ATPnovel Chapter 233 The Little Demon Woman!
Chapter 233 The Little Demon Woman!
Chapter 234 The Little Demon Woman! (Two chapters combined into one)
Divine Sword Sect, Inner Courtyard.
Xiang Xiuxiu stood quietly in the courtyard, her cold eyes gazing at the dilapidated tower not far away, her expression somber.
A short while later, a series of slightly hurried footsteps broke the silence.
He Shan'er, the matriarch of the Divine Sword Sect, arrived in haste.
Upon seeing the woman's slender back, He Shan'er paused, subconsciously raising her hand to tidy her slightly disheveled hair before taking a deep breath, quickly stepping forward, and gracefully bowing: "He Shan'er of the Divine Sword Sect greets Your Highness, Princess."
Xiang Xiuxiu remained with her back to her, her voice cold: "You should have received Senior Brother He's letter, right?"
"Yes, I have received it."
He Shan'er maintained her bowing posture and quickly replied, "He'er instructed in her letter to donate all the resources of the Divine Sword Sect to the imperial court and to serve the court wholeheartedly."
"As he instructed, I have presented the sect's resources, along with that divine artifact, to the Grand Envoy."
"That's good."
Xiang Xiuxiu turned around, looking down at the still charming woman in front of her, and said indifferently, "Don't have any complaints in your heart."
Now that He Qingyang is dead, your Divine Sword Sect has lost its last bit of value in the eyes of the imperial court.
The evidence is conclusive that you have been privately raising demons and performing blood sacrifices. If the imperial court wishes to eradicate you, it will be perfectly justified.
"For now, all you can do is behave yourself and await the court's orders. As long as I am here, I will ensure the Divine Sword Sect's lineage continues, and no one will dare to easily harm you."
"Yes, thank you for your grace, Your Highness."
He Shan'er repeatedly agreed.
Xiang Xiuxiu took a half step forward, getting closer to He Shan'er, and scrutinized her. "Although Senior Brother He doesn't like this place, we are still connected by blood. You are his birth mother. I will help him when the time comes."
So that on my wedding day with Brother He, I won't be left without an elder to serve tea, which would only make me a laughingstock.
However, Madam He—”
The woman's tone suddenly turned stern, "No, you must also remember your place. Don't think that just because you have this title of 'future mother-in-law and daughter-in-law,' you can have inappropriate thoughts or do improper things in my name."
The imperial laws are strict, and my patience—is also limited.
He Shan'er's pretty face turned slightly pale with fright, and she quickly assured him, "I will remember the Lord's instructions and will never dare to overstep them in the slightest."
She had originally intended to take the opportunity to mention Jiang Mu, the biggest enemy of the Divine Sword Sect, to test the attitude of her future "daughter-in-law".
But hearing the obvious warning in Xiang Xiuxiu's words, he swallowed back the words he was about to say and dared not act rashly.
Xiang Xiuxiu seemed to see through her thoughts.
She glanced at a clump of withered orchids in the corner of the courtyard and said indifferently, "As for that guy named Jiang Mu, you'd better nip those inappropriate thoughts in your mind in the bud."
Right now, neither Senior Brother He nor I can touch him.
This person is a rising star that the headquarters is currently focusing on cultivating; he's at the peak of his career, and perhaps even more valued than I am.
He Shan'er's heart skipped a beat, and she subconsciously clenched her fists.
Xiang Xiuxiu continued, "However, the path of cultivation is long and arduous. Throughout history, how many geniuses have died along the way?"
If he's unlucky or makes a mistake, and one day falls from grace and into the mud—then, wouldn't it be incredibly easy for you to kick him while he's down?
He Shan'er felt a chill run down her spine and quickly lowered her head, saying, "Yes, I understand. Please rest assured, Your Highness, I know what's important and will not cause any trouble at this crucial time that would disrupt the overall situation."
.
"Good that you understand."
Xiang Xiuxiu withdrew her gaze. "In addition, there is another item within the Divine Sword Sect, which is a relic of Senior Brother He's biological father. I think you should know what it is. Give it to me, and I will pass it on to Senior Brother He."
He Shan'er's expression changed, and a cold glint flashed in her eyes, but she quickly concealed it, bowing her head and saying, "Yes, I will go and fetch it right away." With that, she turned and went into the inner courtyard.
After He Shan'er's figure disappeared, the courtyard returned to silence.
Just as Xiang Xiuxiu was about to close her eyes to rest, her eyebrows suddenly furrowed, and her cold eyes swept like sharp swords towards a flower bed not far away. She shouted sharply, "Who's lurking around there? Come out!"
She gently stretched out her jade-like arm and waved her large sleeve.
A burst of energy, like a whip, lashed out and uprooted the shrubs in the flower bed.
"Ouch!"
A child's cry of pain rang out.
A small black shadow was pulled out by the force of the air, rolled twice on the ground before stopping, and then burst into tears.
It turned out to be a child who looked only five or six years old.
Xiang Xiuxiu was startled and her energy dissipated.
The child struggled to his feet; he had dark skin, somewhat ugly features, and wore coarse cloth clothes.
She was wiping away tears with her dirty little hands, crying sadly.
For some reason, looking at the child's appearance, Xiang Xiuxiu felt a strange sense of familiarity.
It's like I've seen a similar silhouette somewhere before.
But upon closer inspection, it felt unfamiliar.
Just then, He Shan'er hurriedly returned carrying a wooden box about a foot long.
Upon seeing the child, her expression changed slightly. She hurriedly stepped forward, pulled the child behind her, and apologized to Xiang Xiuxiu, saying, "Princess, please forgive me. This child is the grandson of an old cook in the sect. He is somewhat mentally challenged and has been playing here recently, disturbing the princess. I will take him down to discipline him properly."
As she spoke, she respectfully handed over the wooden box, saying, "Princess, here is what you requested."
Xiang Xiuxiu looked at He Shan'er suspiciously, then glanced at the boy who was sobbing behind her.
Although she felt the woman's reaction was a bit excessive, she had no time to bother with the trivial matters of a servant's child.
She reached out and took the wooden box, then casually opened it.
After seeing what was inside the box, a look of joy flashed in his eyes, but he quickly closed the lid.
"Alright."
Xiang Xiuxiu put the box into her sleeve and said calmly, "If the Divine Sword Sect has any troubles that it can't solve in the future, just send a message to the General Headquarters via Flying Eagle to find me."
"Once my marriage with Senior Brother He is settled, I will send someone to fetch you."
"Yes, thank you, Princess."
He Shan'er bowed respectfully.
Xiang Xiuxiu said no more, her figure like a light cloud, drifting out of the courtyard and disappearing into the mountain path.
On the stone steps leading down the mountain.
As Xiang Xiuxiu walked, she suddenly stopped and paused.
The image of the child from before flashed through his mind again, and his brows furrowed tightly as he muttered to himself, "Strange, the child's features... they seem a bit like... Prince Sheng?"
"No—it's not entirely like that either—"
Xiang Xiuxiu herself couldn't quite explain this feeling.
Thinking back to the mangled corpse that had been transported back to the headquarters, the woman shook her head, ultimately putting this inexplicable doubt out of her mind.
Meanwhile, inside the Divine Sword Sect.
After confirming that Xiang Xiuxiu had completely left, the fear and humility on He Shan'er's face disappeared, replaced by a chilling aura.
With a cold expression, she strode into her bedroom.
"Bang!"
The door was slammed shut.
Not long after.
A crisp and loud slapping sound came from inside the room.
Two hours later.
Outside the city gate of Huzhou, a carriage was parked beside the official road.
This was no ordinary carriage.
The two horses pulling the cart were more than a head taller than ordinary horses.
Its body is covered in bulging muscles, and its fur is a dark blue-green color. It has fine, dark blue-green scales on the sides of its neck and under its ribs.
With each breath, a faint gray demonic aura could be seen rising and falling.
Clearly, these are two exotic demon horses with the bloodline of demonic beasts.
The carriage was made entirely of black exotic wood, and the wheels were inlaid with reinforcing and shock-absorbing runes, with a spiritual light flowing around them.
Jiang Mu leaned against the carriage, waiting idly.
Xiang Xiuxiu had already entered the carriage, but Yun Xiaocheng was nowhere to be seen.
"Excuse me, excuse me————"
A moment later, Yun Xiaocheng rushed over from the city gate.
The man was disheveled, his collar was wide open, and there were two bright red lipstick marks on his face.
You could smell the alcohol on him from a distance.
They obviously went to visit brothels.
Kang ran up to them and bowed repeatedly to Zhou Yuanzhi and Jiang Chang, saying, "I'm so sorry, Lord Zhou and Brother Jiang. I was a little drunk and accidentally missed the appointed time."
Zhou Yuanzhi looked up from the file, but her face did not show any anger. She remained gentle. "It's alright. We'll have to wait for the final instructions from headquarters anyway. Once Chief Yun returns to the capital, I'll treat you to a visit to the Mukbangsi to see the pleasures of the capital."
Boss?
Jiang was quite surprised to hear the name "Hai".
Hai Huo was actually the head of a city?
Jiang Hu noticed Jiang Chang's shock, and Yun Xiaocheng leaned over and chuckled, "Master Jiang, those courtesans in your Haihu Prefecture City really do have a unique charm. They're far superior to the vulgar beauties in our remote areas."
As Kang spoke, he smacked his lips as if he hadn't had enough.
He then winked and said, "Brother Jiang, I just gave you a good rundown of your glorious deeds."
It used to be said that you spent lavishly, hiring dozens or even hundreds of beautiful women in one night, making you a well-known regular at the brothels in Haihu Prefecture.
Those dishes, wow, just one plate of them is enough to get your blood pumping.
But now those girls are all in tears, complaining to me that now that Master Jiang has become successful and a high-ranking official, he no longer patronizes their business.
Many girls dream about you every night —
The more they talked about the goods, the more outrageous it became, leaving Jiang Chang speechless and too lazy to respond.
Zhou Yuanzhi said, "Now that everyone is here, we should get going."
She boarded the carriage.
Jiang Chang and Yun Xiaocheng followed suit.
The interior of the carriage was quite spacious, with a low table fixed in the middle.
On the table sat an exquisite white porcelain tea set and a small red clay stove, on which a copper kettle was bubbling and steaming, releasing a fragrant aroma of tea.
The hotel even has a soft bench for people to rest.
It's like a small, mobile private room.
The four people sat there without feeling crowded at all.
Xiang Xiuxiu sat upright on one side of the carriage, her eyes slightly closed, her breathing long and even, already in a meditative state, ignoring everyone.
Yun Xiaocheng casually slumped onto the other animal skin cushion.
With a few comfortable hums, and before half a cup of tea had passed, he was snoring loudly.
With a soft shout from Zhou Yuanzhi, no coachman outside the carriage tried to shoo it away.
The two horses, which resembled horses but seemed to understand human nature, neighed in unison and drove the carriage smoothly onto the official road, gradually increasing their speed.
Jiang Chang lifted the curtain and looked outside.
The scenery outside the window rushed past, and the trees along the official road formed a blurry green shadow.
Amazingly, thanks to the array on the wheels, the carriage remained very stable even when traveling on bumpy dirt roads.
Zhou Yuanzhi picked up the teapot on the small stove and poured Jiang Chang a cup of hot tea.
The emerald green tea swirled in the white porcelain cup, releasing a delightful aroma.
"Actually, there is one thing that I cannot understand."
Zhou Yuanzhi pushed the teacup in front of Jiang Chang, her beautiful eyes fixed intently on Kang.
Jiang Chang accepted the teacup and thanked him, saying, "Please, Lord Zhou."
Zhou Yuanzhi said, "I have reviewed all your files. Judging from your bone age and natural talent, you can only be considered mediocre."
Yet you have managed to advance your cultivation to such a level in just one year.
What's even stranger is that you have no powerful sect supporting you, nor any famous teachers or giants offering their advice.
"Master Jiang, could you please enlighten me? How exactly did you manage to do that?"
Jiang Chang blew on the tea leaves, his expression unchanged: "To be honest, Lord Zhou, I'm also puzzled by this matter. Manager Ran once mentioned that my physique is somewhat special, but Kang didn't explain exactly what's special about it. Perhaps it's just a gift from God."
"constitution?"
Zhou Yuanzhi's red lips curved slightly, "I've seen many special constitutions in the world, but yours is truly unique."
Isn't it because you're hiding something strange on you?
Hai's words were already quite a direct inquiry.
Jiang Chang put down his teacup, met Zhou Yuanzhi's gaze, and suddenly grinned, "There are quite a few rare and magical treasures."
However, I obtained them all from others later. As for why I was able to cultivate so quickly in the beginning, I myself am confused.
"How about Lord Zhou bind me and send me back to the headquarters for a thorough autopsy and study? Maybe we'll discover some earth-shattering secret."
Zhou Yuanzhi was taken aback at first, then burst out with a "pfft," her body trembling: "Hall Master Jiang is truly witty; this suggestion is not something we can't consider."
Jiang Chang, knowing when to stop joking, changed the subject: "By the way, Lord Zhou, the Panxiang Soul-Sinking Swamp is extremely dangerous, teeming with many formidable creatures. Although our journey ahead is arranged by the imperial court, we are venturing deep into perilous territory. I hope nothing unexpected will happen to us?"
Zhou Yuanzhi picked up her teacup, took a sip, and said calmly, "Don't worry, Hall Master Jiang. Since the imperial court has chosen this place as the trial ground, it has made all the necessary preparations."
The security of the entrance to the secret realm and its core area is absolutely guaranteed. You only need to focus on the trial itself.
Jiang Chang nodded.
With the imperial court's backing, this dungeon run feels much more secure.
Kang stopped asking questions and, following Xiang Xiuxiu's example, leaned against the carriage wall, closed his eyes, and began to circulate the star power within his body to adjust his state.
Although horses have great stamina, they are not tireless machines.
After galloping non-stop for an entire day, the two horse-like creatures noticeably slowed down as night fell.
Zhou Yuanzhi glanced at the night outside the car window and said, "The horses are tired. Let's rest in that deserted forest ahead before continuing our journey."
As she spoke, she waved her fair wrist.
Two horses, seemingly acting on instructions, slowly came to a stop in an open space.
Zhou Yuanzhi said to Jiang Chang and Yun Xiaocheng, who had just woken up and was still rubbing his sleepy eyes, "I'll feed the two horses some grass and water that contains spiritual energy."
You two go and gather some wild things from the nearby forest. Let's grill something hot and eat to replenish our energy.
Jiang Mu and Yun Xiaocheng agreed, jumped off the carriage, and walked towards the nearby Black Silence Woods.
Xiang Xiuxiu remained in the carriage, meditating with her eyes closed.
In the woods, moonlight filters through the intertwined branches, casting dappled silver frost on the ground.
Yun Xiaocheng glanced back at the carriage with lights shining in the distance, curled his lip, and laughed, "Tsk, being born into the right family is really an art. Born into wealth and privilege, never having to worry about anything, destined to be served like a bodhisattva."
Pan said that her family had even prepared the star position for her, so she could naturally advance to the next level after returning from the Hai trial.
Jiang Mu simply walked on silently, without saying a word.
Yun Xiaocheng's eyes darted around, and he leaned closer to Jiang Chang, saying, "Brother Jiang, I've already done the calculations. The Hai-type Secret Realm Trial is mostly about letting those who enter compete for opportunities based on their own abilities."
Look, we're both at the fifth realm, while Princess Xiang is at the sixth realm at its peak, and she has a powerful background. If a conflict really breaks out, we'll have no choice but to obediently hand over our opportunities.
How about we form a secret alliance first, look after each other, and split the benefits equally?
Otherwise, she would have devoured all the meat and soup in the Hai Secret Realm, leaving us two brothers with absolutely nothing.
Jiang Mu turned her head slightly, looked at Yun Xiaocheng's sincere face, and sneered inwardly.
An alliance?
In the world of cultivation, the most untrustworthy thing is the so-called "alliance".
Today you can ally with me and swear oaths to stab others in the back, but tomorrow, when you encounter greater benefits, you can turn around and betray me.
"Brother Yun is right. However, let's wait until we enter the secret realm and see the situation clearly before making any decisions."
Jiang Chang gave a perfunctory reply.
As he spoke, he brought his right index finger together and flicked it lightly.
"Whoosh!"
A burst of sword energy shot out.
Not far away, a rabbit that was rustling and foraging in the grass suddenly stiffened and then collapsed.
There was a small blood hole between his eyebrows.
"A flying sword?!"
Yun Xiaocheng stared wide-eyed at Jiang Mu as if he were a monster. "Wow, Brother Jiang, you even know how to use flying swords!"
Kang unsheathed the long sword from his back and waved it in front of Jiang Chang: "See, Brother Jiang? Actually, my sword is also a flying sword, and it's quite powerful."
Oh right, I forgot to tell you, bro, I'm a "7"
Before Yun Xiaocheng could finish speaking, the wild rabbit suddenly turned into a cloud of blood mist and disappeared.
The sudden scene that happened by Hai left the two of them stunned.
"Something's not right, there's something there!"
Yun Xiaocheng's expression changed drastically, and his long sword was drawn with a clang and hung in front of him.
The sword vibrated and hummed, splitting into three, then into nine.
Nine gleaming sword shadows, like a peacock spreading its tail, swirled around Kang's body, creating a dense whistling sound as they protected him in the center.
Jiang Chang grasped the hilt of the Blood Mad Blade almost simultaneously.
The blade remained unsheathed.
But a fierce and malevolent aura had already spread.
His eyes, like those of a hawk, vigilantly scanned every inch of shadow around him.
Just at the hour of Hai (9-11 PM), a towering ancient tree standing nearby seemed to come alive.
The thick tree trunk twisted violently, and cracks appeared on the bark like painful human faces.
The thick branches that were originally hanging down naturally now resembled the tentacles of a raging python, lashing out at the two of them from all directions with a whooshing sound.
Like a tree?
Jiang was surprised.
"Well done!"
A glint flashed in Yun Xiaocheng's eyes, and he pointed his fingers like a sword, aiming at the front.
Of the nine sword shadows surrounding him, three separated and shot out like streaks of light, precisely severing the three tree branch tentacles that had been drawn from the bow.
Where the sword flashed, tentacles snapped in two.
It splattered out ink-colored liquid.
However, even more "branches" swarm out from the trunk or underground, densely packed like a net.
The originally soft leaves, like sharp throwing knives, cascaded down like a torrential rain as the branches swayed.
Yun Xiaocheng snorted coldly.
The remaining six sword shadows suddenly accelerated, weaving into a sword net in front of him, shredding all the incoming leaf blades.
Kang moved nimbly, trying to approach the tree-like trunk under the protection of the sword shadows.
The ginger field is even more like a basket.
In a flash, he appeared in front of the tree-like structure.
"Long!"
Jiang Chang swung his knife and chopped down.
The tree spirit sensed that Jiang Mu posed a greater threat, and its split tree face roared.
The ground exploded with a deafening roar!
Several thick, python-like main roots, covered with hard, knotted bark, emerged from the earth. They coiled around Jiang Chang, leaving him no room to dodge, intending to bind and strangle him.
"Brother Jiang, be careful!"
Upon seeing this, Yun Xiaocheng shouted, his face showing alarm.
Kang Bingzhi drew his fingers again, and the three sword shadows surrounding him suddenly merged into one, transforming into a dazzling sword light.
With a sharp, piercing shriek, it pierced straight at the junction of the tree demon's trunk and the ground.
Hai Yi's sword moved with the speed of thunder, determined to crush the enemy's capital.
However, a sudden change occurred.
Just as the sword light was about to strike the tree demon's root, a faint light flashed on the tree's trunk, rippling like water.
The sword light seemed to have struck a mirror, and suddenly turned back.
Instead, it roared towards the back of the basket-like archer field!
"not good!"
Yun Xiaocheng was shocked and furious, his face filled with panic. Jiang Huju tried to control the flying sword to turn the bow, but it was too late.
The sword light arrived in an instant.
It looked like he was about to pierce Jiang Mu's heart.
At the critical moment, Jiang Chang's figure suddenly vanished.
The next moment, it appeared like a ghost directly behind the tree trunk.
He twirled his left hand with a smile.
A bronze Buddha lamp appeared in his palm.
As Jiang Chang tilted the lamp, a drop of golden Buddhist oil, imbued with the pure aura of Buddhist karmic fire, fell onto the tree-like main root.
"boom!"
The moment the Buddha oil touched the tree roots, it was like a spark falling into a barrel of dynamite.
A golden flame, supremely powerful and yang, capable of overcoming all evil and yin, rose up and, with the force of a wildfire, instantly enveloped the entire towering ancient tree in a sea of golden flames.
"Squeak squeak squeak—!"
The tree seemed to emit a shrill, mournful cry, like that of a baby.
The waving branches and roots twitched as if touched, eventually turning to ashes bit by bit in the flames.
Meanwhile, on the other side, Yun Xiaocheng saw the tree demon being set ablaze, a strange light flashing in his eyes. He shouted, "You wretched creature, die!"
Kang Xing spat a mouthful of blood from the tip of his tongue onto his fingertips and then placed them on his brow.
A blinding silver light suddenly shone from between his brows.
A thin, silver sword aura, as fine as a hair, shot out from between Kang's eyebrows and pierced the tree-like trunk that was struggling in the sea of fire.
The tree-like shriek abruptly stopped.
Immediately afterwards, it was as if countless explosives had been stuffed inside the tree trunk, causing it to explode from the inside out.
Countless pieces of wood burning with golden flames, mixed with rampaging sword energy, swept out in all directions like countless bullets, wildly and indiscriminately.
And among them, the densest and most powerful wave of sword energy fragments—
As if it had eyes, it swept its gaze towards Jiang Mu!
Jiang Chang frowned as he watched the stray bullets raining down on him.
He took out a fan from his bosom with his right hand, unfolded it, and gently fanned it against the incoming splinter wood and sword energy.
[Draw a circle around yourself and imprison yourself!]
As the fan swept across, the space in front of them instantly froze.
The flying splinters of wood and sword energy seemed to have been injected with invisible glue, becoming stiff and ineffective.
Immediately afterwards, Jiang Chang's figure flashed again and disappeared from the spot.
The smoke and wood chips from the explosion gradually dissipated, leaving only a mess and the tree-like remains burning with golden flames.
The woods returned to calm.
Yun Xiaocheng sheathed his longsword, brushing the dust off his clothes as he anxiously looked around, "Brother Jiang! Are you alright?!"
"Brother Jiang?"
"Your swordsmanship—do you usually enjoy killing your teammates this much?" A chilling voice suddenly descended lightly from above.
Yun Xiaocheng froze.
Kang looked up and followed the sound, only to see Jiang standing on the top branch of a towering tree that had not been affected by the noise.
He stared at him with an icy gaze, as if he were looking at a dead man.
Yun Xiaocheng's facial muscles twitched slightly, but he quickly put on a relieved and delighted expression: "Oh! Brother Jiang, it's so good that you're alright!"
That really scared me to death, bro! I thought you were—"
"Alright, stop acting."
Jiang Chang's lips curled into a mocking smile. "You just killed me with your joke, didn't you?"
"What?!"
Yun Xiaocheng raised his voice, his face full of innocence, "Brother Jiang, you're really wronging an innocent person."
Just now, it was clearly that tree that was cunning, using its supernatural powers to deliberately redirect my sword energy to your side.
I didn't even have time to save you.
"OK."
Jiang Chang nodded calmly, his tone even. "Since you say it was an accident, then now, I might also accidentally 'miss' my attack. I hope—you can catch it."
The words had barely left his lips!
Jiang Chang jumped down from the tall tree branch.
The dark red [Tai Su Tian Gang Blood River True] surged out like a tide.
"from!"
Without any fancy probing, the first move was a devastating blow.
A crimson blade of energy, several meters long and as red as blood, slashed down at Yun Xiaocheng below, like a fallen crescent moon.
Before the blade even arrived, a terrifying blade intent as large as a mountain crashed down upon them.
Yun Xiaocheng's pupils suddenly contracted.
"madman!"
Kang could no longer care about acting. He cursed and the long sword flew out of his hand.
It wasn't an attack, but rather something hovering overhead.
The sword spun rapidly, splitting into dozens of solid sword shadows.
The sword shadows connected end to end, forming a shimmering, semi-circular fan-shaped sword shield that firmly protected Kang below.
At the same time, Kang quickly formed several sword seals with both hands.
Streams of spiritual energy flowed into the sword and shield, making them shine even brighter and as solid as a rock.
"Boom—!"
The crimson blade energy collided with the flying sword barrier.
A deafening, thunderous roar erupted.
The violent shockwave spread outwards in a ripple-like pattern, snapping trees dozens of miles around in half, sending splinters flying.
The sword and shield shone brightly, flickering and creaking.
Even tiny cracks appeared on the surface.
Yun Xiaocheng let out a muffled groan, his face turned pale, and his feet sank deep into the ground.
Then, he was pushed back seven or eight zhang by the immense strength of the giant's thigh before he could barely regain his footing.
A sweet taste rose in his throat, and a trickle of blood spilled from his mouth.
"How could Hai Xiao's power possibly be stronger?!"
Yun Xiaocheng was shocked.
Although he told Jiang Mu that he was at the Great Perfection of the Fifth Realm, in reality, Kang Zhenshi's cultivation was at the mid-stage of the Sixth Realm.
In addition, there's the foundation of supernatural powers.
In terms of cultivation and foundation, Kang is confident that he is second to none.
But now, in a head-on confrontation, Kang was actually suppressed by the hall master in front of him who had only been cultivating for a year.
A fierce glint flashed in Yun Xiaocheng's eyes. Taking advantage of Jiang Chang's slight slowing of his blade, he pointed his sword.
The sword and shield above their heads suddenly dispersed, and the heavy electricity transformed into dozens of sword shadows.
Instead of defending, the sword struck Jiang Mu's limbs with fierce light, enveloping all of Jiang Mu's vital points.
Jiang Chang immediately changed his knife technique.
The Blood Frenzy Blade traced a perfect circle in his hand.
"Whirlwind Slash!"
The dark red blade light transformed into a rapidly spinning vortex.
The incoming sword shadows crashed into the vortex, as if being caught in a steel abrasion, producing a dense series of clanging sounds and sparks flying everywhere.
Most of the sword shadows were shredded to pieces.
The few piercing blades were easily dodged by Jiang Chang using his agility.
Jiang Chang took a step forward, the knife following his body, and the second strike was already upon him!
It's still just simple chopping and hacking.
But it's faster, more powerful, and tireless.
Yun Xiaocheng parried with his sword.
The sounds of swords clashing were incessant. With each collision, Kang felt his arms ache and go numb, his blood surge, and he couldn't help but retreat.
"Damn it! Is Hai Xiaoshi a monster? Can't Kang's star power wither away?"
Yun Xiaocheng grew increasingly alarmed and desperate as the fight progressed.
Kang Wu realized that the star power in his body was beginning to be severely depleted, but the guy in front of him who was killing like a dog was not only not weakening, but was getting stronger and stronger.
"puff!"
Yun Xiaocheng finally couldn't hold on any longer and spat out another mouthful of blood. The long sword in his hand was shaken so badly that it almost slipped out of his grasp.
A person is like a bowling ball that has been knocked away.
It crashed into two large trees before falling to the ground.
Kang struggled to get up, but felt a sharp pain in his chest and then a violent coughing fit.
Each cough brought out a large mouthful of blood.
Jiang Chang, carrying a knife, walked over step by step.
The footsteps were exceptionally clear in the silent forest.
Looking at the disheveled Yun Xiaocheng on the ground, he slowly raised his knife, the blade aimed at Yun Xiaocheng's head.
Yun Xiaocheng's pupils dilated, and all the color drained from his face.
The shadow of death loomed over Kang, and his body trembled uncontrollably. He struggled, but could not get up.
Just as the blade was about to fall—
A fair, jade-like hand suddenly reached out from the side and grasped the blade.
The blade was only a hair's breadth away from Yun Xiaocheng's forehead.
The sharp blade even severed several strands of Kang's hair.
Jiang Chang turned his head slightly and looked at Zhou Yuanzhi, who had appeared beside him at some point.
"Alright, that's enough of a lesson."
Zhou Yuanzhi flicked her finger lightly.
Jiang Chang felt a gentle force flowing along the blade, and the Blood Mad Blade was involuntarily deflected.
Kang Shunshi sheathed his long sword and asked calmly, "Lord Zhou, since you've been watching over the whole basket of things..."
Why didn't you stop Kang when he tried to kill me? Why did you only step in to be the good guy now that I'm about to kill him?
Zhou Yuanzhi said softly, "That tree demon just now wasn't worth my personal attention."
The reason I'm observing is twofold: firstly, to see for myself how much real talent you so-called geniuses actually possess.
On the other hand—”
The woman's gaze lingered on Jiang Mu, carrying a meaningful undertone. "I was also taking this opportunity to see if I could teach you a lesson. However, it seems my worries were completely unnecessary."
Master Jiang's cunning and methods are far more sophisticated than I imagined.
Jiang Chang glanced deeply at Zhou Yuanzhi, then ignored Yun Xiaocheng, who was still panting heavily on the ground, and turned to walk back to the camp.
Zhou Yuanzhi watched Jiang Chang leave before reaching out to help Yun Xiao, who was slumped on the ground, to his feet.
He even considerately patted the mud and fallen leaves off Kang's clothes.
"Master Yun, don't let one setback discourage you."
Zhou Yuanzhi said gently, “Your ‘Splitting Light and Shadow Sword’ and ‘Sword Soul’ techniques are already quite advanced, but you still lack experience and control in combat, and have not yet reached the ultimate state of ‘the sword follows the will and the mind controls the action.’”
If, after this journey to the secret realm concludes, I can seize the opportunity to address my weaknesses, my future achievements may not be inferior to his.
Zhou Yuanzhi was all too familiar with the common flaws of these so-called arrogant and proud individuals.
Accustomed to smooth sailing, they are inherently arrogant.
When faced with a major setback, or when one's defenses are completely overwhelmed, it is easy to develop self-doubt, leading to an imbalance in one's Dao heart.
Once the Dao Heart is shattered, the genius that Hai painstakingly nurtured will be completely ruined.
He served as the leader of the Heiji Trial and as an inspector for the imperial court.
Although Zhou Yuanzhi was happy to see internal competition among the Kang family, she absolutely did not want to see a promising young man's Dao heart be destroyed by Jiang Chang and never recover.
For the imperial court, the number 亥 (hai) also represents a waste of resources.
Upon hearing Zhou Yuanzhi's reassurance, Yun Xiaocheng's expression shifted rapidly, his chest heaving violently.
Kang stared at Jiang Chang's back, then looked at his own hands, which were covered in mud and blood, and at the longsword whose light had dimmed.
After a long pause, Kang suddenly scoffed, "There are always people better than you, and heavens beyond heavens, haha—I've truly seen something new. It's not that there are always people better than you, it's that there are gods beyond people!"
Kang bent down, picked up the sword, and put it back into the sword case on his back.
He stopped looking at Zhou Yuanzhi and walked slowly towards the carriage.
As Zhou Yuanzhi watched Kang's somewhat desolate figure walk out of the woods, the gentle glint in her eyes gradually faded, and her gaze deepened.
"What the hell—"
Looking at the chaotic traces of the fight on the ground, especially the tree-like remains burned by the Buddhist fire, she murmured to herself, "It really is—God."
Zhou Yuanzhi personally hunted two wild rabbits and brought them back.
Arriving at the campfire, they skillfully peeled and cleaned the skin, skewered it with branches, and slowly roasted it over the fire.
The grease dripped into the fire, making a sizzling sound.
The aroma gradually spread.
Jiang Chang sat opposite the fire, scratching his knees, and closed his eyes to regulate his breathing.
Yun Xiaocheng, who had just been brutally beaten, hid in the carriage and silently took pills to heal his injuries.
"With your current combat strength, at the Hai level of the Heavenly Gang Star Position, apart from that Princess who is temporarily above you due to her higher realm, you are probably hard to find an opponent in the same realm."
Zhou Yuanzhi chuckled as she twirled the roasted rabbit in her hand, sprinkling some spices she carried with her evenly over it. She said to Jiang Chang, "If this trial in the secret realm goes smoothly, you'll advance to the sixth realm afterward. At that time, you'll be unstoppable among your peers."
Jiang Chang slowly opened his eyes.
The flickering firelight reflected in Kang's deep eyes.
He suddenly asked, "If I kill him inside the secret realm, will the imperial court cause me trouble?"
Zhou Yuanzhi paused slightly as she roasted the rabbit.
Instead of answering directly, she avoided the main point and said, "Yun Xiaocheng comes from the Ten Thousand Swords Sect and is one of the more outstanding disciples of the sect."
Later, the imperial court reached some cooperation agreements with the Sword Sect, and Kang, while retaining his status as a disciple of the Sword Sect, took up a position in the imperial court.
He accumulated merits and eventually became a local official, even if the location was remote.
"The Myriad Swords Sect again?"
Jiang Chang secretly grumbled to himself.
Damn it, since the beginning of my journey to Yancheng, I've encountered so many people related to the Ten Thousand Swords Sect.
Yan Zixiao, the Master of Wine, and now Yun Xiaocheng has emerged.
It's almost become a chain wholesale agricultural market.
Zhou Yuanzhi continued, "In my opinion, Kang's fate belongs to the Daqing court."
The benefits Kang gained were his own. But the glory and legacy he carried belonged to the Myriad Swords Sect.
If you are outmatched in skill during the Haici Secret Realm Trial and die...
From the perspective of the imperial court, he was merely someone who died in the line of duty.
The imperial court would at most offer some condolences and compensation; it wouldn't really care about anything related to a dead person.
but----"
Zhou Yuanzhi deliberately emphasized, "It's different with the Ten Thousand Swords Sect. If their core disciples die in the trial, they will most likely send someone to investigate the truth. Once it's found that you were the one who did it, there will be no shortage of trouble."
Jiang Changpan understood.
The imperial court's attitude was, "If someone is dead, they are dead; we'll handle it according to procedure." However, the deceased had a sect, and that sect might seek revenge later.
However, Jiang Chang only cared about the court's attitude.
Since the imperial court doesn't care, what does Kang have to worry about?
As for the backers of the Sword Sect and Saber Sect—
Haha, who cares?
Has Kang Jiang offended few people already? One more Hai won't make a difference.
If you really push me too far, I'll even dig up your ancestral graves.
Seeing Jiang Chang's indifferent expression, Zhou Yuanzhi glanced at the carriage parked in the distance, then suddenly changed the subject, asking, "Do you know who that princess's lover is?"
"Who?"
Jiang asked casually.
Zhou Yuanzhi parted her red lips slightly: "The Grand Oath of the Divine Sword, He Shuanghe."
'
'
Upon hearing the name "Hai," Jiang Chang's expression turned somewhat surprised.
After a long pause, Kang slowly raised his head and looked at Zhou Yuanzhi: "So, the Divine Sword Pad—I can't move it now, is that right?"
Zhou Yuanzhi nodded frankly: "Yes. Shenjian Dian has now taken the initiative to surrender to the court and is willing to offer up all its resources. In addition, there is the connection with Princess Hai as a buffer. The court needs to weigh the pros and cons."
"What if I absolutely have to use the divine sword pad?"
Jiang Chang's tone turned icy.
Zhou Yuanzhi met Kang's gaze with unwavering composure: "As long as your value is high enough, high enough for me to feel it's worth taking responsibility for you, I naturally won't stop you."
As for whether the powerful figures in the court or the forces of Mohu will jump out to stop you, that depends on your own abilities.
She changed the subject, picked up a roasted rabbit leg, and handed it to Jiang Chang, "However, with your current cultivation level, you're probably still lacking in experience to deal with He Shan'er, that eighth-realm woman."
Jiang Chang reached out and took the sizzling, oily rabbit meat, his eyes flickering.
Kang did not refute, because Zhou Yuanzhi was telling the truth.
Zhou Yuanzhi stood up, picked up a few more pieces of roasted rabbit meat, and said, "Let's fill our stomachs first. After we eat and rest for a while, once the horses have regained their strength, we'll set off tonight and try to reach the entrance of the Fallen Soul Swamp before noon tomorrow."
After saying that, she took the roasted meat, turned around, and walked towards the carriage.
I'm going to share some food with the two people in the carriage too.
Watching Zhou Yuanzhi's departing figure, Jiang Mu took a bite of the rabbit meat in her hand.
It must be said that women born in the year of Hai are not only shrewd and calculating, but also adept at interpersonal relationships and winning people over.
He was the chief inspector of the Daqing court, a powerful and influential figure.
He actually humbled himself and personally hunted wild game and made barbecue for his subordinates and younger colleagues.
It's definitely not something that ordinary people can compare to.
but----
Jiang Mu chewed on the rabbit meat while gazing at the flickering flames in front of him.
A cold glint flickered in the depths of his clear, black-and-white eyes.
"Does living off the princess guarantee you'll keep the divine sword pad?"
"Heh, I don't care if you're He Shuanghe or He Danhe. Since we've become mortal enemies, I'll kill you if I have to!"
"Once the Hai Ci Trial is over, I, Old Oath, will ensure that your Divine Sword Paddy line is completely wiped out!"
Inside the carriage, Zhou Yuanzhi handed the rabbit meat to Xiang Xiuxiu, who was still meditating with her eyes closed. She then glanced at Yun Xiaocheng, who was pale and adjusting his breathing, and placed another portion on the small table next to Kang. She said softly, "Eat something, it will help you recover faster."
Yun Xiaocheng's eyelids twitched, but he didn't open his eyes; he simply nodded.
Zhou Yuanzhi exited the carriage, preparing to return to the campfire to chat with Jiang Mu for a few more minutes and get closer to him.
Suddenly, a sharp, high-pitched eagle cry rang out in the night sky.
She looked up at the Buddha and saw a magnificent iron-feathered eagle piercing through the clouds like an arrow, swooping down.
It landed precisely on the crossbar at the top of the carriage.
Zhou Yuanzhi's expression hardened.
She strode forward, untied the thin copper tube bound to the eagle's leg, and pulled out a roll of secret letter paper.
Unfold the note and examine it closely.
However, after just one glance, the sneer on Zhou Yuanzhi's face froze, turning into astonishment.
Immediately, Hai Mo's astonishment quickly turned into a chilling and furious shock.
The letter contained very little, just one line:
[It is imperative to verify whether Jiang Chang possesses the Purple Mansion Qi within his body!]
The Qi of the Purple Palace?!
She stared intently at the words on the note, her chest heaving.
She knew perfectly well what the four characters "亥" represented.
That was a special spiritual energy fluctuation that could only be produced by the unique cultivation method of the "Purple Mansion Covenant".
And the entire Daqing Dynasty, and even the entire world.
Currently, there is only one woman who possesses the Hai Dian Gong method and is likely to practice it with others.
Shangguan Luoxue!
No wonder—
Zhou Yuanzhi murmured softly.
No wonder Shangguan Luoxue's Dao foundation was miraculously repaired.
No wonder her cultivation level, which had originally fallen, not only recovered to its peak, but even showed a faint trend of further advancement.
turn out to be----
She has indeed found someone with whom she can cultivate the "Purple Mansion Cognition" together!
And the object of this fellow practitioner's practice is very likely to be—
Zhou Yuanzhi slowly turned her head and stabbed Jiang Chang, who was sitting by the campfire gnawing on a roasted rabbit leg.
She took two deep breaths.
He forcibly suppressed the turmoil in his heart.
Then, she walked up to the eagle that was still preening its feathers and pried open its sharp beak.
From the hidden sac under its tongue, a pearl the size of a soybean was pulled out.
Zhou Yuanzhi held the pearl oath in her palm, walked back to the campfire, and asked with a smile, "How was it? Was the path alright?"
Jiang Chang swallowed the meat in his mouth and nodded, saying, "Not bad. With Lord Zhou's cooking skills, even if he retires from officialdom, he could definitely make a fortune by opening a restaurant."
"Hehe, Hall Master Jiang really knows how to talk."
Zhou Yuanzhi's expression remained gentle, but her eyes held a hint of coldness. "Come, put your hand out."
"What are you doing?"
Jiang Chang looked puzzled.
"Stretch out."
Zhou Yuanzhi repeated it, her expression fading slightly.