Chapter 254: Unwilling to Accept

Meng Qi gritted his teeth, nodded firmly, and directly spoke, “Senior Brother Qi, be extremely cautious.”

Jiang Zhiwei had only taken the Great Rejuvenation Pill less than half an hour ago. If they acted prematurely now, their chances of success would be less than ten percent. However, if Qi Zhengyan diverted the monster and the zombie, since they lacked intelligence, the possibility of escaping would be at least thirty percent, which was comparable to the chance of Jiang Zhiwei recovering her strength and then teaming up to strike back. Therefore, after careful consideration, Meng Qi chose not to stop him.

Of course, this plan relied on the premise that Qi Zhengyan’s chosen path contained no other monsters. Based on the scenes they had passed so far, it seemed relatively safe.

“You lead it to the left,” Benerba pointed at Qi Zhengyan, provoking intense frustration among Meng Qi and the others.

After the fork in the road, an upward mountain path could be faintly seen—it was clearly the best choice for further exploring Ling Mountain, locating a Buddhist temple, and seeking treasures. Therefore, Benerba instructed Qi Zhengyan to lead the monster and the zombie down the left path.

Qi Zhengyan took a couple of deep breaths, raised the dragon-patterned crimson-gold sword, and cautiously approached the monster and the zombie. As he moved forward, the mixed sensation of malevolent qi and deathly aura grew stronger, causing inner tremors and an inexplicable sense of horror.

Fortunately, the dragon’s majestic aura enveloping his body effectively countered this oppressive force, enabling Qi Zhengyan to move unhindered. With each step forward, Meng Qi and the others felt their hearts pound faster as they silently prayed to the heavens for divine favor.

As Qi Zhengyan approached within ten feet, the monster and the zombie stirred. Their hollow eyes glowed red, and the surrounding malevolent and deathly qi surged and expanded. Their hands transformed into bear paws.

With a sudden whoosh, white mist spread as Qi Zhengyan activated “White Cloud Smoke,” enveloping himself and concealing his presence. In an instant, he darted past the monster and the zombie, running toward the left path.

Just as he brushed past, coming into contact with the malevolent qi, the zombie abruptly let out a bloodthirsty and ferocious roar. Instinctively, its left fist struck out, condensing dark energy with rising winds, its power astonishing.

Qi Zhengyan’s body emitted a crimson aura, like blooming lotus petals, swirling around him to deflect the blow.

At the same time, he sprinted forward, changing direction.

The dark energy grazed past him, diverted by the crimson aura, striking the ground with explosive force, sending up clouds of dust and leaving a deep pit, its bottom invisible from above.

Qi Zhengyan staggered, spat out a mouthful of blood, but did not slow down, continuing his desperate dash. The zombie roared furiously and took long strides, closely pursuing.

Only at this moment did Meng Qi exhale in relief. If the zombie had possessed intelligence, its punch would not have been dodged so narrowly by Qi Zhengyan, who had then used the crimson aura to redirect it. It had been a dangerous moment indeed!

After Qi Zhengyan and the zombie disappeared at the end of the left path, Benerba quickly urged Meng Qi and the others to proceed.

As they passed the fork, Meng Qi glanced sideways at the black fissures and storm-divided scenery to the left, silently murmuring, “Senior Brother Qi, good luck. Perhaps you are the only one who can return alive…”

Even if Jiang Zhiwei fully recovered, due to her missing right hand, their chances of killing Benerba wouldn’t be high—only a slim opportunity to grasp.

Beyond the fork, Meng Qi and the others stepped onto the mountain path, heading toward the heights of Ling Mountain.

The hurricane blew now against his face, now against his back. Wind roared in Qi Zhengyan’s ears and mouth, as if his nose had been stuffed full of gusts.

But he ignored everything, only avoiding the black fissures while sprinting desperately, using them to block the pursuing monster and zombie. After a while, the unintelligent monster and zombie gradually fell behind, seemingly about to be shaken off.

Just then, Qi Zhengyan abruptly halted. A rare expression of despair appeared on his usually expressionless zombie-like face—before him lay a cliff, bottomless and densely filled with black fissures. If he fell, he would surely die.

While fleeing, he had made choices at several crossroads, yet unexpectedly, his final choice led him down a dead end!

“Is this the will of heaven? Is this my destiny?” He stared blankly at the approaching monster and zombie.

Born ordinary, with mediocre talent, he had been an unnoticed disciple within the sect. Watching those outstanding senior and junior brothers and sisters receiving praise, improving their strength, gaining fame, and being adored by all—weren’t you resentful?

Enduring the years, living in poverty, only barely breaking through after many years, becoming the most obscure figure at the bottom of the martial world—weren’t you resentful?

Burdened by trivial matters, facing various difficulties, lacking money, enduring his wife’s complaints, powerless to break free, living an ordinary life, placing hopes on his children, a life no longer connected to you—weren’t you resentful?

Finally, an opportunity for reincarnation arrived, obtaining martial arts, pills, and weapons beyond past dreams, rapidly improving strength, nearly reaching the Human List, about to achieve fame, seek vengeance, and dominate with hope for the future—yet due to heaven’s will and fate’s decree, you end up on a dead end, about to die here—weren’t you resentful?

These questions echoed, piercing the heart, gradually collapsing past perseverance.

No! I am not resentful!

If heaven decrees this path, I will kill my way into the heavens! If fate is set, I will reverse cause and effect!

Qi Zhengyan’s eyes suddenly turned blood-red.

…

Along both sides of the mountain path were pitch-black fissures and dragon-like tempests, grinding the rocks of the Buddha’s Pure Land into dust. Meng Qi and his companions weaved through the vacuum cracks in the middle of the path as they ascended.

As they neared a flat area, Meng Qi stopped, for coiled there was a gigantic creature—a serpent, nearly as tall as a small hill.

This serpent also radiated deathly and malevolent qi, its surface oozing foul yellow decay, bones exposed, black energy flowing in threads.

“Dangshan Jun…” Benerba actually recognized this serpent.

It had been a friend of his former master, the Nine-headed Insect, one step away from forming its Heavenly Serpent Body. Later, it followed the Nine-headed Insect into Ling Mountain and vanished. Who would have thought it perished here?

As for the cause of death, Dangshan Jun had decayed to this extent, making it impossible for Benerba to discern.

“It, too, has become an undying corpse…” Although Meng Qi was merely a half-baked monk, he sensed that this serpent, like the previous monster, had transformed into a corpse.

But Ling Mountain was a Pure Land, not a place where yin energy gathered. It could be understood that some monsters, due to unique martial arts, transformed into zombies after death. Yet why had all encountered monsters become like this?

Could it be that the great battle long ago altered the heavenly principles here?

“You, go distract it,” seeing Dangshan Jun, Benerba’s legs trembled, lacking any courage to fight. Moreover, Dangshan Jun’s personal treasure weapon wasn’t present. Even if they managed to kill it after great danger, it would be meaningless. Thus, pointing at Luo Shengyi, he ordered him forward.

Only half an hour had passed since Jiang Zhiwei took the pill, and Qi Zhengyan had set a precedent. Luo Shengyi had also regained considerable strength. Simply distracting the monster offered better odds than later teaming up to kill Benerba. Therefore, after a moment’s thought, he signaled Meng Qi not to act hastily and stepped forward.

It’s better to deal with the distracting monsters now than later. If we go deeper, we might encounter Demon Kings or Arhat-level monsters!

Seeing Luo Shengyi make his decision, Meng Qi said nothing, silently wishing him good fortune.

Luo Shengyi’s martial arts weren’t particularly outstanding, lacking both “White Cloud Smoke” and “Crimson Lotus Deflection,” so he proceeded with even greater caution.

Approaching closely, he picked up a stone, flicked it toward Dangshan Jun’s rear with wrapped qi, the whistle of air barely audible. The stone flew high over Dangshan Jun and landed with a “plop.”

Dangshan Jun stirred. Its eyes, like two lanterns, glowed red, terrifyingly. Its head turned backward, spitting out a stream of poison that instantly rotted the stone into liquid, even creating a pit in the ground.

Seizing this moment, Luo Shengyi dashed past it, swift as a startled horse, running straight toward the right path.

Dangshan Jun’s coiled body uncurled, blocking the path completely, rustling sounds chasing Luo Shengyi. After a while, its tail finally disappeared from sight.

“Quickly, move!” Seizing the opportunity, Benerba summoned a wave, carrying the remaining three through the checkpoint. In the distance ahead, faintly visible, were Buddhist temples.

Luo Shengyi sprinted furiously, changing direction at every fork. When he spotted a hidden crevice, he immediately ducked inside, holding his breath and concealing his presence.

Dangshan Jun’s lantern-like red eyes approached. Luo Shengyi instinctively held his breath, capable of holding it for a long time due to his opened nine orifices and internal circulation.

The massive serpent’s head swayed outside the crevice, Luo Shengyi’s heart nearly stopping. Then it slowly moved on, lacking intelligence, its perception of surroundings greatly reduced.

Only after Dangshan Jun had gone far did Luo Shengyi finally exhale deeply. His luck had been truly good—just like the last deadly mission, and likely the next. As long as he stayed hidden here, he could safely wait for return.

Suddenly, a chill came from behind. Without thinking, Luo Shengyi lunged forward, only to see a white-furred monster emerge from the crevice’s depths, teeth bared, growling.

Luo Shengyi rolled on the spot, attempting to flee, but found the white-furred monster blocking his retreat, while Dangshan Jun’s tail was still visible on the other side!

No luck left, no luck left…

A wandering cultivator, without sect or school, struggling bitterly, enduring hardships, finally reaching his current level—famous on the Human List, sung across the land—how could he die here?

How could he accept this?

Mission after mission, hardship after hardship, compared to disciples of great sects, his resources and talent were far inferior. He had to be cautious, fight desperately, and rely on himself. Yet all his efforts today amounted to nothing?

I refuse to accept this!

Luo Shengyi screamed inwardly, glaring at the white-furred monster, his fighting spirit burning. His right fist swung with full force.

This punch, supremely powerful and heavy, pressed down like a mountain, forcing the white-furred monster’s legs to bend.

Bang!

Fists clashed, fierce winds scattering. The white-furred monster staggered back, while Luo Shengyi’s right hand was completely shattered.

Opportunity! Instinctively, he prepared to throw his left punch, forcing the monster aside to escape. But his body felt hollow, devoid of strength, his left arm limp like a lover’s playful tease.

His injuries had not healed, his strength not restored, only capable of repeating his previous performance…

The white-furred monster roared furiously, unflinching, pouncing onto Luo Shengyi, its teeth sinking into his neck.

Pain pierced, thoughts scattered, darkness enveloping him. In Luo Shengyi’s mind echoed only one voice:

“I refuse to accept this!”

Silence enveloped everything around.

…

Though the temple seemed close enough to reach by galloping a horse, it took Meng Qi and the others more than half an hour before they finally encountered a partially collapsed Buddhist temple, with only the Great Buddha Hall still standing.

“Go search inside,” Benerba’s eyes gleamed as he ordered Jiang Zhiwei.

Jiang Zhiwei silently stepped forward, meeting Meng Qi’s gaze and giving a slight nod.

Her injuries had healed—time to strike!