“Cong Xin! Let me say a few words to him.”
Kuixing couldn’t control himself and looked toward the voice.
He saw the man casually lift his eyelids, jet-black hair like crow feathers falling against his cheek, revealing a pair of eyes swirling like whirlpools.
His narrow eyes were dull, like an unsheathed blade long drenched in blood. The solemn and profound aura weighed heavily on Kuixing’s heart, creating an oppressive pressure that made it hard to breathe.
Though the man was looking straight at him, Kuixing suddenly felt an illusion—that he was actually being looked down upon. Those eyes had never truly rested on a minor character like him.
He wanted to talk! Only someone qualified to talk to him—within the Daoist Order, that would only be Shiye!
Kuixing heard his own heavy breathing. His heart seemed ready to leap from his chest, his mind torn between fascination and caution, his head splitting as if about to be torn in two!
The Shusheng spoke softly, “Brother, have we met somewhere before?”
Kuixing was stunned. Met before? Impossible! If he had ever seen such a Demon King, he would never dare to forget it!
Could it be Shiye? But yesterday, Shiye’s behavior was just like someone who had only heard legends about this being.
Kuixing, who proudly claimed the title of Grand Disciple of the Daoist Order, was not only ruthless but also extremely clever.
His mind worked quickly.
Suddenly, Kuixing shuddered as a possibility struck him. The unyielding mask he had worn since becoming the Daoist Order’s Grand Disciple cracked in an instant, and he looked up in astonishment.
This was a Demon King from countless millennia ago, one who had once walked alongside gods and immortals in the mortal world.
So, could it be possible that eons ago, he had also interacted with the God-Lord?
Cold sweat drenched Kuixing; he had been thinking too narrowly before! He had even dared to compare Shiye to this being!
This was a direct conversation with a God-Lord!
Kuixing did not dare to interrupt the exchange between such titans. Disturbing a God-Lord could mean instant obliteration!
His loyal Shidi tugged at him, trying to pull him out.
Kuixing felt touched yet regretful—moved that his Shidi risked himself to save him, and hopeful that if his Shidi joined the Daoist Order someday, Kuixing would protect him; but regretted that his Shidi was still too young to understand the complexities here.
He gently pulled his Shidi’s hand down, signaling him to be quiet and not disturb the conversation between these top leaders.
Cong Xin’s eyes widened in terror as his hand was pulled.
The Shusheng paused, then calmly continued, “Brother, it’s my fault for taking this position.”
Kuixing frowned, pondering. Position? Position?
A lightning bolt flashed through his mind—he suddenly understood.
Though the Shusheng spoke vaguely, the implied meaning of “position” wasn’t just a spot at the table—it meant “obtaining the artifact”! They weren’t fighting over a seat; they were fighting over a divine relic!
The Shusheng reached for his cane and smiled, “Of course, position is a minor matter. Even if I step back ten thousand steps, your occupying that spot is also unreasonable, isn’t it? No one was guarding it, so isn’t it fair game?”
Weighty.
The Shusheng’s reddened lips curved in a simple gesture that drew everyone’s attention in the inn, making their breaths catch.
No! Kuixing’s scope was still too narrow! These two weren’t concerned with mere relics!
They were contending for status!
Kuixing held his breath; his heart pounded wildly.
The smell of blood grew stronger.
It was as if the God-Lord cast a glance from the void, infusing him with power! It felt like divine punishment, but in this case, it was more like the God-Lord’s wrath directed at the man opposite him!
The man’s eyes narrowed, the corners of his brows releasing an unmatched charm that instantly made one dizzy and lose all sense of time.
Kuixing felt like a colored ribbon in a tug-of-war, used as a battleground by two indescribable existences wrestling within his body!
Everything around him spun. In a daze, Kuixing felt wrapped in cotton, enveloped on all sides with no foothold.
But soon, the Contract Mark on him began to heat continuously, the terrifying evil face crawling across his pale skin, fiercely intensifying.
Kuixing felt as if his whole body was being roasted alive; his skin stretched tight over his bones as if inflated by boiling water, instantly puffing out his loose Daoist robe, making him look horrifically grotesque.
He snapped back to his senses and gritted his teeth, enduring the burning itch and ache. He had to hold on!
The Shusheng fell silent for a moment, his complex gaze inscrutable. Kuixing tried to maintain his last shred of dignity as a mere tool.
The Shusheng squinted slightly and issued a final warning: “My disciple earnestly invited me here to present a treasure. The disciple is sincere, and as a teacher, I will not break my promise.”
The man opposite slowly reached out and took the bell, the Soul Summoning Bell, shaking the bronze bell as he moved.
Wait! What is he doing? No! How is this possible? How could he ring the bell? Could it be that the God-Lord’s duel… the God-Lord himself!
A clear, melodious sound, like the song of a spiritual bird, rippled outward like waves.
Kuixing’s eyes widened; his throat was parched as he let out a painful groan.
The Contract Mark twisted violently, seeming ready to pierce through skin and bone. The God-Lord’s supreme wrath had completely lost control and was spreading.
But the pain was nothing compared to the shock he felt.
The Soul Summoning Bell was a supreme treasure of the Daoist Order, looking like an ordinary Dizhong!
Ordinary cultivators who touched it would be attacked, and shaking it would trigger Jitian zhilei, scorching everything to charcoal!
This bell recognized only the God-Lord! Even the Shusheng barely managed to wield it by sacrifice!
How did he do it? It was terrifying! He actually made a Daoist Order artifact kill someone from the Daoist Order! A blow to the heart and soul!
Kuixing vomited a mouthful of blood, the torrent splattering across Cong Xin’s stunned face and the table, leaving mottled stains.
His body went limp, collapsing unconscious. His swollen form deflated like a punctured ball, black blood oozing around him.
The Shusheng leaned back, frowning, quickly retracting his hand and glancing around.
The bronze bell flickered with a dim light atop the black wooden table.
Everyone in the eatery gasped. Facing such a killing god was like a sheep under the wolf’s gaze—they bowed their heads low, terrified of sharing Kuixing’s fate.
No one dared move! Not a single person dared!
Kuixing was a warning from the past!
They remembered when the Shusheng had entered the inn; it seemed as if he had lost consciousness, their eyes locked on him as if spellbound!
When Kuixing had sat down, they envied and resented him. Now, looking back, he had been saving them!
Though none of them understood the precise duel between Kuixing and the Shusheng, within moments, this Daoist Order prodigy had collapsed, lifeless!
The power of that man was unfathomable!
Everyone’s eyes were fixed on the Shusheng’s dark aura and his stillness, like a meditating old monk.
Even more terrifying than Kuixing’s swift defeat: the Shusheng didn’t even seem to exert himself!
With casual laughter and words, he had already set the cosmos, sealed the outcome!
Even if the Shizu were here, they’d have to kneel! And these people still dared to snatch divine relics? Ridiculous! Better to save their lives first!
The Shusheng blinked and cleared his throat softly.
The inn fell into an unusual silence. Many tensed their muscles and glanced around, searching for a scapegoat to take the blame so they could run later.
Sweat dripped slowly down anxious faces.
Everyone kept their eyes lowered, subtly watching the Shusheng’s next move.
Cong Xin trembled, nervously wiping sweat from his sleeves.
His nerves were stretched to the breaking point!
The Shusheng’s expression was calm and proud, letting out a mocking laugh: “Young people are the best—they fall asleep so easily.”
No one dared respond, afraid they might be the next “young person” to be targeted!
Cong Xin swallowed hard, stammering in agreement, “Yes, Master is right!”
Only then did the Shusheng relax and show a sincere smile.
Everyone’s gaze flickered, nearly entranced again.
***
Fortunately, someone sharp spoke loudly, “Really! What’s Kuixing’s problem? Sleeping in the hallway, blocking the way! No manners at all! I, Hushuo, just can’t stand it!”
“Exactly! Exactly! What kind of person is this? A Daoist Order prodigy? I think the old Tianshi must be senile!”
Others cursed, “Why can’t he sleep somewhere decent? A single rotten apple spoils the whole barrel!”
Poor Kuixing, the Daoist Order’s Grand Disciple, feared and respected everywhere he went, now dragged by the legs into the inn’s backyard like a dead dog, leaving two bloody trails, struggling in vain.
The Shusheng couldn’t help but nod approvingly.
On the surface, the atmosphere lightened and became jovial.
In a corner of the inn, several other Daoists wearing robes wore mournful expressions.
They struggled inwardly, silently cursing Kuixing: “You might as well die, but why bring the Soul Summoning Bell and make us have to retrieve it? Otherwise, we’d have to bring your head back to the Daoist Order!”
But who could really challenge this powerhouse?
It was just a question of dying sooner or later.
Cong Xin still felt like he was in a dream. No, Master was really that strong?
Just then—
“Master! From afar, I’ve already smelled your aura! Hahahahaha!”
Before the man arrived, his voice came first, loud and booming like a lion’s roar.
A towering eight-foot giant strode into the inn, clad in beast skins and tiger pelts. His muscles bulged, seeming ready to burst through the seams of his clothes.
A raw, untamed energy radiated from him. His thick beard and blood-red eyes swept over the crowd, locking immediately onto the frail Shusheng. He hurried over without hesitation.
Someone recognized him and paled.
Monsters rarely take human form. This one ruled Yinfengling and was rumored to have devoured over ten thousand cultivators before transforming—known as the Yinfeng Old Monster.
In recent years, for some inexplicable reason, he’d renamed himself Fire Star Hermit.
His power was extraordinary! If they united, they might have a chance to defeat him, but now, an enemy overlord sat here!
The Fire Star Hermit barreled forward like a mountain, unstoppable. People scrambled to dodge.
But the bear-like giant reached the Shusheng, lifted his robe, then knelt respectfully, knocking his head three times: “Master! I’ve missed you!”
Knock.
The Shusheng smiled softly and reached out. The Fire Star Hermit pressed his head close like a purring cat.
Cong Xin’s dazed eyes flickered between the two.
Everyone’s breath caught. Disciple? They really were master and disciple! The Fire Star Hermit was terrifying enough—what must his Master be like?
In their hearts, the Shusheng’s smiling face was shadowed.
They had underestimated him terribly! This old monster was no ordinary Demon King! He was nearly on the level of a god—a Demon God!
For a moment, all eyes held a new respect for Kuixing, who had dared to provoke the Shusheng.
But hopelessness spread—the chance of survival was slim.
The Shusheng laughed heartily, “Little Cong Xin, come meet your Shixiong! Come! Say hello to your Shixiong!”
“Sh-Shixiong, hello,” Cong Xin stammered.
The Fire Star Hermit rose and pulled the frail disciple into a bear hug, laughing loudly, “Good! Good! Shidi, good! Master, rest assured! In Yinfengling, this little Shidi will walk proudly!”
The Shusheng nodded with satisfaction, leaning on his cane as he stood: “Let’s go.”
“Yes!” The Fire Star Hermit clasped his fists, then pushed Cong Xin gently, “Help Master along!”
Cong Xin nodded quickly.
He had been holding back but finally blurted out in a low voice, “Master, Master! Do you have a friend called Bohling Xianjun? Are you tens of thousands of years old? Or have you ever bumped into Gonggong Mountain?”
The Shusheng was silent for a moment, then said, “Where did you hit your head, boy?”
The group left the inn.
Everyone finally exhaled at once, almost crying out loud.
So difficult! Everything was so difficult!
They had been terrified, nearly convinced today was their last day!
They had been terrified, nearly destined for a prison cell’s tears!
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