Chapter 1046: 揉杀

"Dragon King..." Chi Buzhi watched for a moment, but it was only a few low-level cultivators chasing and fighting. He found it uninteresting and turned his gaze to the dragon.

As this dragon descendant took a step, a jade table and chairs, like emerald and white jade, immediately emerged from the water. A jar of spiritual wine rested quietly on the tabletop. The creature sat by the table and smiled, "Please."

Chi Buzhi calmly took his seat. The creature continued to smile, "Today, during our banquet, the topic of the Victorious and All-Knowing King giving birth to demons came up. Our elders, after much divination, believe that such a state of Taoist law indicates the Lord Father's displeasure and the stagnation of Yang energy. Thus, I became intrigued and decided to make this special trip."

He picked up a cup, nodded to the Great Immortal, then turned to look into the distance, saying lightly, "I hadn't expected... to encounter a True Immortal. Perhaps we could observe this matter together, and once it concludes, I can speak with you in more detail."

A flicker of interest appeared in Chi Buzhi's sinister eyes. He smiled and said, "This humble cultivator will accompany you!"

Azure sea, blue sky. The storm subsided incredibly fast, and the sky instantly cleared. Li Jiangnian set down the two cultivators he held, withdrew his true essence, and said softly, "The sea winds here are fierce, and there are many demonic creatures beneath the waves. You two are merely minor cultivators; next time, you must be more careful. You won't always be lucky enough to run into me."

The cultivators immediately knelt, expressing profound gratitude and weeping, "Grandfather... your life-saving kindness... we will never forget it!"

As these two traveled through the sea, they suddenly encountered a demonic gale and towering waves. Thanks to his timely intervention, they survived. It was unimaginable to them that such a benevolent person existed in the East Sea, so they expressed their gratitude profusely, marveling at their good fortune and destiny.

Li Jiangnian stood still, listening to their tearful thanks, feeling pleased and content.

These two were not truly good people. As a member of an immortal clan, Li Jiangnian could tell at a glance that they regularly consumed blood sacrifices. But in the East Sea, few didn't consume blood, and Li Jiangnian didn't care about that; he simply enjoyed hearing a sincere word or two of thanks.

However, once the two had thanked him so much they had nothing left to say, Li Jiangnian maintained his noble demeanor and gently advised, "Today, I saved you both. From now on, you must not consume blood sacrifices. Instead, you should focus on performing good deeds and accumulating virtue; good fortune will surely follow."

The two on the ground exchanged an odd glance, mumbling "Yes, yes, yes," as they watched the masked young master ride the wind and drift away. Only then did they begin to discuss amongst themselves with winks and nudges:

"Is that... the Jade Young Master from the Reef Cluster area?" The other nodded with certainty and replied, "It must be him. Those words about not eating earthly food... that sounds just like him. Our two brothers are lucky; we got our lives back. We've heard he's generous, kind-hearted, and easy to get along with. With this opportunity... who knows, maybe we can even join his retinue and get some meat broth..."

His companion's eyes immediately lit up, looking a bit strange: "He really is peculiar... not consuming blood sacrifices, performing good deeds and accumulating virtue... Is that something an East Sea cultivator would say? When he talks about good deeds bringing good rewards, it's actually because he has resources to share. Everyone he's helped comes to cling to him, treating him like their own father..."

"Enough! Enough!" This startled his companion, who quickly pulled him, his face pale, whispering, "We're too badly injured... We haven't been to this island before, but it looks inhabited. Let's find some hosts and get some blood sacrifices to recover first."

As the two demonic cultivators secretly conversed, the renowned Jade Young Master was already humming a tune, riding the wind, and blissfully traversing the sky.

Li Jiangnian was actually not very courageous. In the beginning, he feared venturing out, lest he be harmed. But once he truly went outside, he discovered that no one recognized him. Without his golden eyes or the aura and power of Mingyang, even if he claimed to be the son of King Wei, no one would believe him.

Over the years, coming to the East Sea had been a great relief for him. He fashioned a mask for himself, living freely and unburdened. Everyone on the island respected him. Years ago, Li Quewan would still pressure him to practice more spells, but later, his elder sister went into seclusion to cultivate secret techniques, and finally, no one bothered him!

Only then did he taste the wonderful life of an immortal scion: his every command was met with compliance, and no one dared to disobey. Although he was quite timid and still remembered the rules of the lake, daring not to have a retinue on the island, he was clever. Under the guise of gaining experience through travel, he traveled around helping rogue cultivators, using this to gather flatterers and listen to a few compliments.

Sometimes, when he was in a bad mood and felt an itch to act, he would specifically target islands with weaker cultivators. Feigning a desire to eradicate demonic cultivators, he would pretend to unleash a massacre, relying on his formidable power. He would then watch as those who consumed blood sacrifices desperately kowtowed and crippled their own cultivation, listening to their pleas for mercy and flattery before calmly departing. Even if rumors spread, his actions were seen as utterly righteous, earning him the title of "Jade Young Master."

Compared to this, how miserable his life by the lake used to be!

Although he occasionally felt remorse, recognizing the ugliness of his thoughts, the taste of arbitrary control was better than any brothel or gambling den. He quickly dismissed these thoughts, and currently, he was freely riding the wind. Squinting, he surprisingly spotted a fierce blaze of Binghuo on the horizon.

"Hmm." Li Jiangnian narrowed his eyes, circulating his true essence. The form behind the Binghuo was immediately revealed, slightly surprising him. "A cultivator..."

This cultivator had a menacing appearance, with a fleshy face and a fierce expression. Dressed in a dark ink-black Taoist robe, he held a circular magical artifact that emitted a dense light of Binghuo.

Before the Binghuo, a silver escape light continuously flowed, and within it was a young woman. She had elegant brows, red lips, and slightly rounded cheeks, making her truly beautiful. Her magical robes were gone, leaving only a thin white garment that revealed her graceful and well-proportioned figure.

However, the woman appeared to be injured; her face was as pale as paper, and there was blood at the corner of her lips, making her look utterly pitiful. She gasped heavily, 'It should be this direction... Lulai Island...'

Guo Gemi's heart was filled with intense dread.

Her family needed to repair their Zifu Grand Formation, and materials were scarce. As juniors, she and others had been instructed by their parents to bring spiritual items to various marketplaces for procurement. This was not supposed to be a life-threatening matter, and she had been on such errands more than once. Who knew... after a few disputes with this man, he actually tried to kill her!

Of course, she knew the man was a cultivator from Red Reef Island, and she also knew that her own family on Red Reef Island was never to be trifled with. She had always endured slights in silence, never imagining that a mere reply would lead to a death threat!

'The Wangyue Li clan is an ally of my family, and I've also rested at Lulai... As long as I escape to that place... someone will surely save me!'

She struggled desperately to survive, but Li Jiangnian paused slightly upon seeing them and immediately understood. 'So, it's just two minor cultivators in a chase and battle...'

Neither of them had high cultivation levels. Li Jiangnian observed them coldly for two breaths, immediately recognizing the middle-aged man's attire. He mused, 'Binghuo... he's from Red Reef Island. My family has always been at odds with them... Today, he's fallen right into my hands.'

He immediately rode the wind upwards, and as he spread his five fingers, winds and clouds surged. A jade-like radiance instantly enveloped his body, transforming into dazzling jade battle armor. His stooped figure was entirely concealed beneath this immortal foundation, giving him the appearance of a majestic and dashing immortal.

Jade Court General! With a thought, a jade spear immediately appeared in his palm. Li Jiangnian raised his hand and threw it with force!

"Buzz..." The jade spear instantly shot forth like an arrow of light, arriving in a flash. The strong man, being merely at the Qi Refining stage, had no chance to react. He suddenly looked down, his chest already pierced by the jade spear, leaving only an empty void.

He had no time to utter a single word, futilely spitting out blood as he exploded into countless flames in mid-air, scattering downwards. Guo Gemi, already at her limit, was simultaneously terrified and overjoyed by this turn of events. Unexpectedly, a massive surge of Jade True Light swept over her, causing her to cough up blood. The magical wind beneath her feet became unstable, and she plummeted precariously.

In an instant, arms seemingly forged from jade caught her. Guo Gemi's heart was filled with boundless trepidation as she exclaimed in awe, "Many thanks, Senior!"

But then she heard a gentle, youthful voice: "No need to thank me... Red Reef Island has many grievances with my Lulai clan. It was merely a small effort!"

"Lulai!" Only then did Guo Gemi understand why he had helped her. In an instant, she felt both startled and delighted, and a strange sensation arose in her heart. Listening to the gentle, youthful voice, a blush rose to her cheeks, her red lips slightly pursed, and her voice became delicate, "So it's a young master from an immortal island!"

Li Jiangnian felt a flush behind his ears and his mouth water at her words. Guo Gemi was truly beautiful; as she softly leaned into his arm, her fair, smooth neck was revealed, making him swallow.

The so-called Jade True shockwave was, of course, his deliberate act, intended to make her fall into his embrace—wasn't that how it always played out in plays?

Guo Gemi, who was a few years older than him, saw everything clearly and smiled, pursing her lips. Li Jiangnian immediately blushed, but his mind worked quickly. He quickly averted his gaze, embarrassed, "I apologize... young lady. My family's rules are strict, and I have cultivated alone for over thirty years... I have rarely considered the distinctions between men and women..."

'A Foundation Establishment cultivator at thirty!' When Li Jiangnian moved, Guo Gemi immediately clutched her arm, furrowing her brow and letting out a few groans, replying, "It hurts..."

Li Jiangnian immediately raised his hand and said earnestly, "I will treat your injuries, young lady..."

He pressed his hand, slightly trembling, onto her neck. Jade True spiritual power surged into her, making her complexion grow even rosier. However, unbeknownst to him, while the Jade Court General had infinite power, it possessed no healing capabilities, and could even exacerbate injuries, making them harder to recover from. Li Jiangnian was not skilled in this art and feared harming her. For a moment, he was completely focused, cold sweat breaking out beneath his mask.

Guo Gemi, however, couldn't fathom this. The mask completely concealed the man's face, so how could she know that this Foundation Establishment cultivator was struggling with her injuries? The cold jade texture lingered on her neck, making her face flush even more.

The opponent's magical power surged through her limbs and bones, clearly eliciting a sensitive response. The manifest divine power of the Jade Court General, majestic and unrestrained, also resembled that of an immortal general. For a moment, Guo Gemi's heart felt a strange flutter.

'My father found me those few disciples from the South Sea... not a single one could compare to this young master from an immortal clan, so tall and mighty.' In that instant, as if possessed, she actually raised her hand, her slender, jade-like fingers resting on the man's mask, staring at him intently. This made Li Jiangnian momentarily stunned, gazing blankly at her, his heart stirred, momentarily losing himself.

Li Jiangnian was not without experience with women. Although his family's rules were strict, once he came to the East Sea, there was no shortage of women who approached him. However, he was naturally ugly and an extremely sensitive person. In these women's eyes, there was always disgust, which often made him feel silently dejected and repulsed.

'It's too perfect... A woman is looking at me with such tenderness. It should just continue like this...'

He had always thought that earning the favor of the world was his life's most coveted dream. But looking into her eyes, this desire found a strange, even more extreme satisfaction, making his legs tremble and leaving him uncontrollably disoriented.

But then his face felt a chill. Guo Gemi, with a blossoming warmth, removed his mask.

The woman's deeply affectionate eyes instantly widened to their extreme. The lingering tenderness had not yet faded as she took a deep breath, her throat beginning to move in a swallow, only to be immediately suppressed. Her expression turned to one of revulsion, horrifyingly intense.

If his father Li Zhouwei's appealing appearance was a baseless allure, influenced by his golden essence and seemingly a divine gift that made people spontaneously enchanted, then Li Jiangnian's ugliness, in a sense, achieved the same effect. Even though Jade True was skilled in transformation, he had spent the first half of his life trying to alter his appearance, yet it remained an inherent, uncontrollable ugliness that repulsed people. And at this moment, he had no time to conceal it with transformation.

Ironically, this very ugliness had made Li Jiangnian battle-hardened. His swollen, narrow eyes easily discerned her hesitant, almost nauseated expression. The man's face twitched, his lingering smile contorting into a messy knot.

He looked even uglier, yet a glimmer of hope remained in his eyes.

Guo Gemi desperately averted her gaze, forcing an awkward smile. Her face was ashen, and her hands were rigidly pressed against his chest. Her previously soft body stiffened as she said curtly, "Young Master, I am well now."

He had clearly experienced this hundreds, even thousands of times, yet this time felt like the final straw that broke the camel's back. When everything that had seemed perfect shattered, what rose from the depths of his heart was not sorrow, but a terrifying storm of rage.

'Bitch!! Bitch, bitch, bitch!'

His jade-veined pupils instantly turned blood-red from congestion. The hand that had been resting gently on her tender, white neck, like a lover's, suddenly tightened. Her delicate flesh, like tofu, squirted through his fingers, splashing everywhere in his grasp.

Guo Gemi's face still held a trace of awkward horror, but her head was already flying high. Her delicate chest and graceful, well-proportioned body shattered, turning into an utterly pulverized bloody pulp in the enraged cultivator's hand, raining blood everywhere!

In a single breath, she was crushed to smithereens by the Foundation Establishment cultivator.

Splattered blood permeated his Jade True form. The immortal cultivator, covered in gore, clutched the single remaining head in his hand, letting out a hysterical roar: "How dare you! How dare you! I saved you... I saved you! You *should* have loved me! Bitch!"

As he roared, the flesh on the severed head disintegrated into ash, splattering his face and hair with red and white blotches. Only the delicate, adorable skull remained, its pale sinews contracting, reflected in the man's eyes.

Li Jiangnian stood frozen.

He frowned, bewildered, as if trying to identify what he held. For a moment, he felt as if he were clutching a red-hot branding iron, and he released his grip like lightning.

Li Jiangnian stumbled back several steps in the air, a bone-chilling coldness piercing him. He landed clumsily on a sea reef, like a bewildered pelican, standing idly in the water.

"Bitch..." In his daze, he hurriedly lowered his head, trembling as he tried to wash himself in the seawater that covered half his body. He washed for a long time, but the bloodstains in the crevices wouldn't come off. Only then did the man belatedly withdraw his immortal foundation, standing blankly in place.

The reflection in the seawater showed him in white clothes, without a single speck of fresh red. With the dissolution of his divine power, the woman's bones and blood had long been removed by his magical force.

Yet the man took off the clothes, threw them into the sea, and watched the robe drift away like a spirit. He then put on an identical set of clothes, staring at his reflection in the seawater for a moment. That face made him feel nauseous, so he quickly pulled his mask from his sleeve. However, he couldn't hold it steady; it fell from his left hand to his right, then slipped into the seawater. After several attempts, Li Jiangnian finally managed to put it back on his face.

The distant sun was rapidly setting, the sea and sky a beautiful sight. Li Jiangnian tucked his cold hands into his sleeves, staring blankly at the water, suddenly feeling as though he were trapped in a dream.

"Gurgle..." Under the evening twilight, something disturbed the calm surface of the water. The woman's bare skull was pushed back by the waves, surfacing again like a mischievous fish. A few flecks of red flesh quivered, appearing even more vivid in the setting sun.