Wuxia: Starting Off With 60 Years of Inner Strength

"Zhuge Mingyu said that eight of the Twelve Generals of the Floating Life Palace left back in the day, leaving you with four.

"Now, three of those four have betrayed you and died.

"The only one who didn’t betray you, that gambling addict, is about to leave with me too.

"In this massive Ghost King Palace, you’ll be the only one left to run things. From now on, you’ll have to handle every little thing yourself... Think you can manage all that? Another small storm, another minor setback, and I’m afraid your Ghost King Palace will be wiped right off the map."

He spoke nonchalantly, but his words made the Ghost King’s aura turn oppressive. He looked coldly at Jiang Ran.

"Nonsense! Do you believe I won’t..."

"Save your breath. You can’t beat me anyway."

Jiang Ran untied a wine gourd from his waist, tilted his head back, and took a swig.

The Ghost King choked on his words, his chest filled with an anger he couldn’t vent. The only one present he could take it out on was Master Bi Chen, so he shot the man a vicious glare.

Master Bi Chen was fully focused on countering Ruan Yuqing’s Gentle Water Sword. Just as he was concentrating, he felt a sudden chill, as if he were surrounded by countless vengeful spirits and Fierce Ghosts.

In an instant, the hairs on his body stood on end, and a chill ran through him.

His Duster was about to sweep out and block Ruan Yuqing’s blade, but the shock made him spin around and leap into an open space instead.

By the time he realized his mistake, a flash of red had appeared on his chest. He had been wounded by Ruan Yuqing’s Gentle Water Sword.

Fortunately, his martial skill was profound. The blade had barely sunk an inch into his flesh before he moved out of the way.

Hearing the menacing whistle of wind behind him, he turned to see a six-sided die flying straight for his face.

Meanwhile, the Ghost King ground out through clenched teeth:

"You wouldn’t be telling me all this for no reason... What do you want?"

Jiang Ran shook his head.

"Nothing really... I just suddenly feel like I’ve stumbled upon a rare opportunity.

"So I thought I’d ask you... what’s the deal with that Enchanting Order?"

"That is the very foundation of my Ghost King Palace. How could I possibly tell an outsider like you?"

"Fine, don’t tell me."

Jiang Ran toyed with the Gu flute in his hands.

"They’re afflicted with the Soul-Loss Gu. The note I just played was to temporarily stop the Gu Insects from acting up and restore their minds.

"But the Gu Insects themselves haven’t been removed.

"Now, all I have to do is play this flute, and they will follow my every order."

As soon as the words left his mouth, a Black shadow flashed past. Jiang Ran’s hand was suddenly empty; the Gu flute was now in the Ghost King’s possession.

The Ghost King’s voice was filled with triumph.

"A rare slip-up, eh? You shouldn’t underestimate your opponent. Now that the Gu flute is in my hands, what can you possibly do?"

Jiang Ran pursed his lips.

’Acting like a child, snatching things from people...’

"Besides, even if you grabbed it, do you even know how to use it? Let me tell you, if you use it improperly, these people might just drop dead on the spot. Then your Ghost King Palace would really live up to its name."

"You!"

The Ghost King was furious. He turned and shot Master Bi Chen another vicious glare.

Master Bi Chen had just barely regained the upper hand and was now pressing his advantage, Duster in hand.

But then, that same feeling of terror washed over him once more.

His heart seized. He didn’t dare to press the attack, instead whipping his Duster into a seamless barrier, defending against any possible assault.

And yet, nothing happened.

When he looked up again, with a SWISH, Ruan Yuqing’s Gentle Water Sword was already upon him.

He immediately flicked his Duster, sending the tip of her sword soaring skyward.

At the same time, he lashed out with a kick, sending the dice-wielding fiend who was trying to ambush him flying.

But then he suddenly realized something was wrong...

’Why didn’t Ruan Yuqing retreat?’

He glanced back just in time to see a streak of Cyan light descending. With a SQUELCH, it plunged directly into his shoulder.

The tip of the sword he had just flicked away had suddenly bent, arcing down to strike his shoulder.

He couldn’t help but let out a muffled grunt. He flicked the blade away with one finger, then raised his other hand to strike, his palm suddenly glowing with a verdant light.

Misty Peaks of the Cyan Mountain!

Just then, Jiang Ran casually materialized a Cold Moon Nail and flicked it forward.

Master Bi Chen was determined to land this palm strike. He had to injure someone, whether it was the gambling addict or Ruan Yuqing; otherwise, this battle would drag on endlessly.

He was even willing to risk being seriously injured by the gambling addict in the process.

But he never expected that, midway through his strike, a sharp pain would lance through his palm.

He instinctively jerked his head aside. The Cold Moon Nail grazed his cheek and embedded itself deep into one of the hall’s support pillars.

The close call snapped Master Bi Chen back to his senses.

He quickly surveyed his surroundings. ’This is bad,’ he thought grimly.

’How did I end up trapped like a turtle in a jar?’

’And I’m the turtle!’

He immediately pushed off his feet, intending to break out of the encirclement.

But just as he was about to leap, something tightened around his calf.

He looked down, and his blood ran cold.

Coiled around his ankle was none other than Ruan Yuqing’s Gentle Water Sword!

With a violent tug, excruciating pain shot through him as the lower half of his leg was sheared off by the Gentle Water Sword.

Before his body hit the ground, a whistling roar filled the air. He didn’t need to look to know it was the gambling addict’s die.

This time, the die slammed viciously into his side, sending him flying horizontally across the room.

BANG! He crashed into the wall of the hall, leaving a crater in the stone. He then crumpled to the floor, and a torrent of blood spewed from his mouth.

The next moment, five different weapons were pressed against his neck.

The Ghost King’s expression was stormy as he looked at Jiang Ran.

"What in the world do you want?"

"Lord Ghost King, please don’t get so excited."

Jiang Ran chuckled lightly.

"I’m just a bit curious about the Ghost King Palace. What exactly is it that you do here?

"From what I’ve seen of the people in this Ghost King Palace... oh, alright, alright, the *ghosts*. Is that better?