Tuo Ya manifested the image of the Auspicious Heavenly Mother behind her, crowned with a radiant halo, adorned with a jeweled necklace, her face as round as the full moon, and her eyes gleaming gold. Pure white flowers bloomed upon the ground, swaying gracefully, untouched by the raging sands, embodying the eternal dance of fortune and misfortune.
Her forehead split open vertically, revealing a third eye. One hand formed the Yu Ruyi mudra, while the other executed an esoteric seal. In an instant, her form grew indistinct, enveloped in layers of shamanic energy that pulsed with uncanny flickers of gold and white radiance.
Jie Sha exuded a cold, indifferent aura. With a slight shift of his body, he swung his strange sword without flourish. The void instantly darkened and collapsed, as if life itself had perished.
The eerie, lightless sword slashed directly onto Tuo Ya’s Jade Ruyi. The radiant glow instantly dissipated, and a mottled, decaying sensation spread across its surface. Though the cut had not yet penetrated deeply, the Jade Ruyi was split in half with a single strike!
The golden and white shamanistic powers, like water on tofu, silently tore apart under Jie Sha’s strange sword, shocking Tuo Ya. Her figure rapidly flickered, revolving with uncanny agility, retreating to the opposite side of her master-level domain.
On the other side, before the still-intact mountain wall, Tuo Ya’s figure reappeared, her expression still tinged with fear. Her left shoulder’s robe was torn, revealing a shallow wound.
Fortunately, it was only a minor injury… Tuo Ya breathed a sigh of relief inwardly. At that moment, she felt her vitality pouring out like a breached dam, gushing uncontrollably from the wound along with the blood. Her primordial spirit also seemed to be shattering.
How could this happen?
Tuo Ya’s vision blurred. She saw Jie Sha making no move to pursue. Dragging his strange sword, he passed her and surrounded the “Supreme Evil Demon,” seemingly certain of her impending demise!
How could this happen? Tuo Ya fell backward, vision darkening. Her final thoughts flickered:
No wonder, even after absorbing so many tribes, the Khan’s Golden Tent Warriors still fall short of the Longevity Sect…
No wonder every time the Golden Tent Warriors pursued Sa Ren Gao Wa, they suffer master-level losses, unless led by Ulihan…
No wonder the Golden Tent Warriors secretly fear Sa Ren Gao Wa, calling her the Demon of Death…
Unfortunately, our Longevity Sect and the Golden Tent maintain only superficial harmony, preventing access to accurate intelligence. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have perished from a single sword strike…
Thud. Tuo Ya collapsed, eyes wide, devoid of life. The Ruyi Heavenly Mother behind her let out a piercing wail before rapidly disintegrating, as if she had suffered severe damage far away at the tribal altar.
The sky was clear of clouds, yet pitch black. Sunlight failed to penetrate. The valley and grasslands bore no grass, yellow sands swirling in the air. Meng Qi, holding his blade and sword, floated above the collapsed mountain wall, gazing at Gu Xiao Sang in her white dress gently swaying in the wind.
The transformative abilities of the Eight-Nine Mystical Art are unparalleled in the world. I had only prepared for encounters with Embodyments, never doubting that a peer could recognize me. Although Han Guang’s unpredictable appearances often caught me unprepared, during Gu Xiao Sang’s case, I had taken thorough precautions before heading to Luo Hou’s place, precautions so thorough that even an Embodyment might not detect me. How could she?
Even if she were the reincarnation of the Eternal Mother, even if she possessed countless supernatural abilities, the gap in cultivation levels made it nearly impossible. Moreover, she had shown no signs of activating any secret techniques at that time.
This was Meng Qi’s greatest puzzle. If left unresolved, it would truly haunt him day and night. Was it truly as she claimed—entangled in karma connected to the Primordial, allowing those who perceive karma to instantly recognize him? Or had she secretly marked me without my knowledge?
Most importantly, having recognized me, the best opportunity to strike would have been inside the Golden Tent. Why go through the trouble of drawing me to Bayan?
To allow Jie Sha to personally seek revenge? Yet if she had sought the Dharma King’s help, beating me half to death and completely subduing me before tossing me over would have been more secure.
Such a choice of the difficult over the easy was unlike Gu Xiao Sang, known for her meticulousness bordering on paranoia!
Too contradictory! Her actions were simply too contradictory!
Though someone with severe multiple personality disorder often acts inconsistently…
Meng Qi did not rush to break free. Instead, he looked at Gu Xiaosang and activated the “Yuan Xin Seal” to perceive her emotional and mental fluctuations.
Gu Xiao Sang’s delicate features, ethereal aura, and exquisite beauty were accentuated by her faint, enigmatic smile. Her eyes, however, remained filled with killing intent. Truly, she could kill with a smile.
After defeating the Six Desires True Buddha, Lao Ren Ku’s surrounding vengeful spirits gained a black Buddha and Dakini image, exuding a master-level aura, instantly surpassing other malevolent ghosts. Once engaging Lao Ren Ku, these countless powerful resentful spirits would swarm forth. Without methods to suppress them, it would equate to facing several masters simultaneously, leading to inevitable defeat.
Precisely for this reason, despite his mediocre cultivation technique, Lao Ren Ku ranked seventh on the Black List and thirty-third on the Earth List!
He stepped forward, looming above Meng Qi, surrounded by resentful spirits, the sands swirling, drying and scorching Meng Qi’s body, preventing any desperate escape attempt. Coldly, he sneered, “This was supposed to be just the prelude, yet you walked right in. Truly, you refused the path to the Heavenly Court and forced your way into the underworld.”
“You are indeed formidable, making me feel a fear I’ve never experienced before. I feared your growth, feared your return for vengeance in Haile. Now, finally, I can relax. What difference does bearing four calamities make? What difference does possessing the Buddha’s Palm of the Tathagata make? What difference does secretly breaking through to the Master level make? In the end, you are merely another soul destined to perish beneath my hand!”
“With the Six Desires and now a Master’s resentful soul, I will soon approach the threshold of a half-step Embodyment. Then, your dead master will meet the same fate!”
Though mocking, he remained vigilant, refraining from rash action, instead preparing thoroughly to contain Meng Qi, waiting for Jie Sha to eliminate Tuo Ya and form a three-way encirclement before simultaneously attacking, leaving no chance for escape.
At this moment, Jie Sha had slain the “Heavenly Mother Shaman” Tuo Ya, darting past Meng Qi’s left side. He did not immediately strike but spoke in a composed and detached tone, “I do not regret saving your life. Tie Sheng’s death by your hand was fated, just as my breaking of the vow against killing was destined. Your demise beneath my blade was likewise preordained. Under Heaven’s decree, all is predetermined. There is no escape for you. Yield now and spare yourself further torment.”
Within his killing intent lingered a faint sense of pity and despair, as if he had already submitted to an unchangeable fate.
Surrounded by three Masters—one wielding a strange sword, capable of killing peers as easily as chickens, another entwined with countless resentful spirits, effectively acting as multiple Masters combined, and the third mysterious and unfathomable, a reincarnation of a great being—the atmosphere suddenly thickened. Yellow sands and howling winds seemed to mourn Meng Qi’s impending doom in advance.
“Hahahaha!” Just then, Meng Qi, cornered in a desperate situation, burst into laughter, reverting to his original appearance. His long blade hung diagonally, his martial attire exuding valor, his aura exuding a touch of dominance. “Is this all you’ve got?”
Lao Ren Ku narrowed his eyes. Was this a mere bluff, an attempt to shake his resolve? A battle of momentum, a battle of the mind?
Meng Qi didn’t even glance at Lao Ren Ku or Jie Sha. His eyes fixed on Gu Xiao Sang:
“Even without Han Guang’s warning, the one I distrusted most within the group was still you. I just didn’t expect you to have conspired with them all along.”
He sneered, his boldness soaring to the heavens, tinged with mockery. “So this is your plan? An ambush by three of the most formidable Masters? Unless you have further contingencies, this isn’t like you. I’m disappointed.”
Gu Xiao Sang’s expression remained unchanged, though her enigmatic smile stiffened slightly.
Meng Qi surveyed the surroundings, then turned to Jie Sha: “You are indeed formidable, a worthy opponent. Paired with Lao Ren Ku, you could indeed threaten my life.”
Jie Sha remained noncommittal, raising his strange sword again. Lao Ren Ku also concluded that Meng Qi was bluffing.
At this moment, Meng Qi once again turned to Gu Xiao Sang, laughing heartily before suddenly turning serious. He patted the air beside him:
“Come here! You are my woman. If you must die, it shall be last. Allow me to slay them first, then settle our entanglements. If I am already gravely wounded by then, dying by your hand won’t be a regret.”
“My woman?” Lao Ren Ku narrowed his eyes, recalling rumors, instinctively increasing the distance.
No, he’s trying to sow discord and fracture our alliance!
As Lao Ren Ku was about to reaffirm his trust in Gu Xiao Sang and prepare to strike, he suddenly noticed her expression fluctuating—alternating between saintly solemnity and ethereal transcendence—before finally her eyes flickered with playful intelligence. Bowing her head, she flew to Meng Qi’s side like a demure bride, though maintaining a slight distance, not standing directly beside him.
This… Lao Ren Ku’s eyes widened in disbelief. Even the cold Jie Sha hesitated slightly in his sword swing.
Meng Qi was certain that if they knew modern slang, their minds would echo one sentence: I fucking can’t believe I’ve gotten myself into this mess…
When dealing with a severe psychiatric case, one must take unconventional approaches!
Her contradictory actions revealed Gu Xiao Sang’s internal conflict!
Even if he guessed wrong, the situation couldn’t possibly worsen!
Meng Qi laughed heartily, taking a step into the air, his smile fading as he calmly faced Lao Ren Ku:
“In ancient times, the esteemed Su Wu Ming once gravely wounded you with a single sword strike.
“And I, with a single slash, can kill you!”
Arrogance, dominance, and condescension overflowed from his words. Provoked by his past wound and so openly disrespected, Lao Ren Ku’s fury surged.
Just then, Meng Qi laughed aloud again: “Master Huang Que, if you don’t act now, I’ll finish the meal alone!”
As his voice faded, a figure emerged behind Jie Sha—hair white, clothes tattered. The yellow sands churned with bubbling black foam, seemingly transforming into a toxic swamp.
Han Guang’s hidden move! Meng Qi’s waiting! From the moment he discovered only three Masters were involved in the ambush, Meng Qi never doubted his ability to win!
Gu Xiaosang, the “Demoness,” also had major flaws!
Especially during her episodes of mental fragmentation!
A palm struck from behind. Jie Sha swung his sword to block. Lao Ren Ku’s pupils constricted. He raised his head, letting out a long howl. Behind him, black mist surged, forming an ancient gate.
The Gate of Hell opened, releasing countless souls and resentful spirits, surrounding Meng Qi. Among them were nearly two with Master-level auras, emitting bone-chilling yin energy. At the same time, Lao Ren Ku’s body disintegrated into sand, swept away by the wind.
The sudden change signaled his intent to retreat, yet fleeing directly would equate to suicide.
Meng Qi stood still, eyes half-closed, suddenly opening them. His gaze deep and dark, countless starlines emerging. He casually slashed his long blade forward.
The yellow sands receded, revealing Lao Ren Ku’s figure. His eyes were dazed, expression astonished, his aura dissipating.
“You… you…” his lingering resentment echoed.
Meng Qi glanced at him, smiling calmly: “I told you, one slash is enough to kill you.”
No one knew when Gu Xiao Sang’s condition might relapse. There was no time for prolonged engagement!
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