Chapter 337 - 130: Wither and Flourish (Part 2)

Chapter 337: Chapter 130: Wither and Flourish (Part 2)

They were no idiots, and certainly not cowards. They could clearly see that this ’old man’ was extraordinary!

Indeed, Fang Rui had come in disguise, appearing as an unremarkable old man!

’Two First Grade Guards, and even a Half-Immortal Decree... That Master Bao really values Li Xuantong!’

’Troublesome! If I weren’t afraid of causing too much of a commotion and drawing attention, I wouldn’t have held back my Martial Arts Saint Body. Even with the Half-Immortal Decree, I could have ended this in a single blow.’

’Still, in my normal state, it’s just a matter of two or three strikes.’

As Fang Rui mused, he shot forward without another word. Spiritual Essence swirled and extended from the palm of his right hand, forming a Cyan Jade Light Saber.

"This man is powerful! Brother Qin, let’s attack together!"

"Alright, together!"

The two First Grade Martial Artists used their Gang Essence for a secret voice transmission, exchanging words in a flash. It seemed they were determined to fight to the death.

But the next moment—

SWOOSH!

They both turned tail in perfect unison, their bodies blurring into afterimages. As it turned out, they both had the same idea: trick the other into blocking Fang Rui while they made a break for it.

This was, of course, to be expected. Both were First Grade Martial Artists, influential figures in Shangluo City. Master Bao had only secured their services—protecting Li Xuantong for half a day—in exchange for a single session of guidance. But if it meant risking their lives, they’d rather not.

After all, if Li Xuantong died, the worst they’d face was Master Bao’s resentment. But if they stubbornly stayed, they would genuinely die.

Between two evils, they naturally chose the lesser.

’These two scoundrels think they can run?!’

Fang Rui had kept an eye on the major figures in Shangluo City, and these two were no saints. The one surnamed Qin, in particular, was notoriously vile and had been on Yuan Haogu’s list of people to be eliminated.

He would have let it slide if he hadn’t run into them, but since it was convenient to deal with them, he might as well.

Even though the two were moving fast enough to leave afterimages, in Fang Rui’s eyes, they looked like they were in slow motion at half speed.

SHING!

He shattered the blocking Half-Immortal Decree with a single slash and, as if taking a leisurely stroll, appeared before the two First Grade Martial Artists.

"Senior..."

The two cried out, their faces twisting in horror.

But what met them was a slash that tore through the air—

BOOM!

The terrified expressions on their faces froze as their bodies disintegrated, like seafoam washed away by the tide.

’So what if I’m an old man? If I say I’ll crush you, I’ll crush you!’

Fang Rui sneered inwardly. He turned and flicked his sleeve, conjuring a gust of wind that threw aside a blanket behind a large pine tree, revealing two people.

They were: a beautiful woman wearing only a dudou, and a half-naked, chubby, middle-aged man with a fat head and large ears.

If not for his Martial Arts Intuition, Spiritual Sense, and karmic divination all telling him this was Li Xuantong, Fang Rui would have found it hard to believe.

’Has that Master Bao really raised Li Xuantong into a pig?!’

Though slightly surprised, Fang Rui’s actions didn’t slow in the slightest. He pointed a finger, and a surge of Spiritual Essence formed a Light Needle that shot forward.

Just as it reached within three feet of Li Xuantong—

SWISH! SWISH! SWISH!

Three Half-Immortal Decrees flew out, spinning in a triangular formation. They erupted with golden light, annihilating the incoming Spiritual Essence Light Needle. A phantom figure rose, revealing a thin Daoist with a long white beard, clad in a feathered robe and a starry crown.

It was none other than Bao Sichun, Master Bao himself!

However, in this phantom state, his eyes were vacant and his movements mechanical. Clearly, it was just some kind of programmed Secret Technique.

"Wretched beast, be slain!"

Amidst a voice that boomed like thunder, a wave of gray spread rapidly, covering a hundred-meter radius.

Everything except Li Xuantong—the flowers, grass, trees, insects, fish, birds, and beasts—began to wither. Just like that, the beautiful woman instantly turned into a desiccated corpse.

In its place, endless specks of green light surged forth.

—Draining life force! This was none other than the unique ultimate technique from Bao Sichun’s cultivation of the True Scripture of Life and Death!

「At the same time.」

A square, jade-colored seal flew out from the pile of Li Xuantong’s clothes, radiating brilliant light. Above Li Xuantong’s head, a Flood Dragon of Qi Fortune materialized.

But this Flood Dragon of Qi Fortune was extremely strange, as if malformed. Its head and tail were oversized, while its claws and fangs were atrophied.

As the endless green light specks poured into it, the bizarre Flood Dragon of Qi Fortune swelled like an inflating balloon. In an instant, it transformed into a solidified, twenty-zhang-long Flood Dragon that shook its head, whipped its tail, and charged at Fang Rui.

The combination of three Half-Immortal Decrees, Li Xuantong’s special Flood Dragon Destiny, and the Qi Fortune Secret Treasure truly created an attack comparable to a strike from a Demi-Immortal!

’Four Half-Immortal Decrees in total?! My word, this Master Bao really thinks highly of Li Xuantong! No wonder my past divinations about assassinating him predicted great peril.’

’Also, the methods of a Spirit Master are truly more complex than what Martial Arts can compare to.’

’However, I’m no longer the ignorant person I once was!’

A glint flashed in Fang Rui’s eyes. He reached out and made a grasping motion, and a massive Spiritual Yuan Hand appeared in midair. It seized the Flood Dragon by the neck and squeezed hard.

CRACK!

With a crisp cracking sound, the solidified, jade-green, glass-like Flood Dragon exploded, shattering into specks of light before vanishing.

「The next moment.」

The phantom of Bao Sichun, which had been stiff and robotic, seemed to have been triggered. Its eyes suddenly became animated. "Fellow Daoist, please stay your hand! Hear me out..."

"Noisy!"

Fang Rui slapped out with the back of his hand. His Spiritual Essence exploded like thunder, directly shattering Bao Sichun’s phantom. The three Half-Immortal Decrees crumbled, and the jade-colored square seal hovering above Li Xuantong’s head dimmed and fell to the ground.

"Senior, spare me!"

Overwhelmed by such a terrifying aura, Li Xuantong fell to his knees, a wet patch spreading beneath him.

He had pissed himself in terror.

’His heroic spirit is gone, his courage a thing of the past. The Li Xuantong of old is likely long dead, leaving only a walking corpse behind!’

Fang Rui mused, feeling a sense of anticlimax.

This version of Li Xuantong wasn’t even worth half a word of taunt. The Spiritual Yuan Hand descended, crushing him out of existence as easily as squashing an ant.

In the void, the mournful cry of a Flood Dragon, inaudible to ordinary people, suddenly rang out. A large, fiery red mass of Qi Fortune scattered and returned to the heavens and earth.

"The grudge is settled!"

Back then, Fang Baicao had served as a soldier under Li Xuantong, helping him conquer the world with a series of surprise attacks that broke through city after city. As the army’s Physician, Fang Baicao’s contributions were undeniable. Yet, this very hero was targeted under Li Xuantong’s command and died due to a lack of medicine and treatment.

From an outsider’s perspective, perhaps Li Xuantong’s crime didn’t warrant death. But as a son, Fang Rui could not be so magnanimous. Li Xuantong had to die!

’The "minor fortune" in my divination must have been that jade-colored square seal. A Qi Fortune Secret Treasure, is it?!’

But the Fang Rui of today couldn’t be bothered with a Secret Treasure that might carry hidden dangers.

He flicked a finger, and a bolt of Spiritual Essence shot out, blasting it to pieces.

"Work’s done. Time to go!"

Fang Rui turned with his hands behind his back and took a step, reappearing several zhang away. As if shrinking the earth, he vanished without a trace within a few breaths.

Behind him, all that remained was a patch of land that looked as if it had been plowed, and the still-brilliant afternoon sun.

...

「About a hundred breaths later.」

"ROAR!"

A Cyan Dragon, riding the clouds and mist, arrived as fast as lightning. It came to a halt above the battlefield, instantly turning ethereal and dim as a figure floated down from the sky.

"A step too late. Li Xuantong... is dead!"

Bao Sichun surveyed the scene and performed a quick divination with his fingers. Instantly, his face turned ashen, and his beard trembled with rage.

At this moment, he was truly incensed; his heart was bleeding.

One must understand: a Flood Dragon like Li Xuantong who had willingly surrendered was exceedingly rare.

Bao Sichun had paid a tremendous price and made many exchanges of benefits just to claim Li Xuantong for himself. Then, he had pampered him with good food and drink, catering to his every whim—giving him whatever he desired...

After more than ten years, he had finally worn down Li Xuantong’s will and raised him like a pig. But just on the eve of the harvest, Li Xuantong had been killed.

Over a decade of hard work, wiped out in a single day!!!

More importantly, his original plan—to extract the Flood Dragon Qi Fortune from a living Li Xuantong, use the True Scripture of Life and Death to Seize the Creation of Heaven and Earth, break through to a higher Realm, and thus extend his own lifespan—was now completely ruined!

"AAAHHH! Which wretched beast ruined my plans?!"

Under such a devastating blow, Bao Sichun’s composure finally shattered, and he roared hysterically.

If anyone else in the city had seen this side of Master Bao, who was always known for his immortal-like, dignified bearing, their jaws would have dropped to the floor.

Along with this roar...

RUMBLE!

A terrifying spiritual pressure erupted from him, setting off a series of dense explosions in the area.

After venting his fury, Bao Sichun finally calmed down.

"To be able to destroy my arrangements, they must be a Super Grade. The Seed Path Martial Saints in Shangluo City don’t have the guts... so it must be an outsider?"

"Heh heh... no matter who you are, this isn’t over! It’s not over!"

An utterly venomous look appeared in his eyes.

...

"AAAHHH! Which wretched beast ruined my plans?!"

The voice, booming like a clap of thunder, rolled into the city and echoed for a long time.

’As expected of a Source Realm Master. He’s certainly got a loud voice.’

Fang Rui cleaned out his ear and teased the mockingbird in front of him. "Come on, squawk again for your master..."

...