Chapter 191: Double Kill! |
Chen Qing turned around expressionlessly to look at Feng Shuhao.
"Brother Feng, what are you trying to do?"
"Chen Qing, you killed Liu Han of the Liu family. What audacity you have!"
Feng Shuhao's face darkened as he sternly questioned him.
After the battle on Nine Waves Island, Liu Han had disappeared. Although rumors claimed he died at the hands of the Demon Sect, no one had seen his corpse. The Liu family expended enormous effort and resources searching for him, ultimately finding nothing. That family heirloom treasure armor, the Surging Waves Mysterious Flood Dragon Armor, had also vanished with him.
Now this treasure armor had appeared on Chen Qing's body. Liu Han's death must be connected to him!
Upon hearing this, Chen Qing only sneered coldly and didn't respond.
To this question that twisted black and white, he saw no need to continue explaining.
These two people before him, one who launched a sinister sneak attack and one who was Demon Sect remnant, he had no intention of letting either escape today.
The Coiling Cloud Spear emitted a low trembling sound. Chen Qing stomped his foot and his figure shot out like an arrow from a powerful bow, charging straight at Feng Shuhao!
A concentrated point of green light gathered at the spear tip, tearing through the air with a piercing shriek, striking directly at his throat!
Feng Shuhao hadn't expected Chen Qing's speed to be so astonishingly fast. In his haste, he pressed his palms together, and his crimson True Aura burst forth explosively, barely managing to catch that deadly spear tip three inches from his throat!
Clang!
An explosive sound like clashing metal rang out!
The tremendous force contained in the spear tip shook Feng Shuhao's arms until they went numb and his blood churned. He retreated three steps with "thud thud thud" sounds, each step leaving a deep, scorched footprint on the ground. The surrounding vegetation even ignited without fire!
His face instantly flushed red, then turned deathly pale, his eyes full of shock.
With just one direct clash, he had suffered quite a loss!
Chen Qing's solidly built True Aura quality was completely incomparable to his own shortcut "breakthrough."
Just as Chen Qing's offensive momentum slowed slightly and he was about to change his attack technique,
A crafty light flashed in Zuo Feng's eyes nearby. Without the slightest hesitation, he turned and fled, pushing his movement technique to its limit, transforming into a wisp of black smoke as he escaped into the depths of the dense forest!
Everything was worthless compared to his own life!
"Want to leave?"
Chen Qing snorted coldly, as if he had anticipated this all along.
His left hand flashed like lightning to his waist, grabbing and flinging!
Swish swish swish!
Nine subtle yet extremely sharp sounds of breaking air rang out almost simultaneously!
Nine points of cold starlight formed a heaven-and-earth net formation, overtaking from behind and instantly enveloping Zuo Feng's back heart, both knees, back of the head, and other vital acupoints throughout his body!
These were precisely the Nine Luminary Starlight Needles!
At this moment, Chen Qing's Floating Light Passing Shadow Hand had reached the extreme realm, and using hidden weapons like the Nine Luminary Starlight Needles increased their power by more than double.
Zuo Feng heard the ominous wind behind him. His figure twisted desperately in midair, and his Black Fiend True Aura protected his vital points!
Puff puff puff!
Ultimately, he couldn't completely avoid them. His right shoulder blade and left knee bend each exploded in another spray of blood!
The Qingmu True Aura attached to the starlight needles was incomparably sharp, instantly drilling into his meridians and wreaking havoc!
"Ah!"
Zuo Feng cried out miserably. His escape speed suddenly decreased, and his figure stumbled, nearly falling.
"Kill Chen Qing first!"
Seeing this, Feng Shuhao clenched his teeth fiercely, a trace of madness flashing in his eyes.
He knew that today wouldn't end well. If Chen Qing reported this matter to the Five Terraces Sect, it would be very troublesome then.
Now he could only fight Chen Qing with everything he had and thoroughly kill him.
He no longer held back anything. The cultivation method within his body operated madly. His originally pure crimson True Aura suddenly became dark and murky. Wisps of pitch-black, ink-like fiend qi surged from his dantian, rapidly coiling around the red aura. Red and black intertwined, appearing sinister and evil. The aura around his body instantly became a mixture of cold and scorching heat, making people extremely uncomfortable!
As expected, he had cultivated demon arts!
Chen Qing's mind was clear as snow about this. He wasn't surprised at all.
From Feng Shuhao's rapidly advancing cultivation and that strange sneak attack method, he had already suspected this.
At this moment, Zuo Feng also forcibly suppressed the rampaging Qingmu True Aura and intense pain within his body, his eyes gleaming with murderous light.
He knew deeply that if he didn't take advantage of this moment to join forces with Feng Shuhao to kill Chen Qing, he would have absolutely no chance of survival!
"Little bastard, die for me!"
Zuo Feng roared, disregarding his injuries. The Netherworld Seal struck out again. The palm print was pitch-black and profound, bringing wailing sounds like weeping ghosts as it slapped toward Chen Qing's left ribs!
Feng Shuhao exerted force at the same time. His body followed his palms. That True Aura wrapped in black fiend qi condensed into a scorching and sinister palm print, striking directly at Chen Qing's right chest!
The two attacked from left and right, their killing intent surging to the heavens!
Facing the desperate combined attack of two True Aura experts, Chen Qing's heart remained extremely calm.
Zuo Feng was severely injured, while Feng Shuhao's demon art breakthrough to True Aura had an unstable foundation.
Deep within his dantian qi sea, that wisp of dormant Kunti True Aura suddenly awakened, like a slumbering dragon raising its head!
Boom!
The two True Auras fused together. A power far more tremendous than single True Aura erupted explosively from within Chen Qing's body!
The air around him seemed to freeze instantly. Within a radius of several zhang, falling leaves moved without wind, slowly circling around him!
"What?!"
"This... what is this?!"
Zuo Feng and Feng Shuhao's faces changed drastically, their hearts shaking wildly!
They clearly felt that the nature of the True Aura within Chen Qing's body had undergone an earth-shattering change in an instant!
A sense of oppression that made them tremble came rushing at them!
Two completely different True Auras had actually fused together?!
In all of Yunlin Prefecture, currently only Hanyu Valley's Master Leng Qianqiu had achieved this.
If this matter got out, who knew what kind of storm it would cause!
What kind of monster was this Chen Qing?!
In this split second while the two men's spirits were shaken,
Chen Qing moved!
The Coiling Cloud Spear emitted an extremely pleased humming sound. The spear shaft was instantly covered with a layer of gray-green luster. It appeared slow but was actually as fast as lightning in a direct thrust!
This spear strike was simple and unadorned, yet it contained the terrifying force capable of collapsing mountains and breaking peaks!
The spear tip struck with incomparable precision at the palm center of the Netherworld Seal that Zuo Feng had thrust out!
Puff!
There was no earth-shattering collision sound.
It was like a red-hot knife cutting into butter!
Zuo Feng's Black Fiend True Aura proved utterly fragile before this gray-green spear light, instantly pierced through and shattered!
The spear light didn't pause at all as it continued upward!
"Ah!"
Zuo Feng only had time to let out a roar before the Coiling Cloud Spear's tip had already entered his palm center, then devastatingly pierced through his arm and inner armor, emerging from his back heart!
The gray-green fused True Aura exploded explosively within his body!
Zuo Feng's body suddenly stiffened, his eyes bulging wide.
He looked down at the spear tip protruding from his chest, opened his mouth, but couldn't make any sound.
Chen Qing flicked his wrist, withdrawing the long spear.
Zuo Feng's corpse fell softly to the ground, raising a cloud of dust.
This Demon Sect protector who had dominated Yunlin Prefecture for many years died here!
Almost at the same time, Chen Qing borrowed the rotational force from withdrawing the spear and struck out with a fierce elbow blow from his left arm!
At the elbow tip, gray-green True Aura condensed, stable as a mountain yet sharp as a spear!
Feng Shuhao's red-black intertwined palm print struck right at that moment!
Bang!
Elbow and palm met!
The sound of shattering bones that Feng Shuhao had imagined didn't come. Instead, he felt his sinister and scorching palm force as if it had struck a mountain peak. The counter-shock force shocked his entire arm numb in an instant.
"Wa!" Feng Shuhao spat out a mouthful of fresh blood, his body flying backward out of control.
In a split second, he showed no hesitation at all. Borrowing the counter-shock force, he twisted his body and fled toward the depths of the dense forest, pushing his movement technique to the extreme and transforming into a flowing flame.
"Want to leave?"
Chen Qing snorted coldly. How could he let this menace escape?
His figure moved. Under the execution of the Startling Swan Escaping Shadow Formula, he overtook from behind like a ghost, instantly closing the distance.
The Coiling Cloud Spear in his hand emitted a low trembling sound. The gray-green fused True Aura surged out. An incomparably swift direct thrust, like lightning tearing through the night sky, struck directly at Feng Shuhao's back heart!
Feng Shuhao's soul flew out of his body. Sensing that heart-palpitating spear light behind him, he desperately twisted his body to dodge.
"Puchi!"
Ultimately, he was half a beat too slow. The Coiling Cloud Spear's sharp tip failed to pierce his heart but still ruthlessly pierced through his right waist and abdomen!
A terrifying tearing sensation instantly came. Feng Shuhao screamed. Under the fusion of two True Auras, that True Aura was torn apart like paper.
Fortunately, he wore a decent quality medium-grade inner armor close to his body, which slightly blocked the spear tip from penetrating deeper. Otherwise, this spear would have been enough to cut him in half at the waist.
Even so, the domineering power of the fused True Aura had already penetrated through his body, madly destroying his meridians and organs.
He fell heavily to the ground, fresh blood staining his robes. His aura instantly became dispirited.
Chen Qing walked forward expressionlessly.
A wisp of pure Qingmu True Aura was transmitted into Feng Shuhao's body, not to heal injuries but to forcibly sustain his last breath, keeping him conscious.
"At Qixia Manor, besides you, who else has cultivated demon arts?" Chen Qing asked coldly.
Feng Shuhao stared fixedly at Chen Qing, clenching his teeth and not saying a word.
"Hmph."
Chen Qing sneered coldly and said no more.
His fingers flicked lightly. Several Nine Luminary Starlight Needles as fine as ox hair shot out silently, precisely piercing several major acupoints around Feng Shuhao's body, thoroughly sealing off the operational pathways of his remaining True Aura.
At the same time, his other hand grasped his jaw like lightning. With a slight application of force, he pinched his chin so that he could neither circulate his power to commit suicide nor make any sound.
"Mmm... urgh..."
Feng Shuhao's body trembled violently, his face instantly twisting and deforming.
Those needles not only blocked his meridians but also carried a trace of sharp True Aura, like ten thousand fine needles stabbing inside his body, bringing continuous, bone-deep pain.
Bean-sized beads of sweat instantly covered his forehead. His entire clothing became soaked.
This kind of pain from ten thousand needles devouring the body was simply not something an ordinary person could endure.
Very soon, Feng Shuhao fainted.
Chen Qing woke him up. His voice remained calm, "I can't possibly let you go, but tell me what I want to know and I can give you a quick death."
He skillfully moved his jaw back together and waited coldly.
Feng Shuhao gasped heavily, his eyes full of fear and despair. That continuous intense pain had almost destroyed his will.
"...It's... it's my master..." His voice was hoarse.
Chen Qing's heart shook!
Feng Shuhao's master was precisely the Qixia Manor Great Manor Lord, Zhou Nianchu!
One of the four sect masters. Although Qixia Manor's influence was slightly weaker, his personal cultivation was said to have long ago stepped into the External Aura realm, possibly even reaching perfection!
He had actually also cultivated demon arts?!
If such a figure was a Demon Sect insider, his danger far exceeded imagination!
His position within the Demon Sect must be extremely high!
It was even highly possible that...
Chen Qing suppressed the surging waves in his heart and continued pressing, "Besides you master and disciple, who else? How long have you been cultivating?"
"This... this kind of demon art... how could it be... taught on a large scale..."
Feng Shuhao spoke intermittently, gasping painfully, "The more people who know... the greater... the risk of exposure... Currently... currently as far as I know... only Master and I..."
"Master... only passed this technique to me... a year and a half ago... I've told you everything I know... Give... give me a quick death!"
Feng Shuhao's eyes were full of pleading. Under the intense pain, he only sought a swift death.
Chen Qing looked at him with profound eyes.
Feng Shuhao knew the secret of the Surging Waves Mysterious Flood Dragon Armor, and moreover, had personally witnessed the secret of his fused True Aura. This person absolutely could not be kept alive, much less brought before the Sect Master.
His killing intent was decided in his heart.
"Fine."
Before his words fell, the Coiling Cloud Spear tip flashed with green light, instantly piercing through Feng Shuhao's heart meridian.
Feng Shuhao's body suddenly stiffened. The light in his eyes rapidly dimmed, finally completely solidifying. His breath ceased.
Chen Qing withdrew the long spear and expressionlessly quickly searched Feng Shuhao and Zuo Feng's corpses, taking all items of value.
Then he grabbed Feng Shuhao's corpse and quickly returned to the forest clearing.
This matter was of great importance. How to handle it, he should first discuss with Du Lingchuan.
"Senior Brother Chen is back!"
Everyone had also heard the fierce battle not far away. At this moment, seeing Chen Qing return, they had just breathed a sigh of relief when they saw he was actually carrying a corpse in his hand.
When they saw that corpse's face clearly, everyone's pupils contracted sharply and they gasped!
"That's... Feng Shuhao?!"
"Feng Shuhao of Qixia Manor?! He... how did he die?!"
Shi Ziyi, Fang Rui, and other Xuanjia Gate disciples cried out in shock, their faces filled with disbelief.
Not long ago, Feng Shuhao had been in the limelight, the first to break through to True Aura, viewed as a benchmark of Yunlin Prefecture's younger generation. Now he had actually become a cold corpse, carried in Chen Qing's hand?
This impact was truly too great!
Even the severely injured Du Lingchuan suddenly opened his eyes wide when he saw this scene, his eyes full of shock and doubt.
Chen Qing threw Feng Shuhao's corpse on the ground. His expression was grave as he tersely recounted what had just happened.
Naturally, he omitted details about the Surging Waves Mysterious Flood Dragon Armor and fused True Aura, only saying that Feng Shuhao and he had joined forces to kill Zuo Feng, then at the last moment Feng Shuhao suddenly rose up in a sneak attack. He was forced to counterattack and killed both him and Zuo Feng together. Before dying, Feng Shuhao had revealed the secret that his demon arts were inherited from Qixia Manor's Great Manor Lord Zhou Nianchu.
"What?!"
"Manor Lord Zhou... Manor Lord Zhou also cultivated demon arts?!"
"How is this possible?!"
With these words, it was like thunder on level ground, exploding and making everyone present's scalps tingle and their spirits shake violently!
Du Lingchuan suddenly straightened his body even more, pulling at his wounds and coughing up large mouthfuls of stagnant blood. All color drained from his face as incomparably shocked light burst from his eyes.
He instantly thought of countless connections. His voice trembled from urgency and shock, "Quick! We must immediately report this matter to Sect Master He and Valley Master Leng! Zhou Nianchu... Zhou Nianchu is right now inside Xuanjia Gate! If he's truly a Demon Sect insider with evil intentions... if the sect masters act separately, they could easily be ambushed and killed one by one!"
This time for support, the experts who came from the Five Terraces Sect and Hanyu Valley hadn't come out in full force. Each sect's mountain gate still needed powerful figures to guard it.
If Zhou Nianchu, this sect master level expert, made a move in secret, the consequences would be unimaginable!
He might very likely be that mysterious "Heart Devourer"!
Thinking of this, Du Lingchuan broke out in a cold sweat.
Chen Qing nodded heavily, "There's no time to lose. I'll go find the Sect Master now!"
Du Lingchuan forcibly endured his severe injuries and grabbed the arm of a disciple beside him, struggling to stand up, "This matter is too important. Words alone are no proof. I'll go with you! These old bones of mine can still hold up! We must make Sect Master He and the others immediately wary of Zhou Nianchu!"
His gaze swept over Feng Shuhao's corpse. This was one of the most powerful pieces of evidence!
"Master..."
Chang Xing said worriedly.
"It's fine!"
Du Lingchuan waved his hand, his tone resolute, "This matter is of great importance. We absolutely cannot be the slightest bit careless."
He knew his condition wasn't good, but he was even clearer about what Zhou Nianchu's identity and strength meant.
A sect master level demon hidden so deeply, his danger far exceeded ten Zuo Fengs!
He must bring this news along with his judgment to He Yuzhou and Leng Qianqiu at the earliest moment.
Seeing Du Lingchuan's resolute attitude, Chen Qing no longer hesitated, "Good! Let's go!"
The two no longer delayed. Chen Qing slightly supported Du Lingchuan. Raising their movement techniques to the extreme, they transformed into two blurred figures and rushed toward Xuanjia Gate's mountain gate where the sounds of battle were gradually subsiding.
They must quickly deliver this shocking news!
Every moment of delay increased the danger by one measure!
Along the way, they could still see scattered battles and fallen corpses, but the large-scale slaughter had obviously subsided. Five Terraces Sect and Hanyu Valley experts were sweeping the battlefield under the guidance of Xuanjia Gate survivors, treating the wounded and hunting down hidden Demon Sect remnants.
The two had no mind for other matters and raised their speed to the extreme.
At this time, atop Xuanjia Gate's mountain gate, the chaos was gradually subsiding and temporary calm had been restored.
Among the broken walls and ruins, disciples were silently cleaning up the battlefield. Many Xuanjia Gate disciples' corpses had their True Qi absorbed and essence blood drained by the Demon Sect. Their deaths were extremely miserable.
Shi Kaishan had suffered severe injuries and had been urgently escorted down by trusted disciples for treatment. Xuanjia Gate's affairs were temporarily being barely maintained by the surviving elder Shi Zhenyue.
Inside the council hall.
He Yuzhou, Leng Qianqiu, and Zhou Nianchu, the three sect masters, sat separately in the main seats. The atmosphere was heavy.
The experts who had followed from each sect as well as Xuanjia Gate's two elders temporarily managing affairs were arranged on both sides. Everyone's faces were solemn.
Leng Qianqiu took a deep breath and said, "Jin Poyue... truly unexpected. The rumor is that he and Sect Master Shi had decades of friendship, yet he hid it so deeply."
He Yuzhou nodded slowly, his expression grave, "If he hadn't betrayed us in battle, ambushing Sect Master Shi and even revealing Xuanjia Gate's defense maps and secret passages in detail, even if the Demon Sect had Heart Devourer personally present, it would have been absolutely impossible to breach the mountain gate so easily and cause this kind of... catastrophe."
Jin Poyue's betrayal alone, his danger far exceeded five Demon Sect True Aura experts attacking head-on.
He was intimately familiar with everything about Xuanjia Gate. Moreover, at the critical moment, he dealt Shi Kaishan a fatal blow, almost single-handedly destroying the core of Xuanjia Gate's resistance.
Adding to that, the Yunlin branch experts came out in full force. There were even strong reinforcements like Jiang Chuanqiao and Mei Kun from the Lin'an Prefecture branch. Heart Devourer's scheme this time was vicious and decisive. He clearly came with the purpose of uprooting Xuanjia Gate entirely.
"If Sect Master He hadn't received intelligence in advance and rushed to provide aid regardless of True Aura consumption, the consequences... would be unimaginable." Shi Zhenyue felt fortunate and bowed deeply to He Yuzhou.
He Yuzhou waved his hand. His expression held no trace of relaxation, "Unfortunately, we were still a step too late and couldn't prevent the tragedy from happening."
This person Heart Devourer, when lying dormant was soundless and traceless, but once he moved it was like thunder striking ten thousand jun, hitting directly at vital points. Truly heart-palpitating.
"Heart Devourer, this beast must be eliminated as soon as possible!"
Zhou Nianchu snorted coldly, "This person is like a poisoned thorn stuck in the heart of our Yunlin Prefecture! Today he could destroy Xuanjia Gate. Tomorrow the butcher's knife could fall on my Qixia Manor, the Five Terraces Sect, or Hanyu Valley! If this menace isn't removed, none of us can sleep or eat in peace!"
"Manor Lord Zhou speaks correctly!"
"Heart Devourer is our Yunlin Prefecture's common mortal threat!"
Everyone present nodded in agreement one after another.
Heart Devourer's threat was like a dark cloud hanging over everyone's minds.
Just then, a burst of hurried footsteps came from outside the hall. Qixia Manor's Second Manor Lord He Yueting entered hurriedly with several manor experts, travel-worn and clearly having gone through a fierce battle.
He Yueting was still carrying a bloody, mangled head in his hand.
"Manor Lord!"
He Yueting saluted Zhou Nianchu, "Upon receiving your message, I immediately led people to rush here with all our might. Unfortunately, the journey was too far and we still arrived late. Please forgive me, Manor Lord! Fortunately, at Black Wind Ravine thirty li outside the mountain, we ran into the demon Chang Suning trying to escape. Consecrate Mo and I joined forces and finally killed him!"
As he spoke, he threw that head on the ground.
Everyone looked closely. Although the face was damaged, it was still recognizable. It was precisely one of the Demon Sect Yunlin branch's eight great protectors, "Ghost Shadow" Chang Suning, famous for his lightness skills and poison palms!
A wave of subtle shocked commotion immediately arose in the hall.
Chang Suning was Heart Devourer's trusted aide, extremely cunning and troublesome. Who would have thought he'd actually been intercepted and killed by He Yueting.
"Where is Consecrate Mo?"
Zhou Nianchu asked. His brow furrowed almost imperceptibly.
"Consecrate Mo suffered some internal injuries and is currently regulating his breath outside." He Yueting answered respectfully.
"Why did you come so late?" Zhou Nianchu's tone was calm but carried a trace of interrogation.
He Yueting showed a bitter smile, "Manor Lord, please understand. This subordinate received the flying eagle message and immediately assembled our forces to depart without the slightest delay. It's just that Qixia Manor is the farthest distance from here. Along the way, we also encountered two groups of Demon Sect routed troops that blocked us. The battle delayed our time..."
"Enough. This matter can't be blamed on Second Manor Lord He."
He Yuzhou spoke to smooth things over. His gaze swept over Chang Suning's head and his tone eased somewhat, "That Second Manor Lord He and Consecrate Mo could kill Chang Suning is already a great merit, removing one of the Demon Sect's major wings. You've worked hard."
Leng Qianqiu also nodded slightly, "Chang Suning being executed is indeed good news."
Only then did Zhou Nianchu's expression slightly ease. He nodded and said to He Yueting, "You've worked hard."
He Yueting cupped his fists in acknowledgment and stepped to the side.
He Yuzhou looked around at everyone and summarized, "This time, the Demon Sect's Yunlin branch can be said to have suffered heavy losses. Jiang Chuanqiao and Mei Kun who came from Lin'an Prefecture have both been executed. Now Chang Suning is also dead. Of the so-called Yunlin Eight Great Protectors, Hu Mei, Han Baiyi, Chang Suning, plus those previously lost, five are now gone! Elite sect members have suffered countless casualties. If Heart Devourer hadn't escaped, the Demon Sect's Yunlin branch could almost be said to exist in name only!"
These words lifted everyone present's spirits slightly, but thinking that the chief culprit was still at large, that bit of encouragement quickly cooled.
Leng Qianqiu said in a concentrated voice, "Heart Devourer is the top priority. If this beast isn't eliminated, today's defeat is merely a flesh wound to him. Given time, he'll certainly be able to raise another force and make a comeback. It's a pity he actually escaped into the Earth Origin Cave, seized resources, and then disappeared without a trace!"
Her tone carried a trace of worry.
Heart Devourer was the root of Yunlin's demon troubles. If this root wasn't removed, there would never be peace.
The hall fell into silence again. The oppressive feeling grew heavier.