Chapter 1458: Closing the Urn and Netting the Final Night, Si Person Wields Sword and Treads the Green Plains

Qingyuan Shan.

After Dao Qiong Cang landed gracefully, the clothing at his waist had been torn by a spear strike, but the exposed skin was exceptionally fair and tender.

Jin Feng's spear had indeed sent him flying, with the residual force still causing pain.

However, what truly shattered was merely a gold bead ornament on the showy old Daoist's waistband, failing to inflict any real harm.

"Tianren Wu Shai, do you have a close connection with it?"

After landing on the mountain ground, Dao Qiong Cang's face turned cold and stern as he asked.

At that moment, he could no longer see any white-robed figures affiliated with the Sheng Shen Dian Tang around him.

Those seemingly lucky last three survivors had apparently been manipulated by orders as well.

In the end, they were used by Tianren Wu Shai to kill by proxy, meeting a tragic death at Dao Qiong Cang's hands.

Such a loss was undeniably significant!

If it had fallen on Gou Wu Yue's shoulders, and the post-battle gains were minimal, he might have to sacrifice an arm to atone for this grave mistake!

On the ground, Zhu Yi Ke seemed oblivious to what was happening, feeling as if he had just endured a nightmare.

In his dream, he was kicked hard several times and chased by countless unknown evil spirits, running until he was drenched in cold sweat, then falling into an abyss.

As he tried to fly up, he realized his spiritual energy was completely gone, and Dao Qiong Cang appeared, smiling at him.

Terrified, Zhu Yi Ke kicked out with his feet and woke up, only to see the Dao Hall Master, whose expression was now icily severe.

Zhu Yi Ke had no idea what had transpired on Qingyuan Shan during his unconsciousness.

Earlier, the Dao Hall Master had seemed quite amicable, just chatting, but now it appeared he had fallen out with Jin Ren and was staring intently at the two of them.

"I don't know!"

Zhu Yi Ke turned his head toward the remains of the Tianji Kuilei, his tone thick with mockery.

Dao Qiong Cang said indifferently, "He killed my subordinates, so as his underling, you don't need to live either."

Zhu Yi Ke was stunned and hadn't reacted yet when he felt the world spinning.

Dao Qiong Cang pulled him through the air and grabbed him, and with a slight squeeze, his neck might snap.

"Wait!"

Zhu Yi Ke's eyes bulged in extreme terror.

How had the focus suddenly shifted to me?

I'm sealed by the Banwu Order!

I can't die—I still have so much value. I could even be forced to confess, even if it's false...

"Stop!"

Jin Ren hurriedly spoke up.

How had Dao Qiong Cang changed so suddenly?

But before he could continue speaking, or try to tempt with benefits or appeal to reason...

Upon hearing the voice, Dao Qiong Cang released Zhu Yi Ke and said calmly, "Very well, this hall master will accept this favor from you, Jin Ren, and spare this Nan Territory evil cultivator's life for now."

Jin Ren: ???

"Though the death penalty can be waived, the living one cannot escape... Xi!"

Dao Qiong Cang flicked his fingers, and the Qingyuan Shan grand array activated, manifesting a gate of light.

Xi emerged from it.

"Take him to the Sheng Shan Dead Sea and imprison him separately from Sheng Nu Wu Xiu, ensuring they have no contact. We'll interrogate them later."

"Yes!"

Zhu Yi Ke was completely bewildered, feeling himself lifted again and falling into a young man's hands.

He was shocked.

Is this how one asks for a favor? This showy old Daoist...

Though this method seemed absurd, in that instant, if Jin Ren hadn't spoken up...

Zhu Yi Ke didn't dare think further. He twisted his head upward to look at the one carrying him, struggling fiercely:

"I'm a Tai Xu at least! Carrying me like this, do I have any dignity left?"

"Behave!"

Xi struck him hard on the back.

The weakened one, under the Banwu Order, yelped and stopped resisting.

Zhu Yi Ke secretly tucked a thread he had pulled from Xi's clothing into his sleeve, then said with a fawning smile:

"Sorry, I didn't recognize you earlier. So it's the Yi Bu Head, I've heard you previously served as deputy head of two departments in Sheng Shan, holding great power. Seeing you today, you're truly dragon-faced and phoenix-crowned, heroic and extraordinary, almost carrying the aura of the Sheng Shen Dian Tang's overall hall master..."

"Shut up!"

"Oh, alright, Yi Bu Head."

Zhu Yi Ke quickly closed his mouth, then glanced back at the Tianji Kuilei remains.

His lips suddenly quivered, and his narrow eyes squinted as tears burst out like peanuts tossed into a sizzling salt pan, flying everywhere in large drops.

"Wah! Jin Ren, wah..."

This cry was heart-wrenching and earth-shattering.

Jin Ren silently watched Zhu Yi Ke, his heart filled with complex emotions.

"Jin Ren, old Zhu is taking his leave now..."

Zhu Yi Ke wiped his tears, his voice trembling with emotion:

"Old Zhu's departure might be forever. Thinking about how we'll never meet again... Wah! Old Zhu is so sad!"

"Recalling the days in Sky City... Uh, was it just a month ago? Anyway, Jin Ren, your kindness in recognizing my talents, old Zhu will never forget!"

"If in this life I can't repay this favor, in the next, even if old Zhu becomes a beast of burden, I'll let you ride me for a lifetime!"

In the Ran Ming site, Jin Ren's lips twitched, nearly laughing. He opened his mouth...

Perhaps the energy supply from the Tianji Kuilei remains had run out, as he couldn't say another word in the end.

In the darkness, Jin Ren's face lost its smile.

Xi, carrying Zhu Yi Ke, took a deep breath and closed his eyes.

He thought that even if Sheng Nu and Yan Wang had joined forces to slaughter the white-robed figures in the spatial fragments, any sympathy in his heart vanished instantly.

Out of humanitarianism, Xi finally scolded coldly, "Any last words?"

"Yes! Yes!"

Zhu Yi Ke indeed wasn't finished. He clasped his hands together, bowed backward to the merciful little Xi, and tearfully looked at Jin Ren:

"Jin Ren, wah, old Zhu has just one last wish..."

"Speak." Jin Ren said without emotion.

Zhu Yi Ke sobbed, "At the top spot in Heaven's First Tower, do you still remember the promise for the second-in-command position? If possible, could you keep it open for me? Of course, old Zhu knows that's a luxury. If I end up dead, give the spot to whoever, but just not to Old Li!"

As soon as Zhu Yi Ke finished, a big-mouthed evil ghost appeared behind him and shoved him into its mouth.

"Seal!"

Xi slapped the evil ghost's belly, imprinting the Bai Nie Yan Lord's spiritual mark, then patted its head.

"Go."

Woo—

Amid the Yinfeng, the evil ghost vanished, taking Zhu Yi Ke with it.

"Thump thump thump..."

Distant faint sounds came, like a giant running, with leaves rustling in the night.

Xi seemed to sense something and glanced at Dao Qiong Cang, hesitating to speak.

Dao Qiong Cang said nothing. After withdrawing his gaze from the distance, he summoned the gate of light again.

This time, ten figures of Xiang Yaoyao emerged from it.

"Is it over?"

Xiang Yaoyao seemed to know her fate.

She looked around. Besides the familiar Tianji Kuilei remains, there were no other Sheng Nu higher-ups.

"It seems you didn't catch any big fish." Xiang Yaoyao chuckled, her eyes mocking as she looked at Dao Qiong Cang.

"The real show is just beginning, but you won't get to see it."

Dao Qiong Cang shook his head and stepped forward, his hand stopping in front of Xiang Yaoyao's ample chest. "Hand it over."

Xiang Yaoyao sneered and thrust out her chest, the trembling waves nearly touching Dao Qiong Cang's fingers.

Xi's face turned red, and he quickly averted his gaze, not daring to look more.

Dao Qiong Cang flicked his fingers, using Da Nuo Yi Shu to extract a jade talisman clamped between Xiang Yaoyao's chest.

In the Ran Ming site, Jin Ren saw this and felt his scalp tingle.

Apricot Realm Jade Talisman!

This was the life-saving item he had left with Xiang Yaoyao in You Gui Ge!

Now that Dao Qiong Cang had taken it... but it didn't matter; the talisman only allowed one-sided communication with the Apricot Realm, and opening a passage still required Zu Shu Long Apricot's approval.

But the key wasn't that. The key was Dao Qiong Cang revealing all his backup plans, clearly signaling he was about to close the net.

Jin Ren wanted to extend his spiritual sense toward the distance.

He had heard the strange noise earlier, suggesting someone had intruded into Qingyuan Shan.

Was it Ba Zun An?

If so, that would indeed warrant Dao Qiong Cang closing things up.

But as Dao Qiong Cang said, Jin Ren didn't think Ba Zun An would risk everything just to save a single spiritual sense from him...

More likely, it was Si Ren Mister or another Sheng Nu Tai Xu with half-saint level power.

In that case, saying it was like adding a cup of water to a burning cart might be an exaggeration, but it was probably futile all the same. Better not to come at all...

Besides, Dao Qiong Cang's ambitions were clearly much larger; even Si Ren Mister might not satisfy them...

As he pondered, Dao Qiong Cang waved his hand, finalizing the matter:

"Take her to the Dead Sea and detain her alone."

"Don't let anyone, any living being, dead object, or anything that can be defined as an 'existence'—or even a non-existence—contact her or harm her..."

"Including herself, including self-harm or suicide!"

"If anything happens to her, this hall master will be the first to execute you. Even your teacher couldn't save you. Understand?"

Xi was greatly shaken; it was the first time he had heard the Dao Hall Master speak so seriously and at such length about a matter.

Clearly, this was of utmost importance!

And the person in front of him, though called the ten seats, was essentially just an ordinary Tai Xu in terms of combat power, right?

Xi swallowed hard and nodded vigorously: "Yes, Dao Hall Master!"

"Take her away."

"Yes!"

Xi instinctively thought of using the ghost spirit seal but realized it didn't align with the Dao Hall Master's orders, so he reluctantly gave up.

He turned his gaze to the curvaceous beauty...

Unlike Zhu Yi Ke, Xiang Yaoyao had only a bit of clothing damage from Kui Lei Han's residual force.

She was basically unharmed!

Xi reached out but pulled back as if shocked.

Xiang Yaoyao, after all—could he really carry her over his shoulder?

Xi's feet felt like lead as he walked up to her, then froze, not daring to bind or even touch her; it felt life-threatening...

He was at a loss.

Xiang Yaoyao was amused and gave the young man a flirtatious glance before stepping forward on her own: "Let's go, little one. I have legs and can walk."

"Oh."

As the fragrant scent faded, the night grew quiet, with only Xiang Yaoyao's voice echoing faintly as she walked away:

"Little one, how old are you this year?"

"You look about twenty. Married yet? Oh, wait, should I ask if you're still a virgin?"

"You practice ghost sword techniques? Who did that showy old Daoist mean by 'your teacher'? Do you know... uh, who was it? That one with the lamp?"

"That's right, Hua Chang Deng! I can't believe I'd forget that name. It's amazing. I wonder if saying it more will get me killed. I'm so scared, yet a bit excited. Hua Chang Deng, Hua Chang Deng, Hua Chang Deng..."

"Oh, and little one, you're Xi, right? Since you're an ancient sword cultivator, you must admire Ba Zun An. Do you know that back then, your teacher was obsessed with the sword, but the Sheng Di family forced a marriage on him, and he didn't like Yue at all..."

Xi turned into a statue, trying to ignore Xiang Yaoyao's endless chatter.

But by the end, he couldn't even listen anymore and immediately sealed his hearing, blocking out the woman's words.

He had never seen anyone so bold and unrestrained!

He had only heard similar stories in rumors and tales.

Yet when an actual person brought them up in front of him, he didn't dare listen at all.

Too terrifying!

What was this Xiang Yaoyao trying to do? Was she really unafraid of death?

Recalling the Dao Hall Master's orders—no self-harm or suicide—if she got injured, could she really summon that person?

Was she so confident that her person could block even her teacher's sword?

Xiang Yaoyao glanced at the unresponsive young man, her stories still pouring out, but suddenly, as she said "Shen Yi"...

What she meant was "Shen Yi," but it came out as "Dao Qiong Cang is truly impressive."

Xiang Yaoyao fell silent.

She continued her story, slipping in "Ran Ming"...

But again, what she intended as "Ran Ming" turned into "Dao Qiong Cang is truly impressive."

Xiang Yaoyao fell silent once more.

Unwilling to give up, she tried "Ba Zun An," "You Yuan," "You Tu," and more.

The result was always "Dao Qiong Cang is truly impressive."

You can drop dead from being so impressive!

Xiang Yaoyao viciously glared back at the showy old Daoist, sulking, and stopped telling stories altogether.

Clearly, Dao Qiong Cang had already sealed off every path she could take.

"Stop."

Mei Si Ren raised his hand.

Cao Er Zhu quickly set the elderly immortal down from his back.

Looking ahead through the swaying trees, they could vaguely see a figure standing there.

He had an otherworldly air, unmistakably the strange uncle who had left a "handshake" mark on him earlier!

Cao Er Zhu's eyes turned red instantly.

Mei Si Ren stepped forward, glanced at the group's expressions, and understood everything.

He gently patted the boy's arm, signaling him to stay calm.

Though he couldn't hide his own emotions, he still shielded the boy and stepped out of the trees.

Dao Qiong Cang glanced over, and upon seeing the figure, sighed, "Mei Si Ren, why bother?"

"Where does the bother come from?" Mei Si Ren asked, one hand holding the boy and the other his paper fan, as he stepped forward. His gaze fell on the Tianji Kuilei remains.

No need for words, no need for confirmation.

Just as Cao Er Zhu could tell at a glance that he was a good person, Mei Si Ren instantly recognized this as his student.

Xu Xiao Shou, how had he fallen to this?

He was beaten to the point of only a lingering regret clinging to such an object, barely alive.

Not just Cao Er Zhu...

At that moment, Mei Si Ren's eyes also reddened!

A surge of anger rose in his heart, and his sword intent turned murderous.

On Qingyuan Shan, the surrounding forests and snow leaves swirled up, forming low vortices, as if brewing a storm.

Cao Er Zhu calmed down and looked, realizing it resembled the old immortal's Qing He Jian Jie demonstration.

Except the old one's was made from waterfall water, while this elderly immortal's came from the countless elements of the mountain.

Each had its merits!

Both were immortal techniques!

Father, your spirit in heaven can rest easy now...

Dao Qiong Cang ignored the changes around him, gently fiddling with the Tianji Si Nan, and said slowly:

"After Rao Yao Yao's fall, the war report mentioned she visited you that night in East Heaven King City and asked you... You had no intention of getting involved!"

"But on Void Island, there was your handiwork; neutrality was gone, and you had already sided with Sheng Nu."

"So, this hall master wants to ask..."

Dao Qiong Cang's expression turned stern, his voice like thunder: "In the current situation, as the Sheng Di family's sword dao founding master, who should be a friend of Sheng Shen Dian Tang, how do you explain this?"

With a boom, the snowflakes and dead leaves formed by sword intent were shattered by this shout.

Cao Er Zhu stepped back quickly.

He saw that in an instant, the strange uncle's momentum peaked, breaking through the elderly immortal's influence on Qingyuan Shan's environment.

But Mei Si Ren wasn't deterred by Dao Qiong Cang's words.

In his eyes, Dao Qiong Cang was no different from Rao Yao Yao who had visited Heaven's First Tower at night.

Mei Si Ren withdrew his gaze from the Tianji Kuilei remains, his eyes turning cold as his aura soared.

"The way lies in righteousness, and the sword points where the master deems fit!"

"You, a naive youngster, dare to demand an explanation from this old one? This old one can give you one."

"But this old one also wants to ask you..."

Mei Si Ren took a step forward, his beard and hair flying, his long robes fluttering wildly.

The storm arrived in an instant, with snow leaves filling the Qingyuan Shan sky, turning into a world of wind and snow.

In this world, every snowflake, every stone, every leaf was a sword incarnation, all radiating a sharp, unsheathed edge.

"Clang clang clang!"

Cao Er Zhu was frightened by the elderly immortal's sudden outburst.

What was even more terrifying was that he could barely hold onto the sword case in his hands; the sword inside seemed to tremble wildly.

As Mei Si Ren stepped into the air, his sleeves waving...

"Clang!"

A sword cry echoed through Qingyuan, reaching Tai Cheng.

The purple-red three-foot sword in the case turned into a long rainbow, piercing through the flying snow from the heavens.

Mei Si Ren stood high in the air, grasping the Tai Cheng sword, and under the silver moon, he tilted the blade.

With a tremendous roar, a ferocious sword image slowly rose behind him, clad in magnificent attire, surrounded by nine red dust swords, stepping on the ten palace ghost kings, with flying snow bowing at its head, wielding the unparalleled Qing giant, eyes glaring like a furious diamond.

As this sword image fully unfolded its majestic form, the blue sky darkened, and the moon's light faded.

It roared fiercely, crossing its dual swords in mid-air and slashing down, the storm raging through the heavens as if venting endless suppression and fury.

Mei Si Ren's voice followed, resounding across the universe:

"Dao Qiong Cang, you harmed my student—what explanation do you have for that?!"

(The end of this chapter)