: Spirit Death

Author: Gu Zhenren

Date: 2024-07-31

Outside Huoshi Mountain.

A demonic beast, massive as a mountain, opened its bloody maw.

A powerful suction force immediately erupted, attempting to swallow the cultivators ahead whole.

At the critical moment, a ruler shimmering with sunlight-like brilliance descended like a meteor.

Boom!

The demonic beast died instantly.

Zhu Xuanji descended from the sky.

The rescued cultivators recognized Zhu Xuanji and promptly kowtowed, expressing boundless gratitude.

Zhu Xuanji glanced at them, then looked toward Huoshi Immortal City. "For now, it's best you stay away from the city. Go."

Seeing Zhu Xuanji's stern expression, the cultivators dared not linger and withdrew respectfully.

Some heeded his advice, while others, having urgent matters, returned to the city.

Zhu Xuanji observed all this silently.

He offered no further advice, his mood heavy.

After a day or two of investigation, he confirmed that Meng Kui was secretly using the "Sitting Mountain Viewing" supernatural power, creating a luck field centered around himself.

This field enveloped the entire Huoshi Mountain, including the Molten Rock Immortal Palace and Huoshi Immortal City.

Moreover, the field was expanding outward, forcing Zhu Xuanji to repeatedly retreat. The demonic beasts caught within became increasingly agitated and combative, sparking countless bloody conflicts over various incidents or trivial matters.

The more Zhu Xuanji saw, the colder his heart grew.

"Meng Kui..."

Deep within the clouds, Meng Kui sat calmly, coldly observing the turmoil outside.

His focus remained fixed on the Molten Rock Immortal Palace.

The battle at the mountain peak had raged for days.

Endless waves of crimson-flamed demonic beasts assaulted the palace, while various mechanical constructs within formed a solid defense.

Suddenly, Meng Kui's eyes flickered.

At the edge of the palace's defenses, a figure appeared abruptly, moving swiftly to enter the palace.

Nearby demonic beasts noticed and swarmed the mysterious intruder.

In the next moment, the figure unleashed a Golden Core aura, releasing a frigid energy that froze a large number of beasts, allowing smooth entry into the palace.

The mechanical constructs within made no move to attack the intruder.

"Oh, the Ice Heart Art... It's the Ning Family's Golden Core cultivator," Meng Kui recognized.

While the four Golden Core cultivators from the Zhou and Zheng Families were engaged in the array duel, the Ning Family's Golden Core ancestor seized the opportunity to enter the palace.

Meng Kui smirked coldly. "The Ning Family's Golden Core possesses mechanical artistry skills, enabling entry. This was never known before."

"According to the Ning Family, they only discovered the Molten Rock Immortal Palace this year."

"Is that true?"

The Ning Family's Golden Core ancestor might have improved his mechanical artistry this year, meeting the entry requirements.

Or perhaps he had secretly entered long ago, and the Ning Family's public statement was merely a smokescreen.

"Could he be the shadowy demonic cultivator?" Meng Kui watched the Ning ancestor quietly, continuously rubbing two walnuts in his hand.

As the walnuts turned, complex runes occasionally flickered across their surfaces.

New intelligence reached Ning Zhuo.

"Someone was pursued by demonic beasts outside Huoshi Mountain and saved by Zhu Xuanji?"

"Zhu Xuanji is outside the city?"

Ning Zhuo's expression turned grave.

This information severely challenged his previous assumptions.

He had initially suspected Zhu Xuanji was the one trapping Sun Lingtong. After all, Zhu Xuanji had publicly questioned Sun Lingtong before, only to be temporarily dismissed by the latter's tantrum.

"In fact, this really isn't Zhu Xuanji's style."

"If it's not him, then who could cause such trouble for Boss Sun?"

Having lived here for sixteen years, Ning Zhuo was well-acquainted with Huoshi Immortal City's key figures and factions.

Sun Lingtong was a peak Foundation Establishment cultivator who had controlled the black market for years. Those capable of targeting him so effectively were few!

"Han Ming?"

Once this thought emerged, Ning Zhuo recalled the female demonic cultivator he had captured.

The possibility existed!

Since publicly displaying some of his abilities, Ning Zhuo no longer enjoyed the same freedom of movement.

After the three families' tests, he had not seen Han Ming again.

Even when replenishing Yuan Dasheng's spiritual energy, he had remotely controlled the Golden Blood Battle Ape, Dasheng.

"At the time, I did hear Han Ming calling out from the dungeon..."

Ning Zhuo was currently also restricted in movement.

"Send Yuan Dasheng to check?"

He quickly dismissed the idea.

News about Bao Chou had spread widely. This group was about to make their move!

If Ning Zhuo diverted Yuan Dasheng now and missed the chance to protect Yuan Er, what then?

"Two choices, but really only one."

Ning Zhuo analyzed calmly, "If Han Ming was indeed rescued, causing Boss Sun's predicament, they likely set up traps near the dungeon."

"Sending Yuan Dasheng there would alert them."

"This matter isn't urgent."

Ning Zhuo chose to wait, keeping a close watch on Yuan Dasheng.

Bao Chou's assassination attempt came much earlier than expected.

Night fell, the moon bright and stars sparse.

Through the潜伏的 Yuan Dasheng, Ning Zhuo quickly spotted Bao Chou's group moving stealthily through the Monkey Head Gang's headquarters.

Yuan Er was holed up in the headquarters' deepest area.

However, the defenses and guards around him were steadily weakened by disloyal elders, creating significant gaps.

Guided by insiders, Bao Chou's group slipped past all guards, reaching Yuan Er's residence undetected.

It was only when someone triggered a talisman while climbing through a window, activating a defensive spell, that Yuan Er realized the danger.

"Guards! Assassins!" Yuan Er shouted, frantically activating the room's defensive formations.

The formations lasted only moments before Bao Chou's group dismantled them.

Clearly, the traitors' influence reached the core defenses.

"Father, Mother, your son will avenge you today!" Bao Chou roared upon discovery, charging in first.

His followers surged in behind him without hesitation.

Yuan Er still had several attendants and servants who formed a defensive line against the attackers.

Bao Chou's group was well-prepared, breaking through the line quickly and reaching Yuan Er.

Yuan Er fought back while trying to flee.

"Useless," Ning Zhuo observed coldly.

Yuan Er, panicked and disorganized, disrupted his own defenses and demoralized his attendants further.

Yuan Dasheng had been eager to act.

Ning Zhuo mentally commanded, "Go."

The Tree Martial Battle Ape, Dasheng, roared and leaped out, blocking Bao Chou.

Yuan Er was overjoyed. "Uncle Monkey!"

Yuan Dasheng fought fiercely, quickly overpowering Bao Chou.

When other avenging cultivators tried to bypass him, Yuan Dasheng intercepted and killed them ruthlessly!

By the time gang reinforcements arrived, Yuan Dasheng had ended the fight.

Most attackers were dead; Bao Chou survived, severely wounded.

Yuan Er strode proudly up to the kneeling Bao Chou, held down by gang members.

"Your father lost to mine and died."

"Now, you lost to me. Dying is natural."

"Who gave you the illusion you could kill me?"

Yuan Er felt invincible again, confidence radiating from the Tree Martial Battle Ape standing behind him.

Most present occasionally glanced at Yuan Dasheng, impressed by his power and ferocity during the fight.

Bao Chou looked up, face smeared with blood and hatred.

He spat, but a guard blocked it.

Yuan Er, cautious, stood behind four guards, taunting Bao Chou excitedly.

Ning Zhuo was also pleased.

This battle had clarified at least half of his connection with Yuan Dasheng.

"One more assassination attempt should fully resolve this hidden issue."

However, Bao Chou suddenly froze, his expression turning strange.

The next moment, he snarled, "Now! Do it!"

Everyone was confused.

But the guard closest to Yuan Er suddenly drew his blade, turning with lightning speed.

Yuan Er's head flew off instantly.

The scene stunned nearly everyone.

As his head hit the ground, Yuan Er's dying gaze fell on the Tree Martial Battle Ape.

He wondered why Uncle Monkey hadn't saved him.

He forgot: His Uncle Monkey was no longer flesh and blood, but a mechanical construct—a soulless automaton.

This wasn't like before, where Yuan Dasheng had ample time to react dramatically.

The guard's strike was too fast.

Yuan Dasheng's spirit needed stimulation to react; it hadn't processed the threat in time.

Ning Zhuo realized: "He can still be saved!"

In this world of cultivation, even decapitation didn't necessarily mean death.

But as he prepared to fully control Yuan Dasheng to retrieve Yuan Er's head and attempt a rescue, Yuan Dasheng roared skyward, losing control again!

It charged at the killer like an enraged beast.

The guard raised his blade but was crushed, weapon and all, by Yuan Dasheng's fist.

Gang members scattered in panic.

Bao Chou broke free, trying to escape, but Yuan Dasheng seized his head.

"Don't—don't kill me!"

Pop.

A soft explosion.

Yuan Dasheng crushed his skull.

But it didn't stop there.

It proceeded to pulverize the corpses of all the assassins into pulp before finally calming.

"Not good!" Ning Zhuo sensed disaster.

The green light in the construct's eyes faded rapidly. Yuan Dasheng stood motionless amidst the gore, head bowed, shoulders slumped.

No matter how Ning Zhuo tried, he could no longer sense any spirit within it.

Only silence remained.

Or more accurately, as if it had never existed at all.

(End of )