Chapter 732 - 107 Seeking Old Enemies Before Bronze Mountain_2
Ma Shouxiang nodded in agreement, and the other two stewards behind him also responded together.
Zhang Yan gazed at the vast mountain ranges, shook his sleeves open, and with a sharp shout, transformed into a swirling mist that ascended into the clouds. The three masters watched as a sword rainbow tore through the atmosphere, streaking northwestward. After a flash of brilliance, it vanished completely, leaving only the lingering echo of sword whistles in their ears.
A thousand miles away from Bronze Mountain, atop a mound stood a jade couch measuring ten feet long. A red-robed elder lounged upon it, his deep-set eyes, long hair, and beard giving him a haggard look. His crimson robe was akin to a blood cloud, marking him unmistakably as a demon cultivator.
This scene alone was shocking enough, but before the couch lay a woman, her jade-white leg torn off, blood pooling around her — a ghastly sight. Yet her expression was vacant, her gaze dazed, as if entirely oblivious to pain.
News of an Immortal Mansion emerging in Bronze Mountain had already spread like wildfire, becoming common knowledge across East Splendor. Each day, countless cultivators flew past the area and, upon witnessing such bizarre sights, could not help but take notice. Some hesitated, wanting to investigate, but ultimately, none were bold enough to confront the elder due to his terrifying cultivation level. Days passed without anyone daring to approach.
It wasn’t until three days later that two disciples from the Nanhua Sect passed by and decided to stop.
The pair, a brother and sister duo, were a man and a woman, both in the Hua Dan realm. Upon witnessing the rampant cruelty before them, righteous anger boiled within their hearts. Yet they feared the elder might have some sinister plot in mind. After a brief discussion, they went separate ways, scouting the area within a radius of several hundred miles before regrouping.
Upon meeting again and confirming that the elder indeed had no allies nearby, they each released their immortal beasts — two majestic white-feathered cranes with red crests. As soon as the cranes were released, their wings spread wide, emitting high-pitched cries that resounded through the encircling clouds.
With no more hesitation, they shouted commands and diverged to attack from the left and right, diving toward the elder.
The elder’s expression hardened slightly as he stood up and clenched his fists. His body shook as yellow smoke erupted from the top of his head, within which eerie ghostly faces seemed vaguely discernible. Whistling winds and swirling yin energy roared upward in an ominous display.
Yet, despite his cultivation in the Hua Dan realm, he struggled to combat the pair. Both disciples unleashed their Dharma Swords, which descended simultaneously and cast waves of clear light. The yellow smoke was instantly sliced apart, creating a fissure. Just as the elder heard the crane cries above him and moved to dodge, he felt a sharp pain in his shoulder and involuntarily let out a muffled grunt, tumbling off the jade couch.
The male disciple, striking a heroic figure, stood amidst the clouds wielding his sword. With a cold sneer, he said, "So, you’re from the Nine Nether Sect. To encounter my brother and sister today is simply bad luck for you!"
Initially cautious, the siblings alternated between attacking and defending, but seeing the elder injured, their confidence grew, and they relaxed their guard slightly.
It was in this moment that a barely perceptible thread of mist drifted silently behind the male disciple. Flickering faintly, it suddenly materialized into the figure of a bizarre Daoist.
This man was gaunt and grotesque, with sunken cheeks, a prominent nose, large nostrils, and a balding forehead sparsely adorned with white hair that hung loosely over his shoulders. His eyes glimmered with a ghostly green light, and his Daoist robe billowed and swayed as he stood, resembling a skeletal figure come to life.
The female disciple spotted him from afar and let out a startled cry.
The Daoist stretched his mouth into a sinister grin and exhaled softly, releasing a wisp of black smoke. The male disciple, known for his status and sharp reflexes within the Nanhua Sect, immediately sensed danger upon hearing the cry and surged forward without looking back.
But he had barely moved two steps before a wave of dizziness struck him, rendering his limbs powerless. He plummeted from the sky in an instant.
The Daoist flicked his finger, releasing a streak of greenish Yin Fire that hissed and crackled as it landed on the male disciple. Without uttering a sound, the man was reduced to a heap of crumbling ash before the horrified gaze of his companion. His Primordial Spirit was extinguished along with his mortal body.
The female disciple was just about to flee when her body went limp. A sharp pain in her neck followed, and she realized she had been seized by a skeletal hand.
The immortal crane accompanying the female disciple spiraled around, swooping fiercely to peck at the Daoist’s back. However, before it could get close, it appeared to hit a faint layer of smoke and inexplicably dissolved into a pool of thick blood.
The other crane, once belonging to the male disciple, let out an anguished cry before disappearing into the distant sky.
The creepy Daoist shook his head without giving chase, muttering, "Are all the Nanhua Sect disciples this pitiful nowadays? In the past, True Master Fei Ju dared to challenge the Shaoqing Sect in a swordfight."
Though grotesque in appearance, his voice was deep and pleasant, compelling attention despite his eerie demeanor.
He stared intently at the female disciple for a long time, green flames flickering in his eyes. The woman trembled in terror, her entire body shivering. Yet, with her neck gripped tight and body weakened, she could not utter a sound.
After a while, the Daoist smacked his lips and sighed, saying, "Tender skin and soft flesh — you look delicious. What a pity! Ever since I formed my Nascent Soul, I’ve stopped eating people."
He casually tossed the woman before the elder’s jade couch and said, "Xu Gongyuan, she’s yours."
Xu Gongyuan didn’t even glance at the woman, his expression gloomy as he said, "Master Zhang, it’s already been three days. You’ve yet to find a suitable body for a Soul-bound possession?"
The Daoist burst into hearty laughter and replied, "Xu Gongyuan, don’t be impatient. Since I’ve promised to avenge your son, I won’t go back on my word. If that Zhang Yan dares to come here, I’ll deal with him for you. But if you expect me to charge into the Mingcang Sect alone, then you might as well forget it — unless I grow tired of living."
Xu Gongyuan let out a cold snort but said nothing further. He understood that the treasure buried beneath Bronze Mountain was the Daoist’s true goal. Without his expertise in array formations and restrictions, the Daoist would never have kept him close. Currently, countless Xuanmen Sect disciples were heading to Bronze Mountain, including some with advanced cultivation levels. Without the Daoist, Xu Gongyuan would be utterly defenseless and had no choice but to obey his whims.
At this moment, the Daoist’s expression changed as he licked his lips and said, "Ah, more are coming. Let’s hope my luck improves this time."
...
...(To be continued. If you enjoy this work, consider visiting Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for recommendation tickets or monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation.)