Chapter 312 - 153: Duan Chenzhou’s Identity Revealed, Ji Xiu: "Master... You’re Not Dead?

Chapter 312: Chapter 153: Duan Chenzhou’s Identity Revealed, Ji Xiu: "Master... You’re Not Dead?

For a moment, everyone looked at each other, left with nothing but envy.

However, on this dark and windy night, just as Ji Xiu followed Qin Yu into the Flying Immortal Temple...

HISSS!

Streams of dark red True Qi coalesced into flowing flames, clinging to the blade of an ancient sword.

With an explosive crackle of stretching bones and sinews, a masked, sword-wielding figure burst into the temple. His eyes locked onto Ji Xiu, and the boiling killing intent within them almost solidified.

"Boy, I’ve finally got you..."

"You still dare to swagger around so openly? Don’t you know..."

"Just how much your fine head is worth on the Black Market!?"

BANG! BANG! BANG!

Celestial Sword Star’s voice was low. His sleeves whipped through the air like a string of firecrackers. His sword, wreathed in True Qi, unleashed a wave of flame. From his stance, it was clear he intended to take Ji Xiu’s life in a single strike.

This undisguised killing intent instantly made Ji Xiu feel as if needles were stabbing his back. The hairs on his neck stood up and his skin grew hot, a preemptive warning. ’Facing an enemy is like being set on fire,’ he thought. He immediately wanted to circulate the Cloud Luo Scroll. Having achieved Great Success with his True Gang, he could summon its Gang Qi to envelop his body like a heavenly curtain of clouds, shielding his flesh, bone, and skin!

However, someone was faster!

Clad in a Bagua Yin Yang Daoist Robe and wearing the Immortal Crown, Fan Nansong strode out from the temple, so furious his hair could have pushed his hat off his head.

"Have the Assassins from the Black Market all gotten as arrogant as you? Daring to come kill someone right in my temple!?"

"Do you really think I’m made of clay!?"

Fan Nansong glanced at Ji Wei, who had heard her brother arrive and had scrambled to run out. Instantly, his anger toward the masked, uninvited Celestial Sword Star overflowed.

As her Divine Soul Cultivation deepened daily, ever since her Script Recognition and Locket Granting, Ji Wei’s talent had completely unfurled. Her eyes were like cold stars, containing the entirety of the Ten Thousand Laws Sect’s Eight Hundred Dao Seals, absorbing their deepest Truth into her Sea of Consciousness.

Not only had her movements become light and graceful and she had achieved a state of no longer needing food, but she had even...given birth to a faint, nascent wisp of spiritual will!

Aside from not yet having comprehended a Daoist Seed and gained the qualification to become a Daoist High Merit, she was clearly a genuine True Master Seedling!

Excluding those with a Daoist Embryo Spirit Body, such Cultivation progress was incredibly rare. While it was not without his full, coffer-emptying support, for someone in a small place like this...to have such comprehension was a testament to how precious she was.

He was on the verge of sending this little prodigy to the Great Xuan branch of the Ten Thousand Laws Sect, after which he could claim his success and reap the rewards.

If, at a time like this, some sudden accident caused her favorable impression of him to decrease...

Wouldn’t that be a heaven-sent calamity, a feud born from obstructing his Dao!

In an instant, Fan Nansong’s eyes turned red. With a WHIRRR of his sleeve, hundreds of Talismans radiating Spiritual Essence rained down as if they were free!

This unyielding, fight-to-the-death stance thoroughly startled the menacingly approaching Celestial Sword Star.

"Flying Immortal Temple Master, I am only here to kill that brat! This has nothing to do with your Daoist Temple! You..."

It would have been better if he had said nothing. The moment he spoke, Fan Nansong’s white hair practically stood on end and his eyes widened.

"What did you say? You want to ruin my Dao!?"

As these words fell, the cold wind suddenly intensified. It was as if wind and thunder were gathering, ready to coalesce with a single thought from the old man in the fluttering Daoist Robe!

Feeling the divine might of a Daoist High Merit suddenly descend, Celestial Sword Star was stunned.

"No, I’m just killing a measly Power Barrier cultivator! Why are you, an old man, fighting like your life depends on it?"

He didn’t understand, but he still promptly drew back and retreated.

But the sky full of Talismans pursued him relentlessly, smashing into him as if they were worthless and making his Qi and Blood roil. As he fled, he watched Fan Nansong charge after him, causing a huge commotion, and couldn’t help but curse inwardly:

’Old bastard, you’re filthy rich...’

’Isn’t every single one of these Talismans worth over ten taels of Red Gold? And all for what, to give me a few scratches? Is that really worth the price!?’

’This isn’t a fight, he’s literally throwing money at me!’

’I don’t know what’s gotten into him...’

He crashed his way out of the Flying Immortal Temple, looking a bit wretched. Seeing the old Daoist still in relentless pursuit, he recalled their plan and bared his teeth.

’Forget it. As long as I can complete the job, a few injuries are nothing!’

’As long as those two fulfill the contract...’

As Celestial Sword Star was thinking this, he looked up and saw, in the dark of night, a black-robed figure wearing a Celestial Killing Star mask striding toward him. The corners of the figure’s robes fluttered, and he seemed to be carrying something in one hand, though it was hard to see clearly.

But seeing the man’s wild aura, as if his shoulders could carry half the world, and the pillar of Qi and Blood that shot to the sky—an aura so powerful it made the old Daoist behind him grow wary, his expression turning grave—Celestial Sword Star was overjoyed.

"Brother Celestial Kill, don’t worry about me! Go kill that kid first!"

"Right, where’s Dark Star? Why don’t I see him?"

Seeing Celestial Killing Star was alone, he couldn’t help but feel a flicker of doubt.

’Did he already break in and kill the kid? But we’re so close. If there was any commotion, I would have heard it with my sharp hearing...’

Just as that thought crossed his mind...

The Martial Artist suddenly moved with a single leap.

His speed was so incredible that he was on him in the blink of an eye!

At the same time, for some unknown reason, Celestial Sword Star’s heart leaped into his throat. A chill shot through him, a terrible premonition. His eyes snapped warily to the object in the newcomer’s hand...

He saw drops of blood trickling down what looked like an iron mask. That blood-stained mask...it was Dark Star’s!

"You!!"

His eyes flew wide in disbelief!

But what came for him was only the arc of a Crescent Saber, slashing down with irresistible force!

"You wanted to see him?"

"You’ll be seeing him right away."

He pressed a hand to his scabbard.

He looked at Fan Nansong, who had chased him here, his pupils trembling in shock.

Duan Chenzhou half-lifted his mask, sheathed his saber with one hand, and spoke in a calm tone.

The blade was impossibly sharp.

Under the moonlight, a head had been taken!

...

「Inside the Flying Immortal Temple.」

"Brother!"

Ji Wei, whose appearance had changed so much, wore her hair in a ponytail and was dressed in a Daoist Robe. Combined with her Divine Soul Cultivation, she had a clever and spirited look about her.

In another three to five years, she might become a rising female Daoist of the Immortals’ Daoist Lineage, causing countless prodigies to fall for her.

"My Little Wei really is different now. You won’t need your big brother’s protection anymore."

"If anything, it’s me who’s basking in your glory, making Temple Master Fan act on my behalf. I’m ashamed, truly."

Sensing the faint wisp of spiritual will on the young woman before him, Ji Xiu smiled, patted Ji Wei’s head, and teased her.

Just then, he heard footsteps approaching from behind. One set sounded just like Fan Nansong’s.

He let out a huge sigh of relief, assuming the matter was settled. ’Which of my enemies sent a Qi Cultivation Grandmaster after me?’ he wondered. ’They were so determined to kill me... I’ll definitely get my revenge one day.’ As this thought crossed his mind, Ji Xiu turned his head.

He turned and saw two figures arriving together.

One of them, mask half-lifted, strode into the depths of the Daoist Temple carrying two heads, dripping with blood.

The other disciples had long since been dismissed, leaving only the Ji siblings and the Jade-Horned Spirit Deer at their side.

The moment Ji Xiu turned, he distinctly felt the aura of the Jade-Horned Spirit Deer beside him suddenly falter.

He looked up.

He felt a familiar Sword Intent.

And...

That half-revealed, world-weary face.

He froze, staring in disbelief for a long moment. Seeing Fan Nansong standing beside the man, it took him a good long while to process it all...

Finally, Ji Xiu’s eyelid twitched. He swallowed hard. Staring at the tall, imposing figure who seemed almost unreal in the moonlight, he said:

"Wait, Master."

"You’re... not dead?"