Walking along the streets of Shendu, Xu Ying wondered silently, *Should I make a trip to the Yuan Manor?*
He could not help picturing Yuan Ruoshi's face, a surge of warmth stirring in his heart. But then her features suddenly shifted into the likeness of Yuan Weiyang. Xu Ying gave a start of alarm and hurriedly cast away the stray thought.
When he reached the banks of the Luoshui River, several youths—young men and women dressed in opulent garments—came walking toward him. Among them, a fair, clean-shaven youth bowed deeply to Xu Ying, offering a greeting that nearly brushed the ground. With a smile, he said, "Monster King Xu, I am Cui Yongzhi of the Cui Manor. Beside me is Miss Zhu Hongjian of the Zhu clan, and this scholar is Yuan Yunkong, whose ancestor was Yuan Tiangang."
Xu Ying nodded to each of them. "Pleased to meet you."
When Cui Yongzhi introduced Yuan Yunkong, Xu Ying's expression turned solemn. "Seventh Master, bring out the sword casket."
Yuan Qi hurriedly opened his mouth and spat out Yuan Tiangang's sword casket.
The casket hummed and vibrated, suddenly soaring into the air. With a series of sharp clacks, it opened on its own, releasing seven streaks of sword qi. The sword qi swirled joyfully around Yuan Yunkong, dancing with immense delight.
Then, in an instant, the seven streaks converged and vanished back inside the casket, which settled gently at Yuan Yunkong's feet.
Xu Ying smiled. "A true descendant of the Yuan family after all. Now that the sword casket is returned to its rightful master, my mind is at ease. I once stumbled into the Wangxiang Platform by mistake, and it was only thanks to Master Yuan Tiangang's guidance that I was able to leave and return to the mortal realm. Senior Yuan gifted me this casket, telling me that should I ever meet one of his kin, it would fly to their side to convey his longing for home."
Both surprised and overjoyed, Yuan Yunkong hastily gathered up the sword casket. "To avoid a mortal calamity back then, our ancestor departed for the Wangxiang Platform and never returned. None of us knew whether he was alive or dead. I never imagined I would encounter his venerable self's dharma treasure here today."
His expression turned grave. "Since our ancestor saved Monster King Xu's life, we are not strangers. Monster King Xu, I wonder if I might speak a word, whether it is appropriate or not?"
Xu Ying's gaze swept over Cui Yongzhi and Zhu Hongjian with a faint, knowing smile. "Better left unsaid."
Yuan Yunkong pressed on regardless. "Monster King Xu, the Cui Manor is renowned as a house of prime ministers, standing equal with the Pei family. Over two thousand years, they have produced countless Nuo immortals. The Zhu clan is a newly risen prestigious house whose fortunes blaze like fire fed with oil, primed for great prosperity. At present, the venerable elders of both the Cui and Zhu clans are nearing the end of their lifespans. As juniors, Brother Cui and Miss Hongjian must ease their elders' burdens. Since you possess immortal flesh, Monster King Xu, and have opened the Mud Pill secret depository, why not make an alms offering of your body?"
Zhu Chanchan felt a chill in her heart. *The news that I harbor immortal elixirs reached his ears this quickly? Could there be heavenly fiends in this city?*
Xu Ying replied flatly, "If you had vast wealth, would you be obliged to scatter all your fortunes to everyone under heaven?"
Yuan Yunkong frowned in displeasure. "Monster King Xu, I am merely asking you to offer your flesh to the Cui and Zhu clans, not to scatter it across the entire realm! You admitted yourself that my ancestor saved your life. Can you not even manage such a trivial gesture? How do you intend to repay the kindness my ancestor showed you?"
Xu Ying's face darkened. Taking Zhu Chanchan by the hand, he stepped around him.
Infuriated, Yuan Yunkong instantly activated the sword casket. With a sharp hiss, sword qi unsheathed from the casket and lunged toward Xu Ying as he yelled, "Monster King Xu! Ungrateful wretch! I shall take your flesh in alms myself!"
Without turning his head, Xu Ying reached out casually. The sword qi flew straight into his grasp, swirling obediently between his fingertips.
Yuan Yunkong was taken aback and urged the sword qi repeatedly, but the energy inside the casket seemed to have sunk like an ox into the sea, its connection entirely severed.
His face flushed crimson. Then Xu Ying flicked his finger, sending the sword qi hurtling back. Yuan Yunkong scrambled to evade, yet the sword qi was exceedingly sharp, weaving high and low. No matter what maneuvers or divine arts he deployed, he could not ward it off.
In an instant, torn fabric fluttered like butterflies, filling the air with shreds of Yuan Yunkong's shredded robes.
"To think Yuan Tiangang has a descendant like you."
Xu Ying reached out and caught the sword qi once more. It danced around him with reluctant affection, gliding over his fingertips before finally darting away and diving back into the casket.
With a flick of his sleeves, Xu Ying bid farewell to Yuan Tiangang's sword casket and broke into hearty laughter, his voice reverberating down the broad street. "On the first day of the third month, I departed Jiangjiatian in Lingling, slaying gods and men all the way to Shendu. Playing the gentleman these past few days has been truly suffocating!"
He raised his voice, shouting clear and loud, "Gentlemen of Shendu, if you want immortal flesh, trade your lives for it!"
"Splendid!"
Cui Yongzhi laughed heartily as he leapt into the air. In an instant, a burst of rainbow light rose behind him, resonating with his three great cave-heavens. That rainbow light was his Hidden Scenery Dao image—a vast, arching bridge of brilliance.
"I shall claim that immortal flesh!"
Using his arms like whips, Cui Yongzhi swept the rainbow down. Along the street, stone pavers snapped and flipped into the air with sharp cracks, forming a crushing torrent that swept toward Xu Ying!
Xu Ying threw a punch forward. Behind and before him spread a dark starry expanse, constellations wheeling and swarming along with the strike, crushing the rainbow light like dry twigs.
With his technique shattered, Cui Yongzhi thrust both hands forward to meet the blow. Xu Ying roared, the Mud Pill and Crimson Palace secret depositories erupting simultaneously in an explosion of terrifying might!
Blood leaked from Cui Yongzhi's eyes, ears, nose, and mouth as he staggered backward.
Taking advantage of the opening, Zhu Hongjian charged in. Before she could close the distance, a streak of sword qi cleaved down toward her. Hurriedly channeling her cave-heaven, she unleashed the Zhu clan's divine art, Wind and Fire Linking Cities, to block the blow!
The Zhu clan also cultivated the Crimson Palace secret depository. Though different from the Guo family's heritage, their art was formidable, granting peerless physical might. Yet the moment Zhu Hongjian met the sword qi, she sensed its power surging far beyond her wildest expectations!
She twisted aside in a desperate attempt to dodge, but it was already too late. The sword light grazed her left shoulder, severing her arm and sending it flying into the air!
Suppressing the agonizing pain, Zhu Hongjian was about to call for help when Xu Ying made a grasping motion through the empty air. Behind him, his vitality and blood coalesced into a hundred-zhang Ba Snake that coiled around her. Inverting her upside down, it slammed her head violently against the skull of Cui Yongzhi, who had barely halted his retreat!
*Thud!*
Two blooms of blood burst outward.
"Murder!" Yuan Yunkong shrieked in horror.
Leading Zhu Chanchan by the hand, Xu Ying continued toward the city gates. The vitality steaming off his back manifested a savage, menacing apparition of dragons and snakes.
Suddenly, a man clad in purple appeared on the opposite bank of the Luoshui River. A Yellow Court phenomenon drifted behind him, displaying four cave-heavens in total. He chuckled. "Country brat, you really do have some skill. Do you recognize me, Lu Dingtian of the Lu family? Today, I come to claim that immortal flesh!"
He threw his hand upward, and the river's surface erupted. Waves tore into the sky as manifestations of leaping dragons and pouncing tigers surged toward Xu Ying!
Xu Ying lowered his stance and invoked the Eight Sounds of Primordial Nurturing. Strange Dao tones rang out, shattering every divine art across the river. The burly man spat blood, his internal organs pulverized, and he tumbled into the far end of the street.
Xu Ying proceeded along the Luoshui toward the outskirts of the city. Attackers threw themselves at him in continuous waves. Xu Ying met them with Dragon and Snake Awaken from Hibernation, the Eight Sounds of Primordial Nurturing, or the Rhapsody of the Azure Heavens. Within a few exchanges, he struck down one powerful foe after another, meeting no match.
Along his path, blood soaked the stones, and corpses tumbled into the Luoshui in unending succession.
High above at the Shi Manor, Shi Jingtang stood overlooking the carnage from a vantage point. Behind him stood Shi Beihuang, an elder of the Shi clan. Shi Jingtang said, "Clan Elder, the Old Ancestor's soul and Realm of Xiyi were scorched, and his lifespan is nearly spent. There is only one path to save him: capturing Xu Ying. Only by consuming his flesh and blood can the Old Ancestor survive this ordeal!"
Shi Beihuang said in a heavy voice, "Jingtang, think of how many Nuo immortals assaulted the Guo Manor yesterday, only to be utterly repelled—even His Majesty was severely wounded. The older generation cannot and dares not strike him rashly. Only the younger generation can make a move!"
Shi Jingtang's eyes burned with eagerness, and he gritted his teeth. "Then let me go! I will slay him and bring his flesh and blood back to the Old Ancestor!"
He raised his voice. "Beyond the Jade Pool cave-heaven, I have also opened the Bubbling Spring cave-heaven, and paired with qi refinement methods, bringing him down will be effortless!"
Shi Beihuang replied, "You are too reckless. Across the various great houses of Shendu, none of the direct inner-lineage descendants have stepped forward yet. Those sent out are either subordinate Nuo masters or outer disciples. They are all probing, testing the limits of Monster King Xu's capabilities so they can strike with guaranteed victory!"
With a wave of his hand, more than a dozen disciples of the Shi family dashed out of the manor, racing toward the banks of the Luoshui.
"Elder Young Master Cui Dongli of the Cui Manor, Eldest Miss Zhu Hongyi of the Zhu clan, Gao Xingqian of the Gao family, Chai Wuyong of the Chai family—all of them are elites among the younger generation. And then there are Prince Li Tingshu of the imperial house and Wang Yixuan of the Wang clan, both renowned figures throughout Shendu."
Shi Beihuang said flatly, "Jingtang, this is not a matter of venting your grievances; you are competing against these very people."
Beside the Luoshui River, Xu Ying unleashed Ten Thousand Mountains Pay Homage to Jiuyi, crushing a cluster of attacking Nuo masters until they coughed up blood. He then let out a piercing cry:
"Yuan Qi!"
*Whoosh—*
The wind howled as sword qi billowed like clouds. A hundred-zhang serpent bristling with sword qi skimmed the ground and somersaulted through the air, pulverizing everything in its path!
In a single breath, flesh and severed limbs flew along the riverbank, turning the water red!
Xu Ying wielded the great snake to sweep the riverbank clean, clearing the surroundings completely.
A great Nuo master soared in, opening five cave-heavens. Xu Ying gave an endless roar and invoked Calamity Descends from Heaven, pitting tribulation might against the master's assault. While the great Nuo clashed with Xu Ying's palm strike, Yuan Qi seized the moment to sink his fangs into the man's hand.
The great Nuo sprayed blood, his flesh rotting away as he perished on the spot.
"Another of his trump cards revealed. That intelligence was bought with the lives of our Shi family and the other great houses," Shi Beihuang murmured behind Shi Jingtang. "Do not let their sacrifices be in vain."
Shi Jingtang clenched his fists tightly, his eyes wide as he stared intently at Xu Ying's back.
In just a brief span, Xu Ying had carved a path of slaughter over a dozen li along the river, leaving a river of blood in his wake.
Shi Beihuang asked, "Have you gauged the depth of his cultivation and power?"
Shi Jingtang gave a slight nod.
Shi Beihuang said, "Cui Dongli, Zhu Hongyi, and the others must have moved by now. You may go as well."
Overjoyed, Shi Jingtang leapt down from the tall building, letting out a long roar as he raced straight for the Luoshui.
By then, Xu Ying was panting heavily. Though the cultivation of yuan qi within him circulated unceasingly, the consumption had been so massive that it threatened to run dry.
Gathering his yuan qi, he let out a thunderous shout, driving all his strength through sword qi to strike against the Mud Pill secret depository.
A deafening roar sounded inside his mind as a second Mud Pill cave-heaven was forcibly broken open!
Without pause, Xu Ying channeled the Dao image of Ten Thousand Mountains Pay Homage to Jiuyi against his Crimson Palace, opening a second Crescent Moon cave-heaven within it!
He circulated the Taiyi Guiding Technique once more. His yuan qi surged madly, and his divine consciousness and soul leapt upward, reaching the third tier of the Pass-Breaching stage!
Xu Ying's soul and divine consciousness looked up to behold fire and water refining together in the sky. He was drawing ever closer to the third realm of qi refinement, the Cross-Refinement stage!
Xu Ying strode forward. A pleasure boat sailed up from behind him along the river. Despite the cataclysmic slaughter on the banks and the untold numbers of dead, the occupants of the vessel seemed entirely undisturbed; the delicate strains of strings and pipes still drifted out from the cabin.
A woman cradling a pipa looked out through the window and smiled. "Monster King Xu, would you care for a ride?"
Wiping the blood from his face, Xu Ying smiled faintly. "Certainly."
Taking Zhu Chanchan by the hand, he leapt aboard, his weight making the vessel dip slightly into the water.
Xu Ying entered the cabin to find the woman clutching the pipa clad in red robes that spilled across the floor. Since his shoes were soaked in blood, Xu Ying kicked them off and walked inside, sitting down across from her.
"I am Zhu Hongyi." The red-clad woman's lovely eyes drifted over Zhu Chanchan before settling on Xu Ying's face. She smiled. "Monster King Xu has been residing in the Yuan and Guo manors these past days, and I have not had the chance to pay my respects. Please forgive me."
Xu Ying replied earnestly, "It is I who should have paid you a visit, but mundane matters kept me occupied."
Cradling her pipa with lowered eyes, Zhu Hongyi said with a smile, "I have a melody to offer. I wonder if it might please your ears?"
Xu Ying laughed aloud. "Play it."
Zhu Hongyi plucked the pipa strings. The delicate music entered his ears, weaving an invisible web that seeped into Xu Ying's body, binding his soul tighter and tighter!
Zhu Chanchan was astonished. In an old, seasoned tone, she remarked, "A soul-binding divine art? Little girl, you're quite capable!"
Zhu Hongyi played even faster, smiling sweetly. "Thank you for the praise. This time, the premier credit belongs to me!"
With a tinkling laugh, she spun upward, bursting through the cabin's roof with a loud crash. She cried out, "Monster King Xu, you have fallen into my web!"
Xu Ying remained seated inside the cabin, entirely motionless.
Zhu Hongyi plucked the pipa strings hard, shouting, "Soul, come forth!"
Xu Ying still did not move.
Panic stirred in Zhu Hongyi's heart. Just as she was about to pluck the strings again, Shi Jingtang suddenly lunged from the side. Striking a palm toward Zhu Hongyi while reaching his other hand toward Xu Ying, he roared, "The immortal flesh belongs to my Shi family!"
Xu Ying raised his hand to meet the blow. The instant their palms collided, Shi Jingtang spat blood, feeling his power utterly suppressed!
He tumbled backward through the air, crashing onto the shore.
Xu Ying stood up from the boat. "You play very well. Keep playing. I have a person to kill."
Zhu Hongyi's invisible strings remained hooked into Xu Ying's soul, yet she could not budge it in the slightest. When Xu Ying leapt toward the shore, the pull dragged her along, forcing her to fly toward the bank with him.
Gritting her teeth, Zhu Hongyi let her fingers fly across the strings, desperately trying to dislodge his soul.
Xu Ying marched toward Shi Jingtang with a grim expression. Grabbing a large vermilion gourd, he tossed it at Shi Jingtang's feet. "You were the one scouring and binding souls for your Old Ancestor's cultivation, weren't you?"
"How did you know..."
Shi Jingtang's face drained of color.
Sudden realization struck him. Whirling around in terror, he fled toward the Shi Manor.
Xu Ying changed course. Instead of leaving Shendu, he trailed unhurriedly behind Shi Jingtang. Zhu Hongyi stumbled along, dragged against her will, still furiously plucking her instrument through gritted teeth.
Zhu Chanchan skipped behind Xu Ying, giggling. "Wouldn't you be fine if you just threw away the pipa?"
Unwilling to part with such an extraordinary treasure, Zhu Hongyi hovered in midair, obstinately continuing her performance.
Xu Ying pursued Shi Jingtang all the way to the Shi Manor. Shi Jingtang burst inside in utter panic, shouting terror-stricken, "Clan Elder! Clan Elder! He's the one who burned the Old Ancestor!"
Standing outside the gates, Xu Ying drew the stone axe tucked at his waist and poured all his yuan qi into it.
Amidst the music of the pipa, a monstrous sea of blood erupted from the stone axe. Behind Xu Ying, a boundless crimson ocean materialized, from which the skeletal remains of countless ancient behemoths and towering gods and fiends rose up, roaring into the sky!
Xu Ying swung the axe downward. The great gate of the Shi Manor shattered into splinters as a surging sea of blood poured down, tearing deep into the estate and toppling buildings wherever it passed!
The Nuo masters of the Shi family who charged out were dismembered in the blood-red axe light, completely unable to escape the sweep of this peerless weapon of slaughter!
Beaming with pride, Zhu Chanchan called up to Zhu Hongyi, who was still desperately playing in midair, "That axe of his was broken before, but with two quick taps of my fists, I fixed it! Am I amazing or what?"
Zhu Hongyi asked in terror, "Who are you?!"
"Me? I forged dharma treasures for the Son of Heaven of Zhou," Zhu Chanchan giggled. "The Son of Heaven used my treasures to conquer Shang and confer godhood!"
At that moment, an enraged roar echoed from within the Shi Manor. Cave-heavens manifested one after another, eight in total—Clan Elder Shi Beihuang had stepped forward, intent on slaying Xu Ying!
His blood vitality running high, Xu Ying summoned the Pure Yang anomalous fire and exhaled a single breath. Roaring flames engulfed Shi Beihuang entirely!
*Ah Ying's condition is a bit off again!* the bronze bell thought to itself.
The raging fire ignited Shi Beihuang. Though horrified beyond measure, this elder—second in power only to Old Ancestor Shi Mole—still lunged forward savagely, screaming, "No matter what monster you are, you must die!"
"Monster?"
Xu Ying's tone was chillingly detached. With a flick of his finger, the bronze bell whistled through the air, involuntarily spinning out from his glabella.
"You have no idea how terrifying I am when I am a monster!"
Xu Ying seized the bell's suspension loop and swung it with all his might. The bell clanged deafeningly. Within that sound, Shi Beihuang was shaken into fine powder, which was instantly reduced to ash by the anomalous fire!
The bronze bell felt its hair stand on end.
It realized that at that moment, its own full power had been completely unleashed!
Though it had been actively channeling its strength, an external force had surged in, invading its body to force out its utmost might!
*Could the memories sealed by the Meng Po soup have begun to awaken?*
Outside the walls of Shendu, the sorrowful old man, the white-robed old man, and the woman in red watched the spectacle from afar. All three sighed in dismay. The white-robed old man kept looking down at the yellow ritual paper in his hands, muttering, "Too late, it's too late..."
Suddenly, lines of text appeared on the yellow paper, surfacing one after another from right to left.
"From the Palace of Heavenly Gods: retrieve the demon-subduing runes and reinforce the seal. Respect this."
Chapter 105