plumnovel Chapter 46: I just have one small matter to ask you two for help.
Chapter 46: I just have one small matter to ask you two for help.
In the courtyard, Poisonous Lady and Joyful Buddha stood frozen in place, their faces as white as paper, cold sweat soaking their temples. When their eyes met, they both saw the fear and the desire to retreat in each other's eyes.
The three joined forces, and Tan Chan even revealed his true form and used his innate supernatural powers. In a short while, he was killed on the spot, and his destiny was taken away.
The opponent's breathing was steady and long, indicating that he was not using his full strength.
"Brother Xu... Brother Xu." The Poisonous Woman's throat bobbed as she forced a smile that was more like a grimace. Her voice trembled slightly with extreme fear, completely devoid of its previous sweet and charming quality. "This whole affair was orchestrated by that scoundrel Tan Chan. Behind him stands the Prince of Jin. We are of meager cultivation, and were only forced to offend him under duress... Brother Xu, you are all-powerful and discerning, and will surely understand. I swear a solemn oath to my heart, and from now on, I will obey your commands without any disloyalty."
As she spoke, she secretly channeled her magic power, but the wisp of colorful smoke at her fingertips was weak and listless. She had just been injured by the evil dragon's malevolent energy, and her natal Gu worm was seriously damaged.
The Buddha of Joy hurriedly clasped his hands and bowed, his fat face jiggling as he tried to appear compassionate and sincere, but only looked comical and pathetic: "Amitabha, well done, well done. Fellow Daoist Xu, this humble monk was blind and deserves to die. I am willing to offer up my life savings, the Dharma materials, elixirs, and secret manuals I have collected over the years, just to beg for my life. In addition... this humble monk also knows some secrets."
He stole a glance at Xu Changqing's expression and saw that the other man's gaze swept over him as if he had a question. His heart tightened and he quickly lowered his voice and said hastily, "It seems that the Seven Killings Fate is converging with some kind of tribulation-crossing ritual. This humble monk is willing to tell you everything, just to ask for a way out."
Xu Changqing stood with his hands behind his back, his blue robe fluttering slightly in the deepening night.
After listening to their incoherent pleas for mercy and their betrayal, a faint, ambiguous smile appeared on his lips.
"Oh?" His voice was calm, yet it made Poisonous Lady and Joyful Buddha's hearts sink even deeper. "Prince Jin? Old Daoist Xingxiu? A deal?"
"Then I'll have to listen carefully." Xu Changqing chuckled, but the smile didn't reach his eyes. "Tell me, how did Tan Chan collude with Prince Jin, and how much do you know about the Old Daoist Xingxiu? If there's even a single lie, or if you're hiding any crucial information..."
Poisonous Lady and Joyful Buddha trembled as if they had fallen into an ice cave.
Poisonous Lady spoke quickly, "Brother Dao, you are wise. Two years ago, that scoundrel Tan Chan somehow got involved with Prince Jin. Prince Jin has an advisor who is an expert in the Dao of Destiny and Fortune, and he promised Tan Chan many benefits to help him cultivate the 'Greedy Wolf Devouring Fortune Method,' on the condition that Tan Chan secretly collect special destiny charts. Zhang Xiao'e's pure Yin destiny chart is one that Prince Jin specifically requested. This time, his scheme against you, Brother Dao, was also at Prince Jin's behest, aiming to seize your Void Destiny chart. He promised to help Tan Chan establish his foundation after the deed is done."
The Joyful Buddha quickly added, his voice hoarse: "As for the old Daoist Xingxiu… this humble monk's knowledge is indeed limited. I only vaguely heard that in recent years the old Daoist had close ties with certain important figures in the Underworld, seemingly plotting a major event. He needed to gather seven special 'evil destinies' to complete some ancient 'Seven Evils Crossing Calamity' ritual, which is said to be able to break through the Golden Core bottleneck and even steal a trace of Underworld authority…"
Xu Changqing listened quietly, his mind racing as he processed the information.
"Anything else?" Xu Changqing asked, his voice still calm. "If that's all, I'm afraid it won't be enough to buy your lives."
The Poisonous Lady and the Joyful Buddha instantly turned deathly pale. They sensed the murderous intent in his words.
"Brother Dao, I am willing to offer up my natal Gu Mother, and from now on, my life and death will be in your hands," the Poisonous Woman cried out in a shrill voice.
"This humble monk...this humble monk knows the location of a secret villa of the Prince of Jin, which may hold more clues!" the Joyful Buddha also hissed, his fat face full of desperate struggle.
Xu Changqing slowly shook his head.
"No need," he said softly, as if it were a trivial matter. "I appreciate your kindness, fellow Daoists. But I have one more small favor to ask of you."
Before he finished speaking, a fierce glint flashed in his eyes, and his tone suddenly turned cold: "I ask you two fellow Daoists to use your physical bodies and lives to help me cultivate. Afterwards, I will personally recite the Lingbao Tianzun Duren Jing to deliver you both to the afterlife and send you to the Avici Hell as soon as possible, so that you may be forever condemned to hell."
The hovering crimson-gold sword light suddenly exploded, transforming into dozens of fine, rain-like crimson-gold threads, like a net covering the sky and the earth, enveloping Poisonous Lady and Joyful Buddha.
At the same time, the evil dragon roared silently, its body coiling up, and gray-black evil energy surged out like a raging tide, sealing off all escape routes for the two.
The dark water dragon transformed from the pale white bone hairpin also raised its head and swayed its tail, its mysterious and malevolent aura of Gui water spreading out, chilling to the bone, and slowing down the circulation of its magical power.
Poisonous Lady desperately urged the remaining colorful smoke to transform into a mottled shield, but it was instantly cut to pieces by the sword threads.
She bit her tongue, spitting out a mouthful of blood essence. Her body tried to turn into smoke and escape, but she was firmly bound by the evil dragon's malevolent energy, and her smoke form dissipated.
The Buddha of Joy roared, his body radiating pink light as he attempted to unleash the "Bewitching Zen Sound" as a final desperate move, while simultaneously hurling the few remaining prayer beads from his hand.
The prayer beads collided with the sword net, shattering with a series of bangs, yet failing to stop them in the slightest. The chanting of Zen entered his ears, but Xu Changqing's mind merely stirred slightly, instantly extinguishing the decadent music.
The crimson-gold sword threads, like a skilled butcher dissecting an ox, pierced through the protective aura and entered the bodies of the two men.
The Poisonous Lady's beautiful face twisted instantly, the light in her eyes dimmed rapidly, the colorful smoke around her dissipated, and countless tiny Gu worm corpses fell to the ground.
The Buddha of Joy's obese body stiffened, and the usual lewd smile on his face froze. Then, a line of blood appeared between his eyebrows and spread downwards.
Life extinguished in their eyes, their bodies slowly slumped down, collapsing alongside the toad corpse of the altar toad.
Xu Changqing raised his hand and summoned the crimson-gold sword threads, which rolled back and entered his dantian for nourishment. The wicked Qi demon dragon and the water dragon formed from the Gui water Xuan Sha also quietly disappeared.
He bent down and skillfully searched the three people's belongings.
Chimingzi, carrying a gourd of wine, looked in this direction with his cloudy old eyes, grinned, and revealed his yellow teeth.
"Not bad, you're quite nimble."
Xu Changqing walked over and said, "I'm sorry to have made you laugh, Master."
"Hmm." Chi Mingzi took a swig of wine, wiped his mouth, and said, "The Seven Fiends devour each other, the Underworld intervenes, and there's that damned ritual for overcoming tribulations... Heh heh, this pool is getting muddier and muddier. But for you, crisis is also opportunity. The Seven Fiends Destiny, the more you take, the stronger you become. If you can gather them all..."
He paused, then didn't continue, only giving Xu Changqing a meaningful look.
"This disciple understands," Xu Changqing said in a deep voice.
"Good that you understand." Chi Mingzi waved his hand. "Tomorrow, I will teach you the method of sword forging."
After saying that, he turned around unsteadily and went back to the room, closing the door with a creak.
Xu Changqing stood in the courtyard. Night had completely enveloped Qingyang Mountain, and the mountain breeze was getting cooler, causing his blue Taoist robe to flutter.
He looked up at the dim starry sky, where the constellations of the Void Star were faintly visible, their eerie light shimmering.
He slowly exhaled a breath of stale air, then turned and walked towards the quiet room.
Behind them, Awei and Aling dared to quietly come out and begin to tidy up the mess in the yard.
Su'e stood in the shadows under the corridor, watching Xu Changqing's back. Her clear eyes held worry, but also a sense of determination.