Chapter 184 - 182: Live Not to Dine from 5 Tripods, Die to be Boiled in 5 Tripods

The Shenxiao Evil-slaying Sword Wen Cangyuan just used was not a Cultivation Technique from the Thunder Shock Sect, but a Celestial Level Secret Technique from the Shenxiao Sect.

In truth, while the cultivation techniques of the Thunder Shock Sect stemmed from the same lineage as the Shenxiao Sect, the two sects no longer had much of a connection.

The Shenxiao Sect was an orthodox branch of the Daoist Sects, dedicated to studying the Daoist Shenxiao Five Thunder Skill.

The Thunder Shock Sect, on the other hand, merely cultivated techniques with a Thunder Attribute.

Tracing back their lineage, their ancestor could have been an Outer Disciple of the Shenxiao Sect, or perhaps a disciple of one of the major Ancient Daoist Sects that came before it.

In short, aside from some similarities in their techniques, the two sides had no real connection. No one in the Thunder Shock Sect was a Daoist, nor did anyone study the Taoist classics.

The reason Wen Cangyuan was able to learn the Shenxiao Evil-slaying Sword was because he had encountered a young disciple of the Shenxiao Sect while roaming the Jianghu in his youth.

He had posed as an Independent Practitioner, serving the disciple with utmost devotion, and after winning his trust, finally found an opportunity to steal it from him.

It was precisely because of this Secret Technique that he had been able to comprehend a Power of Thunder Law different from the Thunder Shock Sect's own techniques, thereby breaking through to the Primordial Pill Realm.

No one knew of this matter; he hadn't even told his own son.

Within the entire Thunder Shock Sect, aside from Wen Cangyuan himself, no one else had ever cultivated the Shenxiao Evil-slaying Sword, and he had certainly never used it in public.

Wen Cangyuan had originally planned to take this Secret Technique to his grave, never imagining there would come a day in his life when he would have to use it.

The Thunder Shock Sect was gone, and he was preparing to fight to the death. At a time like this, there was naturally no need to keep it hidden.

Chen Yuan was slightly surprised as he watched Wen Cangyuan's sword strike. 'This old bastard really does have some tricks up his sleeve.'

The power of this Shenxiao Evil-slaying Sword was immense, perhaps even rivaling the Nine Nether Ice Soul Divine Finger that Shangguan Jue had previously unleashed.

'But a Secret Technique of this level is definitely not something the Thunder Shock Sect should possess. I wonder where Wen Cangyuan got it from.'

Previously, Chen Yuan had relied on the power of his Celestial Blood Eye to clash head-on with Shangguan Jue's Nine Nether Ice Soul Divine Finger.

But now, in front of this large crowd, Chen Yuan couldn't use his Celestial Blood Eye. Besides, he had just used it, and the Blood Qi accumulated within was somewhat insufficient.

Gazing at the Shenxiao Evil-slaying Sword, its power was heaven-shaking, like the descent of a divine thunder tribulation from Shenxiao itself.

A brilliant, dazzling red Karmic Flame erupted from the Celestial Blade in Chen Yuan's hand.

The Power of Karmic Flame spread instantly from the Celestial Blade, enveloping Chen Yuan's entire body. In a flash, all the power within him began to boil violently along with the Karmic Flame.

The Blood Fiend Power, the Blood Qi from the Blood Spirit Scripture, and the Heart-Burning Karmic Flame power cultivated from the Celestial Fire Secret Manual.

The violent combustion of so many different powers forged an utterly brilliant, dazzling crimson Karmic Flame.

As he slashed down, the crimson light bloomed abruptly, like a magnificent Red Lotus blossoming in mid-air.

Red Lotus Sin-Slaying Saber!

In mid-air, dazzling silver lightning clashed with the crimson Karma Fire Red Lotus. A powerful shockwave of energy erupted, so intense that it shook Xuan Ting Hall—built from Profound Gold Stone—until it rumbled and collapsed.

Everyone present watched this scene in utter shock.

Martial Artists who had not yet reached the Primordial Pill Realm simply could not comprehend such power.

A Martial Arts Grandmaster of the Primordial Pill Realm was said to be a match for ten thousand men, capable of destroying a city single-handedly. Only this kind of mountain-shaking, earth-shattering power was worthy of such a title.

It was not surprising for Wen Cangyuan, as the patriarch of the Four Sects, to possess such might.

But the fact that Chen Yuan was currently fighting Wen Cangyuan on even terms was what left everyone utterly aghast.

Even Yu Yousong, who had been full of confidence in Chen Yuan, was shocked for a moment, though he soon came to his senses.

'If Lord Chen didn't have this kind of strength, how could he have had the confidence to face Wen Cangyuan head-on?'

Just then, as the silver lightning and crimson Karmic Flame in the air gradually dissipated, a figure was blasted out of the raging storm of power.

Seeing that figure, the hearts of Yu Yousong and the others sank.

The one who had been blasted away was Chen Yuan!

At that moment, Chen Yuan's aura was faint, his body covered in charred black marks from the explosive lightning, some of which were deep enough to expose bone.

Leaning on his Celestial Blade for support, a trickle of fresh blood flowed from the corner of Chen Yuan's mouth.

'This old bastard's power is truly formidable.'

In that all-out strike, the power Wen Cangyuan had unleashed was even greater than Shangguan Jue's had been.

'You can't underestimate Independent Martial Artists. You never know who might be holding a hidden trump card.'

'If both were at their peak, Shangguan Jue might not even be a match for Wen Cangyuan.'

A faint golden glow emanated from Chen Yuan's body, and his torn flesh began to heal at a rate visible to the naked eye.

The Sutra of the Pure Glazed Vajra strengthened his physical body, while the Blood Spirit Scripture refined his Qi and Blood Power.

Moreover, Chen Yuan's physical body was already in the state of an Innate Dao Body—pure and flawless. Its strength and Recovery Power were utterly astonishing, almost as if he had cultivated some kind of Undying Secret Technique.

By the time the turbulence of True Qi had completely dissipated, Wen Cangyuan was standing there, his face unnaturally flushed.

Tiny arcs of lightning trembled around him. As they crackled, Wen Cangyuan charged toward Chen Yuan once more.

But Chen Yuan remained rooted to the spot, unmoving, as if he had given up all resistance.

Yu Yousong and Du Xiaochen thought Chen Yuan was exhausted and were about to intervene, but then they sensed something was amiss.

Wen Cangyuan's speed was too slow, and the lightning around him seemed unstable.

After moving just a few yards, blood suddenly poured from his mouth and nose. His flesh began to crack apart, and his white brocade robe was instantly soaked crimson as his Vitality plummeted.

Seeing this, the two men let out a long sigh of relief.

Wen Cangyuan couldn't hold on any longer.

His lifespan was already nearing its end, and his Qi and Blood had entered a state of decay.

Although he had maintained his condition well, that was only when he wasn't fighting with all his might.

As long as he didn't fight, he could have easily lived for another ten-odd years.

But in his fight with Chen Yuan, Wen Cangyuan had gone all-out with every exchange, pushing his power to the absolute limit—so much so that even his Primordial Pill had begun to crack.

Furthermore, he had been forcing his attacks while enduring Chen Yuan's Heart-Burning Karmic Flame. His Qi and Blood could no longer withstand being seared by that level of power.

A single burst of spirit, a second attempt brings decline, and a third brings exhaustion.

After unleashing one burst of power after another and playing all his trump cards, he had still failed to kill Chen Yuan. Wen Cangyuan himself was the one who couldn't hold on.

With his Primordial Pill shattered and his body breaking down, Wen Cangyuan was beyond saving. All he could do was wait for death.

By now, Wen Cangyuan's Inner Viscera had been pulverized. He couldn't even utter a single word, as blood mixed with fragments of his organs continuously poured from his mouth.

But Wen Cangyuan did not fall. Instead, he forced his body to remain upright, looking at Chen Yuan with an exceedingly strange expression in his eyes.

It was not killing intent, nor hatred, nor even resentment. Instead, it was a look of intense yearning, carrying even a hint of a plea.

Chen Yuan understood his meaning. He strode forward and beheaded Wen Cangyuan with a single slash.

As his head rolled to the ground, a look of fulfillment appeared in Wen Cangyuan's eyes.

If a great man cannot feast from five cauldrons in life, he should at least be boiled in five upon his death.

All Wen Cangyuan had sought in his life was a single thing: renown.

To fight to the death and slay Chen Yuan, to snuff out a peerless prodigy from the Hidden Dragon Rankings—he would have willingly accepted even mutual destruction for such an outcome.

Now, defeated at Chen Yuan's hands, he accepted his loss. To be slain by such a prodigy, a great figure of the future, meant that he, Wen Cangyuan, would not die an unknown.

Therefore, he could not accept dying of exhaustion, nameless and forgotten like a stray dog on the side of the road.

By slaying him with a single stroke, Chen Yuan had, in a way, granted his wish.

In truth, Chen Yuan held no great animosity toward Wen Cangyuan.

The old patriarch of the Four Sects was a man of character. Though their conflict was to the death, it was purely a matter of their opposing positions.

Therefore, Chen Yuan was willing to grant him a fitting end.

With Wen Cangyuan slain, there were no opponents left among the Yang Mountain Four Sects. The remaining resistors lost all will to fight and began to surrender.

Chen Yuan couldn't be bothered with the aftermath, leaving it all for Du Xiaochen and Yu Yousong to handle.

Du Xiaochen would take twenty percent of the other three sects' accumulated wealth, but in exchange, his Flying Shadow Sword Pavilion would become the sole power in Yangshan.

The remaining eighty percent belonged to Zhenwu Hall. Chen Yuan instructed Yu Yousong that thirty percent of this share was to be taken in Elixirs. The other fifty percent was in other resources, which was to be further divided: twenty percent for the Zhenwu Hall's reserves in Yangshan Prefecture, and the remaining thirty percent distributed as rewards.

Hearing how Chen Yuan planned to distribute the spoils, Yu Yousong sighed. "Lord Chen, I think I finally understand how you've gotten to where you are today."

"I've been in Zhenwu Hall for many years, but I've never met a superior as generous as you."

Chen Yuan smiled. "Oh? Is the Grand Commandant not generous? Is Master Feng not generous?"

Yu Yousong shook his head. "I'll be blunt. I'm not qualified to interact much with the Grand Commandant. As for Feng Wushang, he's an insatiably greedy man. If it weren't for his strength and seniority, the position of Hall Master would have never fallen to him."

"Lord Chen, you and Master Feng are polar opposites. He's like a Pixiu—he only takes in, never gives out. You, on the other hand, are like Sudhana, incredibly generous to your subordinates."

"There's nothing inherently wrong with being like a Pixiu. But what's the use of hoarding things that offer no growth to one's own strength?"

Chen Yuan shook his head and asked, "Lord Yu, what are your plans for the future?"

Although Yu Yousong was old, he was hale and hearty. His combat prowess wasn't weak, and he was highly competent at handling affairs.

Chen Yuan didn't have much time to manage the various affairs of Yangshan Prefecture, and he was thinking of having Yu Yousong stay behind.

'But he was a genuine, veteran Inspector before. Why would he agree to become a subordinate to a junior like me?'

So, Chen Yuan had to ask Yu Yousong's opinion on the matter.

Without the slightest hesitation, Yu Yousong cupped his fists and said, "Lord Chen, you might laugh, but I'll be honest. I resigned from my post as Inspector because I was a coward. I couldn't fight the Yang Mountain Four Sects, so I lost heart."

"But I've spent my entire life in Zhenwu Hall. I don't want to let this body of Cultivation go to waste, and I certainly don't want to open a martial arts school or an Escort Agency and ply the trade of common Jianghu People."

"Now that you've helped me vent my long-held frustrations, Lord Chen, I can say my life's wish has been fulfilled. I have no more regrets."

"I'm too ashamed to be an Inspector again, nor am I qualified. Master Feng would never allow me to return to that post."

"If you feel that this old man is still of some use, Lord Chen, then I am willing to serve under your command!"