The surface of the bone-cutting blade peeled off, transforming into a crystal-clear and radiant mountain lord divine sword. The old cook’s body gradually straightened up, no longer hunched and unsightly as before. His aged face was replaced by a young and handsome one, radiating golden light. Clad in golden armor, he held a long sword. With a flash of sword light, two thousand-qi captains were sent flying backward, each with a deep sword wound on their chest, spewing blood incessantly.
“Old Qi…”
Mao Niang, her face streaked with tears, looked at the old cook transformed into a deity with a gaze full of astonishment. Clearly, this was something the old cook had kept hidden from Mao Niang for many years.
“Beast!”
Old Qi pointed his sword blade again and roared, “Release Mao Niang immediately!”
“Tsk tsk.”
Xu Bei Wei remained composed, smiling, “Ten years ago, the Mountain God of Mount Lu, Qi Dongshan, vanished without a trace. Even the officials in the Ministry of Rites specializing in mountains and seas couldn’t find this mountain god. Yet, the fate of the entire Mount Lu remained firmly in his grasp. Hmph… What a magnificent Mount Lu Mountain Lord Qi Dongshan, who blessed the local populace, to have ended up being a cook for others in this desolate village inn. Do you live up to the heavenly decree, to the years of incense offerings from the Great Shang Dynasty?”
Qi Dongshan’s brows furrowed tightly. “For decades, Mount Lu has enjoyed favorable weather and the people have lived in peace and contentment. If not for the exorbitant taxes and levies imposed by you beasts of the imperial court, the common folk would be living quite well. Xu Bei Wei, you son of a bitch, how dare you commit evil at the foot of Mount Lu! I, Qi Dongshan, will tear you to shreds even if it means sacrificing my divine body!”
He looked at Mao Niang and smiled bitterly, “Originally, I had no intention of making a move in this lifetime, but since it’s for Mao Niang today, I’ll consider it my last effort!”
With that, Qi Dongshan sent a sword strike through the air, its blade aimed directly at Xu Bei Wei’s head.
“How dare you!”
The black-robed old servant waved his sleeve, and with a humming sound, a golden dragon claw emerged from thin air, grabbing Qi Dongshan’s mountain lord divine sword. Meanwhile, several other imperial court cultivators unleashed various magical artifacts towards Qi Dongshan. Furthermore, six cavalrymen exuding an aura of killing intent appeared in the inn. Their cultivation realms were not particularly high, but they were decisive in their attacks. Their long spears struck Qi Dongshan’s back like lightning, aiming for a swift kill!
“A fine Ninth Realm Mountain Lord, Qi Dongshan.”
The young Golden Core cultivator also charged forward, laughing, “Yao Yihang of Tangshan, I shall have a taste of your skills!”
A group of people, besieging Qi Dongshan, coupled with the suppression from the black-robed old servant, prevented this Ninth Realm Mountain Lord from approaching Mao Niang and Xu Bei Wei. At this moment, Lin Zhao gently raised his hand, his palm touching the scabbard of the Li Quan sword.
“Don’t…”
Suddenly, Mao Niang’s voice echoed in his mind: “Young Master Lin Zhao, there’s no need to offend the imperial court for us… Er Zi is already dead, and both Old Qi and I are likely beyond saving today. You… you don’t need to risk your own life. Don’t make a move. Later… take advantage of the chaos to leave, and stay as far away from this living Yama, Xu Bei Wei, as possible…”
Saying this, Mao Niang suddenly twisted her body, revealing a primordial divine ability. Her head transformed into a golden owl’s head, and she bit down on Xu Bei Wei’s neck. The strike from an Eighth Realm demon, even from the weaker cat demon like Mao Niang, and even with Xu Bei Wei protected by dense fist aura, still left four bloody holes on his neck, from which blood flowed profusely.
“Bastard!”
Xu Bei Wei was enraged. He spread his hands, grabbed Mao Niang’s petite body, and then violently slammed her to the ground. Mao Niang spat out a mouthful of blood.
“Scram!”
Xu Bei Wei kicked out, and Mao Niang’s body was sent flying horizontally, crashing through the wall and rolling into the woods. Xu Bei Wei’s brows were tightly knit. “Don’t let her escape, kill her immediately!”
“Yes, Young Master!”
A group of cavalrymen galloped away. The sound of hooves thundered outside, and Mao Niang’s fate was unknown.
“Mao Niang!”
Qi Dongshan endured a palm strike to his shoulder from the black-robed old servant, spitting golden blood, and his body transformed into a beam of light, rushing out. However, before he could get far, he was sent tumbling to the ground by another palm strike from the black-robed old servant. At this moment, Lin Zhao understood. The black-robed old servant was a creature of the Ninth Realm Flood Dragon. It seemed the Xu Dynasty did not permit the common folk to raise demonic beasts, yet the royal family kept a Ninth Realm Great Demon!
Lin Zhao retreated a few steps, about to enter the fray.
“Lin Zhao!”
Suddenly, a slender jade hand grabbed his wrist and shook his head at him. “Don’t be impulsive…”
It was Yu Qingqiu.
The Saintess of the Yuyao Sect spoke to him in his mind, “We are merely passers-by after all. The events at the Qinglu Inn are, in the end, fleeting to us. Xu Bei Wei is indeed a beast, but he has too many men, and there are five thousand cavalrymen waiting outside. There might even be hidden assassins in the woods. If you make a move, you will likely die.”
“Alas…”
Lin Zhao frowned. Yu Qingqiu’s sudden words put him in a dilemma. The best moment to intervene had passed. Outside, Xu Bei Wei’s body levitated, radiating a powerful fist aura, and he slammed a punch onto Qi Dongshan’s back. Immediately, the Ninth Realm Mountain Lord’s back began to crack. The claw swept out by the Flood Dragon old servant also cleaved open Qi Dongshan’s chest armor, which splintered into pieces. These two blows alone reduced Qi Dongshan’s combat power by at least half. With Qi Dongshan’s strength diminished, the plan Lin Zhao had devised in an instant was no longer feasible. Was he supposed to fight Xu Bei Wei and his group alone? Impossible. That would truly be courting death.
Then, he could only settle for the next best option.
“Miss Yu Qingqiu.”
Lin Zhao frowned, then remained silent. He stood with half his body in the large hole in the wall, and with his little finger, he made a hooking motion in the cold wind. Instantly, two flying swords vanished into the night. One was Hao Ran, the other was Hong Ye. Hong Ye transformed into a fiery red glow, flying rapidly and circuitously through the woods, and suddenly enveloped the bodies of Qi Dongshan and Mao Niang in its red radiance.
“What is that?”
Xu Bei Wei grunted, “A sword cultivator is causing trouble, break it for me!”
Saying this, Xu Bei Wei threw a punch. But just as the punch was about to strike the flying sword Hong Ye, the small world of Hao Ran descended from the sky, directly isolating the flying sword Hong Ye from the world. Instantly, Qi Dongshan and Mao Niang seemed to have vanished into thin air. Lin Zhao then instantly drove the flying sword and rushed several miles away, heading towards Mount Lu.
Qi Dongshan was the Mountain Lord of Mount Lu. As long as he was on Mount Lu, it would be difficult for the imperial forces to kill him. After all, this Ninth Realm Mountain Lord had long since neglected his duties, and his mountain lord shrine was likely in ruins.
After seeing off Old Qi and Mao Niang, the two flying swords silently flew into Lin Zhao’s spiritual sea. Lin Zhao remained standing in the Qinglu Inn, not leaving. There was no opportunity to go. The place was already surrounded by imperial cavalry, making escape extremely difficult.
…
“A bunch of useless fools!”
Outside, the young martial artist Xu Bei Wei roared with rage, kicking a thousand-qi captain away forcefully. The captain flew and crashed into several trees before stopping. Even though he was seriously injured, the bleeding thousand-qi captain dared not disobey. He hurriedly got up from the mess, spitting blood, and knelt on one knee, cupping his fists, without a hint of resentment.
“Just you wait!”
Xu Bei Wei looked at Mount Lu in the distance and said angrily, “Qi Dongshan, I will make you die a miserable death sooner or later. And that Golden Core cat demon, I will surely make you my bed warmer!”
Saying this, Xu Bei Wei, with a face full of fury, re-entered the Qinglu Inn.
“Young Master.”
A thousand-qi captain respectfully said, “We have cleared out the best upper rooms in the inn for you. It is late today, why not rest here for a day and head to Jiangning Prefecture tomorrow?”
“No rush.”
Xu Bei Wei sat down on the previous bench, a cold smile on his face as he looked at the guests remaining in the lobby. “Is the excitement that entertaining?”
Everyone was terrified. Some shook their heads, repeatedly saying it wasn’t entertaining, but most remained silent. This second prince was unpredictable and killed as easily as child’s play. Who on the mountains or in the plains would not be wary of him?
“Someone.”
Xu Bei Wei said lightly, “Search the entire Qinglu Inn, and find all the women.”
“Yes, Young Master!”
Soon after, more than ten female guests were all gathered in the lobby, including Yu Qingqiu, the Saintess of the Yuyao Sect, carrying her long sword. Not far away, Shen Lanzhou looked on with a complicated expression. He didn’t know what this lawless second prince intended to do, but he felt that something bad was bound to happen, especially since among these women, only Yu Qingqiu could be considered truly beautiful.
“Have you all heard of ‘Nightly Servitude of Ten Maidens’?”
Xu Bei Wei narrowed his eyes and smiled, “Today, I will let you all witness my prowess.”
“Ah?!”
Yu Qingqiu was greatly alarmed.
Lin Zhao frowned. This Xu Bei Wei truly deserved to die a hundred times over.
“Your Highness.”
Yu Qingqiu frowned, but still maintained the demeanor of a fairy from the mountains, cupping her fists towards Xu Bei Wei. “This humble girl is the personal disciple of Ling Han, the Sect Master of the Yuyao Sect, and the current Saintess of the Yuyao Sect.”
“Oh, Saintess?”
Xu Bei Wei smiled, “Saintess, good! I haven’t had my fill of playing with a Saintess yet.”
“…”
Yu Qingqiu gritted her teeth. “Your Highness, do not be too presumptuous. In the end, you are merely the second prince of the mortal dynasty. My Yuyao Sect is ranked among the top ten sects in the world. How dare Your Highness insult me so, are you not afraid of provoking the revenge of the Yuyao Sect?”
“Not afraid.”
Xu Bei Wei smiled. “A mere Yuyao Sect. When my Xu Dynasty controls both the mountains and the plains, not only you, but even your Sect Master, your master, I would like to have a taste of.”
“You!”
Yu Qingqiu drew her sword.
“What of it?!”
Xu Bei Wei suddenly stood up, his entire body enveloped in a powerful fist aura, and he coldly sneered, “Do you dare to make a move?”
…
“Your Highness!”
Shen Lanzhou finally couldn’t hold back, stepping out from the crowd, cupping his fists respectfully. “Reporting to Your Highness, this Miss Yu Qingqiu is indeed the Saintess of the Yuyao Sect, holding a very high position on the mountain. I am Shen Lanzhou, the Young Master of Seven Star Valley, and I have always traveled with Fairy Qingqiu. I know her kindness and virtuous nature well. She is certainly not someone who would defy you. I implore Your Highness to show mercy, and also give our Seven Star Valley some face.”
“Seven Star Valley?”
Xu Bei Wei turned around, his smile revealing a murderous intent. In an instant, Shen Lanzhou’s entire body was unable to move. A Seventh Realm Sword Cultivator was quickly locked onto by the aura of a Ninth Realm Martial Artist. The next second, Xu Bei Wei threw a punch, and blood splattered. The pitiful Shen Lanzhou was directly broken in half at the waist by Xu Bei Wei’s sudden punch.