo Immortal, and his mental illness still hasn't healed?"

Sima Gan chuckled.

His voice suddenly changed, from the ravings of a madman to the majestic and awe-inspiring voice of an emperor: "Zhang Bao, how dare you, a mere junior officer in a minor army, disobey and defy your superior? Kneel down and pledge your loyalty to me, and I will gladly grant you land and fiefdoms!"

Sima Gan's skin swelled up, forming a fleshy lump the size of a fist.

With a 'pop', the tumor burst open, and an emperor dressed in a bright red imperial robe, holding an imperial seal, with a sword at his waist, and whose face looked exactly like Sima Gan, sprang out from the tumor.

This man was exactly the same as Sima Gan in both height and appearance.

However, his aura was even stronger than Sima Gan's. Sima Gan himself was only at the early stage of the Great Luo realm, while this Emperor Sima Gan's aura had clearly reached the late stage of the Great Luo realm.

"Zhang Bao, a mere gatekeeper, how dare you be so presumptuous?" Another murderous voice exploded from Sima Gan's body: "Before me, can Zhang Bao withstand the might of my sword?"

Another fleshy growth burst open on Sima Gan's neck. Then, a majestic and imposing king, nearly two zhang tall, clad in a royal robe and covered by a set of golden dragon armor, emerged from the growth as a streak of light. This man's aura was even stronger than that of Emperor Sima Gan; his cultivation had clearly reached the peak of the Great Luo realm.

Another loud shout rang out: "Stop your clamor! Zhang Bao is just a minor general from Shu Han. Why are you all willing to lay a hand on him? Let this general cut off his head. I will use his head to make a wine vessel and drink fine wine to my heart's content!"

Amidst the maniacal laughter, another fleshy lump swelled up on Sima Gan's neck.

Amidst splattering blood and flesh, a great general, over ten feet tall, emerged from the crowd, clad in heavy iron armor, with a command flag fluttering behind him, exuding an aura of iron-blooded ruthlessness.

He had just burst out when he roared, completely disregarding the life or death of Sima Shi in Zhang Bao's hands, and transformed into a streak of light, heading straight for Zhang Bao. With a deafening boom, General Sima Gan and Zhang Bao collided with their fists, shattering countless paving stones across the entire square. A large group of mantis demon warriors were sent flying back, coughing up blood. General Sima Gan groaned and staggered back three steps.

Zhang Bao stood still, his feet not moving an inch, but his body was shaken by the shock of General Sima Gan.

Even worse off was Sima Shi, who was being held in Zhang Bao's arms.

Zhang Bao took a direct hit from General Sima Gan's punch, but neither Sima Gan nor Zhang Bao cared about Sima Shi's life or death. The impact of their heavy blows, though the two men themselves absorbed over 90% of the force, still caused Sima Shi's flesh to shatter, sending large chunks of flesh flying dozens of feet, revealing white bone in several places.

Sima Shi screamed in agony, and shouted sharply, "Fifth Ancestor, be careful!"

A hissing sound rang out, and from within Sima Gan's body came a soft, twisted voice: "Don't be afraid, don't be afraid. Even if you are beaten to pieces and your soul is incomplete, I, your ancestor, can use the supreme and profound Netherworld sorcery to bring you back to life and return you to the mortal world!"

"Heh, Sima Shi, you lad, your talent for cultivation is just so-so, and your methods of doing things are also just so-so. Among the many sons and nephews of the Sima family, your talent and ability are just so-so."

"Ah, a nephew like you is nothing but a parasite, your existence is just a waste of food!"

"How about I tidy you up a bit?"

"I possess the secret method for crafting the Witch God Guard of the Supreme Witch Temple of the Ancient Human Race. I will kill you and then refine you into an eternal and indestructible Witch God Guard, making you a trump card passed down through generations of my Sima clan. Wouldn't that be wonderful?"

As the soft, distorted voice drifted out, a fleshy tumor swelled up on Sima Gan's chest. Amidst the splattering of blood and flesh, a great sorcerer named Sima Gan, who was about six feet tall, withered and thin, with an eerie and unpredictable aura, dressed in coarse cloth, carrying a white bone staff, and with sorcery surging within him, quietly emerged.

As soon as the great shaman Sima Gan appeared, a cold wind swirled from all directions, and ghostly fires swirled around him.

He said to Zhang Bao in a sinister tone, "Zhang Bao, just do it. Kill this brat Sima Shi... Heh, I'm too embarrassed to personally harm my own son, but you can kill him without any problem."

Sima Shi's face was contorted with fear, his blood-soaked features darting around in panicked eyes. He screamed hoarsely at Sima Gan, "Fifth Ancestor, please save your grandson!"

The mad Sima Gan himself laughed, as did the Emperor Sima Gan, Prince Sima Gan, General Sima Gan, and Great Shaman Sima Gan. More bizarre and twisted laughter emanated from within Sima Gan's body. On his exposed flesh, swollen tumors burst open, and one after another, strange Sima Gan figures sprang out from the tumors.

There's Sima Gan, a lowly soldier; Sima Gan, an eunuch; Sima Gan, a poet; Sima Gan, a butcher; Sima Gan, a traveling merchant; Sima Gan, an official… and even several Sima Gan dressed as women, including a brothel madam, a top courtesan, and a tea-serving maid…

Amidst all these phenomena, aside from the original Sima Gan, three hundred and sixty Sima Gans appeared together.

What's terrifying is that among these 360 ​​Sima Gans, the one with the weakest aura was the Emperor Sima Gan, who was at the beginning of the Great Luo Dynasty and held the highest status. He was the weakest of all the Sima Gans.

The strongest cultivator was none other than Sima Gan, a beggar who looked pitiful and dressed in tattered clothes, and was only seven or eight years old. This fellow carried a broken bowl and a bamboo pole, but his aura clearly had broken through the Great Luo realm and had reached the level of a half-step Quasi-Saint, and could break through at any time and truly enter the Quasi-Saint realm.

Xing Tianli and his group were dumbfounded and amazed.

"Schizophrenia, has such benefits?" Xing Tianli shook his head repeatedly. Who came up with this method?

Three hundred and sixty split consciousnesses, each forming an independent avatar, cultivating completely different techniques, and achieving some success, with the weakest reaching the Great Luo Golden Immortal realm!

Sima Gan's talent was truly bizarre and terrifying to the extreme.

If three hundred and sixty split consciousnesses cultivate simultaneously, each can cultivate to the level of a Great Luo Golden Immortal. If his spirit were not split, but completely integrated into one, focusing solely on cultivation... how astonishing would his cultivation level be?

Three hundred and sixty Da Luo Sima Gan surrounded Zhang Bao from all sides.

Sima Gan himself stood behind these clones. After separating these clones from his body, Sima Gan's eyes became extremely clear, and his facial expression became profound and serene.

He stood with his hands behind his back, quietly looking at Zhang Bao: "What a pity, but you, Zhang Bao... are lucky. You, Zhang Bao, are also fortunate... I dare not, it really is your father, that old butcher, right? If he had fallen headlong into this trap, I would definitely not be here, I would have fled long ago!"

Sima Po, standing to the side, chuckled dryly, "Fifth Ancestor, you jest. This design on the White Phoenix Star was something you volunteered for..."

Sima Gan glanced at Sima Po and sneered, "Fools, do you think I'm crazy? I volunteered, and you actually believed me? Bah... Zhang Bao was the one who fell into the ambush, so of course I'm happy to help."

"I don't care about credit or anything like that."

"But if I could capture Zhang Bao alive or kill him, I'd have so much face!"

"Face, do you understand? Face!"

"However, it is precisely because of face, just for a little face, that I can fight with Zhang Bao. I am somewhat confident in dealing with Zhang Bao... But if any one of the Five Tiger Generals of Shu Han were to break in... Bah, I am too delicate to risk my life against them!"

Sima Gan's words are quite something, a true bachelor.

Sima Po, Sima Shi, and the other members of the Sima clan present rolled their eyes, but none of them had anything to say.

Sima Po let out a resentful sigh, stared fiercely at Zhang Bao, and said coldly, "Alright, Zhang Bao, our backup plan has been revealed... With the King of Pingyuan here, it will be more than enough for him to personally capture you alive."

"Could your prime minister have foreseen this?"

"Has your prime minister made any preparations?"

Sima Po gritted his teeth and said with extreme malice, "Right now, those scoundrels in the court are fighting fiercely with your Shu Han, almost to the point of drawing their weapons against each other... Even if your prime minister is a monster, he still has his limits, doesn't he?"

"The fact that he sent you, Zhang Bao, here is frightening enough."

"What else can he do?"

(End of this chapter)