Chapter Sixty-Two: Willow Deity

At that moment, the gods were taken aback. Chu Youcai’s gaze became resolute, and he spoke softly, “Even if I must face a million foes, I shall go. I will do my part for Yan Prefecture and hurry to its city walls, fighting alongside Yan Prefecture!”

“Excellent!” The Divine Lord Guan revealed an expression of admiration, joy mingled with regret. At last, he said, “Since it is so, I will grant your wish! Sadly, our true selves are not present here; only a strand of divine thought resides in this place, so I cannot fight alongside you. However, your home is close by; when the time comes, I will protect your family with all my strength.”

Chu Youcai replied solemnly, “Thank you, Divine Lord Guan.”

At that moment, Divine Lord Guan performed the art of Yin and Yang, pointing towards Chu Youcai.

Chu Youcai suddenly felt as if the heavens and earth spun around him, his consciousness surged forth, and he abruptly awoke, opening his eyes.

He was lying in his own bed at home, with Yun Cuixian still deeply asleep beside him.

Without hesitation, Chu Youcai quietly rose, slipped out the courtyard gate, right hand clutching the fish scale blade inside his robe, left hand secretly holding the Tuo Dragon Mountain River Pearl. His mind was clearer than ever.

As he walked, he felt the earth beneath his feet grow steadfast.

Each step made him breathe as one with Yan Prefecture.

Just then, not far from the City God Temple, a beggar clad in green, majestic in appearance, lay sleeping. His hat was askew—it was the beggar Chu Youcai had seen after his soul had left his body.

Inside the temple, he had remained unconscious, even when Chu Youcai placed clothes upon him, not sensing a thing.

But as Chu Youcai passed by, the beggar’s eyes suddenly opened.

He watched Chu Youcai’s distant figure and murmured, “Even if I must face a million foes, I shall go! Such boldness and grandeur—no wonder you could rouse me from the depths of hell!”

He then turned his gaze afar, distinctly sensing the city walls of Yan Prefecture cracking.

Suddenly, the green-robed beggar shifted sideways, manipulating the cosmos, and vanished without a trace.

As if traversing a corridor between heaven and earth, he appeared instantly on a mound dozens of miles away.

The green-clad beggar walked to a broken tent; here, Second Madam and Scholar Liu had been ambushed by the locust demon.

A trace of sorrow flickered in his eyes. “Liu’er, we as master and disciple have been separated for thirty years. Yet now, it is the elder who must see the young off, and I did not even see you one last time…”

He spread his hand, and countless rays of light shimmered, calming the atmosphere around the tent. A shaft of white light soared into the sky, enveloping the scene in peace.

The sorrow in the beggar’s eyes slowly shifted to anger. “Over thirty years ago, I was ambushed and gravely wounded by you locust demon, left wandering between the human world and the ghost realm, unconscious. Though I have not fully regained my divine power, I will not forgive you!”

---

In that instant, his form expanded again, as if crossing countless rivers and mountains, arriving instantly atop Yan Prefecture’s city wall.

Meanwhile, the locust demon, after a brief rest, had restored its demonic power and was unleashing the cursed artifact for a second time. The blood-red eye opened wide, a crimson light surging forth as if swallowing the sun and moon, striking the city wall again.

This time, the attack was fierce, intent on utterly destroying Yan Prefecture’s defenses!

If the locust demon ceased its assault, chaos would still engulf Yan Prefecture, with countless dead and wounded.

Yet just then, a trail of burning incense appeared in the sky, its fragrance curling and blocking the crimson light of the blood-red eye.

The red light was instantly halted.

This burning incense was itself a cursed artifact.

At the same time, the green-robed beggar appeared in the air, retrieving the incense, and with a twist of his hand, produced a wine cup.

He flung the wine cup downwards; countless droplets of golden holy water rained down, forming a golden curtain that stopped the crimson light entirely.

The wine cup too was a cursed artifact.

Moreover, the holy water curtain surged forward, shattering locusts upon contact. Even the golden-armored locusts grew restless, retreating in panic.

The locusts trampled over each other, dying in droves.

Hidden in the shadows, the locust demon cried out harshly, “Willow God, you have gone too far! I will destroy countless willow branches and leaves, ensuring you never find peace!”

The green-robed beggar replied coldly, “You imprisoned me for thirty years and killed my disciple. I will exterminate your locust clan, so you may never return in this world or any other!”

The people of Yan Prefecture rejoiced; none had expected this beggar to be the Willow God. Judging by his cultivation, he unleashed two cursed artifacts in succession without any sign of exhaustion, proving his strength.

Only Second Madam and Yan Yunfei exchanged worried glances. The locust demon had used the blood-red eye a second time, while the Willow God had unleashed two cursed artifacts simultaneously, catching the enemy off guard but failing to destroy the golden-armored locusts. Should the locust demon attack a third time, the Willow God might perish.

If he fell, Yan Prefecture would survive today, but not tomorrow.

At that moment, the locust demon, without pause, channeled its demonic power, deploying the blood-red eye a third time!

All the locusts gathered, swallowed by the blood-red eye; the world was drenched in crimson. The eye opened and spewed them out again.

Each locust was now ten times larger than before, bearing red markings, forming a vast army charging forward.

With each step, the earth trembled.

---

This display of might left the people of Yan Prefecture trembling in fear.

Now, the locusts’ eyes shone green; seeing the green-robed beggar, they rushed at him as if he were the most delectable feast.

The beggar’s gaze grew icy. Suddenly, he hurled the burning incense, which pierced through the swarm, landing inside the blood-red eye.

“Ha! You think artifact manipulation can affect me?” The locust demon laughed, spreading its hands to envelop the incense with the blood-red eye.

But then, the incense suddenly ignited without wind, surging through the locusts. It exploded!

A shrill cry echoed across heaven and earth; the sky darkened.

Boom!

It was self-destruction!

Though the incense was only a common cursed artifact, its explosion was terrifyingly powerful!

In an instant, countless locusts were blasted to pulp, the devastation covering a radius of four or five miles. The destructive force split the blood-red eye apart!

The blood-red eye suffered grave damage.

“Ahhh... I cannot accept this! You despicable wretch, using such underhanded tricks against me—do you not fear violating the mandate of heaven?” The locust demon raged, its voice echoing above Yan Prefecture, growing fainter and finally fading away.

Now, all the people of Yan Prefecture came to their senses, eyes filled with awe. The battle between cursed artifacts was so brutal; no wonder beneath the Dao, all are ants, and before cursed artifacts, mortals are mere prey.

Yet relief washed over them—they had survived the brink of annihilation, tears of joy streaming down their faces.

At that moment, the Willow God’s figure flashed, pursuing the fading locust demon. Yan Yunfei and Second Madam followed without hesitation.

Many atop the city wall collapsed in exhaustion.

Just then, a man, beside himself with pride, shouted from the ramparts, “Though it was the Willow God who saved us, we too united and made a great contribution to defending the city! As the saying goes: ‘Who seeks the ferry’s aid, knocks at Blue Bridge’s dawn? Who seeks the jade pestle, finds it only among mortals!’”

This man was none other than Song Peng.

PS: From today, the groundwork is laid; the story will only grow more exciting. To thank everyone for your ongoing support, there will be three chapters updated daily: morning at eight, afternoon at two, evening at eight! If you’re enjoying the story, please shower it with flowers! Thank you.