Chapter Forty-Three: Punishment in the Upper Realm

The Master lost all interest upon seeing how cowardly these two beings from the upper realm were. However, Liu Xiaosheng was a different story—his identity had already been exposed, and he needed to eradicate the roots to prevent any future troubles.

Liu Xiaosheng flicked his wrist, generating a flurry of sword qi, and pointed his sword directly at the two entities.

Following that, ice crystals coalesced around Liu Xiaosheng to form an ice dragon, its maw continuously exhaling biting, freezing mist.

With a resounding dragon roar, it gave chase to White Scale and Poison Scorpion.

"We have already surrendered! Why must you still push us to annihilation?" The longer one lived, the more they feared death; this was vividly and thoroughly exemplified by these two upper-realm beings.

Yet, seeing Liu Xiaosheng's unyielding intent to kill, their most primitive bloodlust was finally stirred.

The eyes of White Scale and Poison Scorpion turned blood-red, and their auras grew even more formidable than before.

"Since you refuse to let us live, we shall drag you down with us to our mutual destruction!"

The bodies of the two entities began to swell continuously.

"Oh no, if this keeps up, they will alert the guardians of the Upper Realm's Heavenly Gate!" The Master cried out in alarm at this moment.

"What is my old friend afraid of? Those decrepit old immortals in the upper realm are terrified of contracting ominous karma, so they won't dare descend to the mortal realm. Otherwise, why would they seal the Heavenly Gate and forbid anyone in the lower realm from ascending?" Liu Xiaosheng could no longer care about anything else.

Observing all of this, Liu An and Jian Yi were trembling with their hands gripping tightly.

"Indeed, I never imagined your master could be so handsome and powerful. Look at that ice dragon. How majestic it would be if I could ride on it!"

Liu An chimed in with great excitement, "Exactly! Exactly! Riding this ice dragon and showing it off everywhere would be the ultimate thrill."

"Junior Brother, let me tell you, the gourd in your master's hand is a supreme sword-nurturing gourd!" Liu An proudly flaunted his master's magical treasure to Jian Yi.

Jian Yi was a sword cultivator by nature, and he had always coveted a sword-nurturing gourd. Right now, he genuinely wished he could switch sects and take Liu Xiaosheng as his master.

"Junior Brother, does your master still take on disciples? Would you mind putting in a word for me? Can he take me into his sect as well?" Jian Yi asked Liu An with a brazen expression.

Jian Yi's words instantly aroused Liu An's vigilance.

"Senior Brother, you wouldn't happen to be trying to snatch my master's legacy, the sword-nurturing gourd, from me, would you? Even though we are close martial brothers, we must still settle accounts clearly. Even if you were to become my master's disciple, his gourd should still belong to me first."

"Good grief, these two idiots are already contemplating what happens after they die."

Liu Xiaosheng was utterly exasperated. While he was up here risking his life fighting enemies to the death, his own disciples were discussing how to divide his treasures.

However, just as the ice dragon was about to pierce the bodies of the two upper-realm entities and freeze them solid, trivial fragments of their souls had already split off and escaped.

"You two wretched fools! I thought you had some backbone, but did you really think I couldn't see through your little tricks?"

The Ghost Mother, who should have been dead after crashing to the ground, abruptly opened her eyes and let out a dry cough.

"I never expected your power to be this formidable, but even if I die, I won't let you get off easily." With that, the Ghost Mother spat out a blood-colored bead from her mouth, which instantly transformed into a stream of light shooting straight up into the firmament.

Neither Liu Xiaosheng nor the Master could intercept it in time.

The self-detonation of this blood-colored bead, combined with the explosions of White Scale and Poison Scorpion, caused the entire heaven and earth to violently shake.

"Who dares create chaos in the mortal realm?" A majestic voice resonated across the universe.

A white jade archway manifested in the firmament. As its gates automatically opened, two golden armored guards emerged, stepping upon immortal cranes.

The two looked down from above at the Master and Liu Xiaosheng, their gazes ultimately resting upon the Master.

"Guardian of the mortal realm, what on earth has happened here? Report the truth."

The Master's temper flared instantly, and he fiercely berated the two guards, "You two gatekeepers of the heavenly realm, do not force me to resort to violence. Get your attitudes straight!"

The two newly appointed guards guarding the Heavenly Gate also had their tempers provoked.

"Impudent! We are guardians of the immortal gates; how could a mere mortal from the lower realm..."

Before the two guards could finish, the Master struck each of them across the face three times from afar.

"Let that teach you to look down on people through your noses! Let that cure your self-righteousness! Let that teach you to grow such audacity! Has my prestige faded from your memory, or are your skins simply itching for a beating again?"

The two guards were beaten into a daze.

"Who am I? Where am I? Isn't this the lower realm?"

Immediately following, an old man with white hair and a white beard emerged from the Heavenly Gate, leisurely waving a cattail leaf fan.

"Why bother bickering with two junior guards, Master? They are later-generation juniors who have never heard of your formidable reputation. Just spare them this once."

"Puxuzi, you always love playing the good guy. Nothing good ever comes from you poking your nose into this. Speak your purpose."

Puxuzi smiled beamingly, exuding a warm and amiable demeanor as he stated his intent: "I have come here today under the decree of the Heavenly Emperor. Three minor demons fled into the mortal realm without permission, and we are here specifically to apprehend them. By the way, the Heavenly Emperor wishes to invite the gentleman beside you to have a chat and share some tea."

The Master let out a disdainful cold snort and said to Liu Xiaosheng beside him, "They've come for you. You can't run from this anymore."

Liu Xiaosheng stared fiercely and ruthlessly at Puxuzi.

"Go back and tell the Heavenly Emperor I have no time. I do not wish to see him. I am doing quite well in the lower realm and need no one's concern."

Puxuzi seemed completely unfazed by the icy killing intent in Liu Xiaosheng's eyes, maintaining his smiling expression. "Sword Immortal Beixuan, your grace remains as peerless as back then. Why hold onto some unpleasant trifles and come hiding in the mortal realm? Why not return to the upper realm to clear the air? Wouldn't it be much better for everyone to share a cup of wine and make peace?"

"Puxuzi, you're merely stalling for time here, aren't you?" Liu Xiaosheng directly exposed Puxuzi's hypocrisy.

Since his ruse was exposed, Puxuzi simply dropped the act altogether.

"Liu Xiaosheng, today you will be hauled back to the upper realm whether you wish to go or not; this is not up for you to decide. With ten thousand heavenly soldiers, the four demon guardians, and True Lord Erlang Xiansheng leading the expedition, do you truly believe you can resist with your current strength?"

Upon hearing the name True Lord Xihua Xiansheng, complex emotions surged within Liu Xiaosheng's eyes.

"How could it be him leading the vanguard? Didn't he have a falling out with the Heavenly Emperor?" This thought caused Liu Xiaosheng's emotions to fluctuate violently.

Soon enough, True Lord Xihua Xiansheng, accompanied by the four demon guardians and ten thousand heavenly soldiers, poured out of the Heavenly Gate and descended into the mortal realm.

The moment Liu Xiaosheng laid eyes on True Lord Xihua Xiansheng, he sensed something was amiss. His expression was vacant, devoid of any consciousness, resembling nothing more than a puppet.

"Master, Liu Xiaosheng, it has been a long time." The voice and tone were stiff, entirely devoid of emotion.

"Yang Xiao, what on earth happened to you? How did you become like this?" Liu Xiaosheng's expression turned agitated.

"Liu Xiaosheng, you hid in the mortal realm and defied the Heavenly Emperor's decree. Today, I am taking you to the upper realm's Nine Dragons Departing Fire Platform to face punishment. If you dare resist, do not blame me for failing to honor our past friendship."