CHAPTER 538: CHAPTER 536: EVERYWHERE

The Rustic Longsword pierced through the eye socket, stabbing out from the back of the skull. The crimson blood had not yet slid from the tip of the blade before it was devoured by the Red Lotus Karma Fire.

The ferocious expression on the white-browed elder’s face instantly became stiff and rigid. The brilliance in his eyes quickly faded, as if he had fallen into some kind of confusion.

The Red Lotus Karma Fire continued to burn—although it was mere inches away, it emitted no perceivable heat. Even as its host lay dead, the fire did not diminish but instead flared up further, spreading along the blade like a snake.

Li Ang released the hilt of the sword, casually unleashing Fragment Scatter to send the white-browed elder’s corpse flying. He landed lightly on the ground using the recoil, shaking his black cloak elegantly and with flair.

If only this face of Xi Menzi were a few degrees more handsome, it would surely capture countless hearts.

"Young Master! Calm down!"

With his body swollen, Song Jie clung to Gongyang Han with both arms and screamed out shrilly, "The sacrifice of our predecessor was to buy you time to escape! You can’t let his painstaking efforts go to waste just to get revenge!!"

Let go of me!

Gongyang Han’s face turned ashen, veins bulging at the corners of his eyes. The white-browed elder had watched him grow up, serving as both servant and teacher.

His mentor had been murdered right before his eyes; how could he not be utterly enraged?

But at that moment, his mana was depleted, and his followers were almost all dead or injured. The enigmatic Xi Menzi was close by, and the Wude Army Guard lurked in the distance...

"Let go of me!"

Gongyang Han roared in anger, straining his arms in an attempt to break free from Song Jie’s grasp.

Yet, strangely, this fellow seemed to have taken some unknown concoction, now possessing strength comparable to a demon. He squeezed Gongyang Han’s ribs to the verge of breaking, his eyes turning completely bloodshot, leaving Gongyang Han gasping for breath.

"No! I won’t let go," Song Jie bellowed righteously. Mycelial threads were already sprouting from beneath his eyelids, his entire face swollen as if stung by a poisonous wasp. "If I let go, Young Master, you’ll surely rush to fight Xi Menzi to the death! Today, I’ll sacrifice myself if I must, but I’ll ensure your safety!"

If you don’t let go, I will die!

Gongyang Han was furious, elbowing Song Jie in the abdomen from behind. Taking advantage of the momentary loosening of Song Jie’s arms, he forcefully broke free, twisting around to deliver a palm strike to Song Jie’s face.

He had endured Song Jie for a long time, and now, striking out in anger, he blasted Song Jie’s head into fragments, personally ending the life of the last remaining White Lotus Sect Member who had followed him.

THUD, THUD. Song Jie’s headless body stumbled backward several steps, then, swaying, kneeled to the ground. The body continued to swell, and endless pale mycelial threads grew from every pore of his skin, resembling a perfectly round dandelion.

Gongyang Han paid no attention to Song Jie’s corpse. Instead, he circulated the last of his mana to fend off the mycelial threads invading his body while reaching into his robes. He was preparing to pull out a secret treasure with severe side effects, intending to activate the item and escape from this Underground Palace.

If only he could escape from here, he could ask his father, Guangmu Dharma Protector, for help, bringing thousands of elite White Lotus forces to level Lvzhou City! He would make the Wude Army Guard, West Factory, and Xi Menzi all pay the price!!

TWANG— A barrage of Crossbow Arrows tore through the air, and several flying swords skimmed the ground, charging at him.

The Wude Army Guard in the distance saw Gongyang Han pulling out a wrinkled talisman paper. Without bothering to warn Xi Menzi, they hastily took action, aiming to stop Gongyang Han before he could tear the talisman paper.

The Rustic Longsword shattered barrier after barrier around the White Lotus Young Master. Steel-tipped arrows penetrated Gongyang Han’s body, causing him to spit out a mouthful of scarlet blood, but a smile crept onto his lips.

He held the talisman paper firmly, feeling its intense desire to devour. Resolutely, he channeled all his remaining mana, vitality, and even his future lifespan into it. Bit by bit, he began to slowly tear the Cinnabar Talisman Paper...

"Young Master—"

A low, mournful voice suddenly sounded before him. Gongyang Han felt darkness envelop him and instinctively looked up, only to see a giant dandelion floating in front of him.

Headless Song Jie floated in mid-air, his body swollen like an inflated balloon. From the cross-section of his severed neck, a deep and raspy voice emerged, "Where are you? Why can’t I see you?"

Gongyang Han’s scalp prickled in horror. Disregarding the Cinnabar Talisman Paper draining his lifespan, he desperately tore it apart.

"Found you..."

Song Jie’s floating torso aligned its severed neck with the terrified Gongyang Han, grabbing the White Lotus Young Master’s wrists with both hands. "So, you were here..."

BOOM! Song Jie exploded violently.

The flames soared into the sky. The blast wave instantly flipped several diving flying swords, smashing them hard against the stone walls, where they clattered to the ground, motionless.

From afar, Li Yushan and Yu Qingqiu struggled to open their eyes, blinded by the intense light. When they could finally see clearly, they saw nothing where Song Jie had been floating. The bluestone tiles beneath were gone, leaving behind a charred, sunken pit.

And Gongyang Han... only his charred lower legs remained standing. The rest of his body was scattered, nowhere to be seen in the Underground Palace.

The White Lotus Young Master was dead.

Xi Menzi let out a long sigh and gently shook his head. "Such deep loyalty between master and servant. It truly moves the heart. Unfortunately, these White Lotus Sect Members provoke fights before battle, surrender during battle, claim credit after battle, and engage in internal strife when not at war. Gathered, they are a lump of filth; scattered, they are a spray of feces. Such a disorganized group, with only passion to their name, is doomed never to accomplish anything substantial."

He turned around to face Miss Chai and said calmly, "Now, let’s resolve the matters between us."