Chapter 1836: Sack

"Bang, bang, bang..."

At the west gate of Fusang City, a tall and slender figure slowly emerged from beneath the imposing city wall.

It was a disheveled uncle with loose hair and a scruffy beard, dressed in a worn-out black robe. He carried a large, heavy sack on his shoulder.

As he walked, the sack bounced up and down, and the clanging sound of metal objects colliding inside could be heard.

"He doesn't look like the Eighth Sword Immortal; he looks more like a miner..."

Li You's eyebrows were tightly furrowed, her expression solemn, sensing that something terrible was about to happen.

Even if this person looked somewhat different from the legendary Eighth Sword Immortal—far too unkempt!—he truly only had eight fingers, a clear scar on his neck, no spiritual energy aura, and not even a hint of sword intent.

If this were the Southern Region, Li You would have scoffed.

After all, there were countless impersonators of Bazun'an in the Southern Region; recently, even Dao Dianzhu, Ai Cangsheng, and Shou Ye were popular.

But this was the Central Region, Fusang, where famous swords gathered, and the Sheng Nu had always had one obsession: collecting famous swords.

This must be the real deal!

"Sect Leader, should we go for a big score?"

As soon as Third Elder finished speaking, he yelped in pain, clutching his head where he'd been chopped by a hand. He turned to see Sect Leader Li You's beautiful oval face trembling with anger:

"Shut up, you! Retreat!"

Everyone from the Yingui Sect moved in unison, ready to leave.

Third Elder was still trying to widen his closely set, crossed eyes, but to no avail. He said with a hint of dissatisfaction, "But this score is really big..."

"I heard Bazun'an is sealing his swords and is in a low state; anyone could defeat him."

"This time, he doesn't seem to have the Storyteller with him; he's alone. If we don't do it now, when will we?"

Li You glared, raising her hand as if to strike.

Third Elder immediately cowered and fell silent.

The Yingui Sect always respected strength. Even though Sect Leader Li was younger than any of the elders, only thirty-six, a Half-Saint was still a Half-Saint, and her will could not be defied.

Moreover, Li You had been watched by the elders as she grew up.

Trailing behind Sect Leader Li, Third Elder also prepared to withdraw.

Just then, a hoarse voice, calm as water and carrying an undeniable authority, reached the ears of the Yingui Sect members:

"You can leave, but the Gui Lun Chuo stays."

Li You's heart skipped a beat. She immediately stopped, swung her leg back, and sent the Third Elder, who had almost collided with her, flying far away.

"Don't do anything rash..."

She was about to stop the Yingui Sect elders behind her, but it was too late.

"Presumptuous!" Fourth Elder, who excelled at遁术 (dunshu) and moved like a ghost, immediately stepped forward. After gesturing to everyone behind him, he coldly shouted:

"You who play tricks and pretend to be divine!"

"Do you really think that by cutting off two fingers, sticking on a scar, and sticking phoenix feathers on a chicken, you can fly onto a branch and become the Eighth Sword Immortal?"

"I've seen countless hidden cowards like you in the Southern Region, and killed countless more. You dare covet my sect's sacred artifact; you are seeking death!"

His eyes bloodshot, he lunged forward, completely disregarding Sect Leader Li's cold glance of deterrence and loud pleas to stop.

As he charged, his essence blood and soul blood ignited.

With the Blood Sacrifice activated, the power of Taixu Ghost Soul gathered in his palm. A Heart-Shattering Soul Palm forcefully pushed his cultivation to the Half-step Half-Saint realm. He ruthlessly struck towards Bazun'an's head:

"Die!"

But the only response he received was a calm upward glance and a casual sneer from the unkempt middle-aged man who looked to be about thirty:

"Yap, yap, yap."

"I am Taixu Beihe, Fourth Elder of the Yingui Sect. What's your name, little girl? Why are you hiding under the bed alone? Where are your parents...? Hehehe, then come with this old man!"

"Big Brother, Second Brother, Third Brother, Fifth Brother, this little girl is a born Yingui Sacred Body, without parents, and her background is clean. Seeing me friendly, she wants to become my disciple. I think we should train her, perhaps?"

"Girl, come here, call me Grandpa Beihe, and I'll tie this vendor back to the sect for you. You'll have candy figures every day... You have to call me, even if you don't want to! Do you really think I, Beihe, am a good person?!"

"Li You, you've grown up. At twenty-six, you're already Taixu; you've surpassed me. Your wings are strong now; you don't even report to us old men when you go out... What? You got the Half-Saint rank from Duosheng Ya? You obtained it?"

"Dual forms unfading, Yingui eternally prosperous, Li You immortal, our Dao eternal! Glorious is my Yingui Sect, magnificent is my Sect Leader Li! Kill, kill, kill!"

The moment the Heart-Shattering Soul Palm struck, the first heart to shatter belonged to Yingui Sect's Fourth Elder, Beihe.

He felt as if the world had slowed down, time had become sluggish, and even the snowflakes falling from the sky lingered in the air.

He could clearly feel every piece of his flesh ignited by extreme power, every fragment of his soul sacrificed and withered away.

Flipping before his eyes were the happiest thirty years of his three hundred and sixty-two year life, each scene with her—from a little girl blossoming into a graceful young woman, to shouldering the banner of the Yingui Sect and becoming the revered Sect Leader Li.

"Little Li, Grandpa Beihe can only go this far. For the rest of the journey, let the other four old geezers accompany you..."

Past events flashed back, memories died.

Then, in an instant, the world seemed to accelerate.

The withered snowflakes were shattered by the extreme power of Taixu. Fourth Elder Beihe's eyes were bloodshot. With a devastating palm strike, he shattered space and instantly appeared before the renowned Eighth Sword Immortal:

"Die!"

Yet, his speed was already at its utmost, and it was a surprise attack.

When he finally faced him, he realized that Bazun'an, at some unknown moment, had extended a finger towards him.

There was no spiritual energy fluctuation, no sword intent ripple, just a simple finger extended.

Beihe was only half a chi away from slaying the Eighth Sword Immortal.

So close, yet so far.

"No—"

Behind him, Li You's sharp shriek rang out.

Beihe's last glimpse of the world was replaced by a sudden bright silver light from Bazun'an's fingertip, and then his entire body spun.

"Boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom..."

The faint light of the Ten-Stage Sword Finger pierced Beihe's heart through the air. The extreme震道 (zhendao) of the Three Thousand Sword Dao pushed his attack aside.

Along with Beihe, the Half-Saint, his sacrificed body was mercilessly sent flying.

The flying blood, the shattered body, in an instant flew backward from the west city gate, smashing through buildings and streets, breaking through the east city wall, tearing through the official road and woods outside the city, splitting Taihu, crushing Chengshen, pulverizing Fourth Elder Beihe.

In the instant he brushed past Sect Leader Li, Beihe's last trace of spiritual consciousness held no hatred, only unwillingness and confusion.

He had already signaled them.

He had at least bought half a breath of time for little Li You and everyone in the Yingui Sect, but!

"Why didn't you leave...?"

A point of cold light gently bloomed, like a sword splitting Fusang.

Half the city was torn apart by the sword light, and even the world outside Fusang City was split in two, shocking the world.

"Fourth Elder!"

"Fourth Brother!"

"Fourth Elder!"

The Yingui Sect members in the tall buildings all widened their eyes, their killing intent instantly exploding. Even Li You's delicate body trembled, and the Half-Saint rank on her chest suddenly gleamed with fierce light.

The slovenly uncle at the west city gate, still carrying the large sack on his shoulder, merely lowered his hand.

His back was still slightly hunched, as if he had casually crushed an ant. He looked up, smiling lightly at the crowd:

"Justice is often found among the humble, truly passionate and touching."

Killing, mocking, disdain, indifference...

All sorts of devilish methods, heart-piercing words and deeds—how could the elders of the Yingui Sect endure such treatment?

A person lives for a breath of air; a Buddha strives for a stick of incense.

First Elder's body was engulfed in black fierce flames. As he took a step forward, he also made a gesture to those behind him.

Li You's pupils instantly widened: "No..."

But before the words could escape her lips, Bazun'an at the west city gate shifted his gaze, giving no opportunity. He pointed with his fingers, "A mantis trying to stop a chariot."

Boom, boom, boom, boom, boom...

Sword light tore through Fusang again; First Elder disintegrated.

"Damn it! Damn it! Damn it!"

Second Elder shrieked, tearing. As he drew a long spear from his sleeve, Bazun'an, carrying the sack, moved his two fingers, "An ant trying to shake a tree."

Second Elder's head was directly shattered by the pointed attack. When the soft sound fell, he became a headless corpse.

"Big Brother, Second Brother! Ahhh!"

Third Elder and Fifth Elder's blood was ignited, and they charged out fearlessly.

The remaining dozen or so Zhanao, knowing there was no retreat, drew their knives and swords, making a desperate last stand.

Bazun'an's lips curled slightly at the sight, and he shook his head with a cold laugh:

"Moths flying into a flame."

With that, he extended four fingers, forming a hand chop, and slashed it out through the air.

"Stop!"

Li You only just recovered from the consecutive deaths.

Even at this moment, she still couldn't believe what was happening before her eyes—flying corpses like falling snow, coming and going quickly. She hurriedly cried out:

"Stop, all of you stop, all of you stop for this Saint!"

She didn't attack Bazun'an.

She even suppressed the impulse to summon her Half-Saint rank.

She was scolding the members of the Yingui Sect. With a backhand, she pulled out the black-and-white long sword, usually cherished as a treasure, from her spiritual space and said with a trembling voice:

"I'm sorry, Eighth Sword Immortal, our sect was wrong, I was wrong. The Gui Lun Chuo is yours, I only ask that you let us leave... open..."

Her red lips parted, her voice abruptly ceasing.

Because before she could finish speaking, a dozen or so Yingui Sect elders who had flown out in front of her were all cut in half by sword light, their bodies separated from their heads.

"Run..."

Third Elder's head flew up, and when it turned, it mouthed these words.

"Protect the Gui Lun Chuo, preserve it for a comeback..."

Fifth Elder's last spiritual thought was still to persuade himself not to act; the Dual-Form Sword Gui Lun Chuo was the Yingui Sect's most precious treasure, more important than anything or anyone in the world.

"Sect Leader Li, we are incompetent..."

More than ten Zhanao elders couldn't even speak superfluous words; they had already died.

Centuries of sect heritage, thirty years of Yingui kinship, all vanished under the four fingers of that man.

—Only worthy of four fingers!

"Finally sobered up?"

Bazun'an at the west city gate looked on calmly, opening his left hand with effortless grace, "Then bring the Gui Lun Chuo."

At that moment, her heart stopped beating, and the world turned grayscale.

Li You's hood slid off, her three thousand strands of dark hair fluttered, the purple crystal scales at the corners of her eyes gleamed brightly, and violent killing intent erupted from her entire body.

She directly manifested her Half-Saint rank, igniting her life's cultivation. With blood tears streaming from her eyes, she raised her sword and shouted, her voice piercing the clouds:

"Damn you, Bazun'an! If I don't chop you, you bastard, devour your flesh, and drink your blood today, I swear I'm not human!"

The world shattered like a mirror.

Li You's eyes were bloodshot, her face streaked with blood tears. She lunged forward: "Damn you, Ba... huh?"

She suddenly froze, her delicate body rigid in place.

Under her sacred perception, Fusang had not become ruins; not a single brick or tile was broken.

The surrounding elders were still behind her, all pale, weakly prostrate on the ground, sweating profusely, but not a single one was dead, merely exhausted.

Only she, Li You, who had exhausted all her strength yet had to crush her impulse to strike, and whose curse words, just on the tip of her tongue, had to be swallowed back with her anger, seemed to be the most miserable one.

"Pfft!"

Li You was so choked that blood surged back, and she spat out a mouthful of fresh blood. Her delicate body trembled, but she held her sword, daring not to strike.

She finally understood something.

Illusionary Sword Technique, this was the Illusionary Sword Technique!

But this was also not merely an Illusionary Sword Technique; it was the inevitable outcome if she truly made a move!

"Bazun'an..."

"This is Bazun'an..."

Li You gritted her silver teeth, swallowing blood.

She wanted nothing more than to kill this inhumane, damnable person with a single sword, yet she didn't even dare utter a single curse word.

She was a Half-Saint!

She hadn't even attacked, yet she had been affected to this extent.

In this entire world, who else could contain Bazun'an? It was likely that even all the Half-Saints in Fusang City tied together couldn't block a single one of his fingers!

Bazun'an at the west city gate was still carrying the sack, not having moved a single step forward. He merely looked at the Yingui Sect members, whose aura had suddenly plummeted to its lowest point, and calmly said:

"Ten breaths of time. Hand over the Gui Lun Chuo, or I will come and take it myself."

The elders of the Yingui Sect were enraged, struggling to get up one by one, glaring at him.

"Sect Leader Li, absolutely not! The Gui Lun Chuo is the founding treasure of our sect. If we hand it over, we'll truly have nothing left!"

"Sect Leader Li, step back. I don't believe that a mere Illusionary Sword Technique has such power. We'll stand in front; you go home first."

"Little Li, use the Ji Ling Jin technique to escape. I taught you; it can definitely protect the sword and bring it back to the sect..."

Li You's chest heaved, and finally, she shouted:

"Silence, all of you!"

Suddenly, the Yingui Sect fell silent.

The elders watched as the Half-Saint girl clenched her fists, trembling with anger. In the end, she merely took a deep breath, then turned and looked at the slovenly man with a radiant smile:

"I've long heard of the Eighth Sword Immortal's great name; meeting you today, it's truly well-deserved!"

"You're too kind."

"Of course, the Gui Lun Chuo can be yours. Our Yingui Sect asks for nothing in return, only to befriend the Sheng Nu."

"Well said."

"... " Li You turned her head, secretly baring her teeth, then regained her smile as she faced him. "It doesn't matter if the Sheng Nu looks down on my Yingui Sect. This sect has long yearned for the Heaven's First Tower. I wonder if the Eighth Sword Immortal would be able to introduce me? I wish to meet Shou Ye and discuss some business."

Bazun'an seemed to take an interest, his cloudy yellow eyes brightening slightly. He sized up the beautiful Sect Leader of the Yingui Sect, finally staring at the beautiful purple crystal scales at the corner of her eyes, and said in a peculiar tone:

"That can be arranged."

Li You nodded, throwing the Dual-Form Sword Gui Lun Chuo from her hand without a trace of reluctance.

The elders of the Yingui Sect gasped, wanting to stop her, but in the end, they could only halt, sighing deeply.

Bazun'an caught the Gui Lun Chuo and flicked it with a finger.

"Ding—"

The sword hummed melodiously. He praised it as a "good sword," then, as if it were a piece of junk, tossed this ninth-ranked famous sword into the sack.

Li You's eyelids twitched. This sack... could it be?

"Those who know the times are wise."

Bazun'an nodded goodbye to everyone, shouldered the sack again, and the clanging sounds echoed at the city gate.

He ignored the Yingui Sect members and walked towards the tavern.

The setting sun cast his shadow long, brightly illuminating the Yingui Sect members' sense of loss.

Bazun'an walked very slowly.

Li You followed his direction, looking towards the tavern, and saw that a fight had already broken out there.

She sucked on her lower teeth, her cheeks aching, her fists clenched tightly, making cracking sounds:

"Pluck it well, break my desire..."

"If you're going to pluck, then pluck everything from this old woman. You'd better be fair!"