CHAPTER 173: CHAPTER 118: BARBARIAN DEMON CULTIVATOR, TWENTY-FOUR SOLAR TERMS SWORD

"Junior Martial Uncle Xu, I’m here to assist you!"

Zhuang Yue, who had been with General Wei, followed him over.

He wore an excited expression as he charged at the Flood Dragon.

Then...

He froze.

Xu Guang glanced at Zhuang Yue, who immediately stood obediently to the side, wiping away non-existent cold sweat from his forehead.

Thankfully, he hadn’t tried to show off in front of Xu Guang earlier, otherwise...

Thinking of this, he couldn’t help but glance at General Wei not far away, feeling that this Great Beast was like a volcano about to erupt.

"..."

"Is it... dead?"

Shen Muyu stared dumbfoundedly, watching as General Wei tore the Flood Dragon to pieces.

Jiang Zi Yun also had a glimmer in her eyes.

However, she wasn’t looking at General Wei, but at Xu Guang.

Xu Guang nodded, then stepped forward, arriving at the monster’s corpse, with General Wei following suit.

This monster had Dragon Blood, which was valuable to General Wei.

The Dragon Vein on its body was still rather thin, making it not so smooth to manipulate Heavenly Phenomena and other Dragon Race techniques.

A divine thought spread out, with a terrifying aura brushing past the bodies of the two women and Zhuang Yue like a breeze.

The three shivered simultaneously.

As traces of blood emerged from the monster’s corpse and then coagulated into a sphere in the air.

This was all the Dragon Blood and Gold Attribute from his body.

The Dragon Blood was swallowed by General Wei, while the Gold Attribute was crushed by Xu Guang.

Not to mention the speckled nature of this Gold Attribute, just the source of it made Xu Guang somewhat unable to bear it.

When a baby is just born, their Primordial Qi has not completely dissipated, and this most pure, closest-to-origin Primordial Qi contains an exceedingly small amount of Gold Attribute.

This beast was using infants to extract Gold Attribute.

But the Spirit Bone was taken by Xu Guang; it could fetch quite a bit of money.

And naturally, the Celestial Register he possessed, its blessings were likely the same as Wei Shuangnian’s at the time, controlling Fierce Ghosts.

Only his Celestial Register was of the Seventh Grade Main Position.

...

In the River God Temple,

This was that person’s lair.

Seeing the small skeletons behind the Divine Statue, Xu Guang’s face was expressionless, but a flash of anger passed through his dark eyes.

How many more such people are there?

Shen Muyu shattered the Divine Statue with a palm, her cold face full of anger.

Jiang Zi Yun did not come in; she seemed to know what was inside.

Xu Guang slowly lowered his head.

He found the treasure hidden by the so-called River God in the temple.

A jumble of about seven or eight items.

The Celestial Dragon True Skill (Innate Chapter) of the Dragon Gate, "Meridian Divine Fist" (Innate Martial Technique), a scroll of Sacrificial Secret Technique, a sealed letter, a bottle of less than pure Dragon Blood, nearly fifty Spirit Crystals, and a few Tokens.

Shen Muyu leaned her head over to look at the sealed letter in Xu Guang’s hand.

The letter was opened.

There was no signature.

The letter instructed the person called Ghost Shark to go to Zouchuan Prefecture to spread the teachings, while providing a method to gather Gold Attribute using the pure bodies of infant Primordial Qi to seek Gold Attribute.

For over ten years, this person was indeed successful, having gathered Gold Attribute and even wrote a manuscript.

All of it was research on extracting Gold Attribute from infant bodies.

With a sound ~!

Shen Muyu drew her sword, directly destroying the manuscript.

Xu Guang made no objection, as he also detested such disgusting Secret Techniques.

After they left, General Wei came forward and completely destroyed the filthy temple, watching everything turn to ruins, Xu Guang sighed.

"Preach the teachings?"

Jiang Zi Yun had also seen the sealed letter, and she seemed to have thought of something, "When I examined that person’s body earlier, it didn’t seem to be our orthodox Martial Dao cultivation method, more like someone from the Barbarians."

The two simultaneously looked at Jiang Zi Yun.

"Barbarians practice Shaman Dao, which in the mouths of our Central Plains people is known as Demon Cultivation.

They believe that the human body has infinite uses, capable of merging with the bloodlines of all the Demon Beasts in the world, possessing talents stronger than Demon Beasts."

Jiang Zi Yun said softly.

"However..." She frowned, "What I’m most curious about is where he obtained the Dragon Blood and the Dragon Gate’s cultivation methods?"

Xu Guang slowly raised his hand, showing a Token to the two, "It should be from here."

Looking at the Token with the blue-faced fanged monster with three heads and six arms.

The two exchanged a glance, "Dark Tower!?"

Xu Guang nodded, a thoughtful look appearing in his eyes.

Despite being Fifth Grade, what he could see seemed to be just the tip of the iceberg in this world.

...

Cloud Water Village.

"Now can you tell me the origin of this demon?"

Xu Guang gazed intently at the village chief in front of him.

"I..."

The village chief had witnessed Xu Guang slay the demon but seemed to have some unspeakable difficulty.

However, under Xu Guang’s sharp gaze, he gradually gave in.

"I am from Jingzhou, my wife is Zuo Chuan Taoist, Jingzhou was in turmoil, so we decided to go to Zouchuan Dao. Over ten years ago, he saved the lives of me and my wife, taking my son as a disciple, and later came with our family to Cloud Water Village."

"At that time, we called him Immortal Master, but later he changed, demanding we provide infants for him, my son was the first to discover, then... never returned..."

Xu Guang listened silently.

This was just an old story of colluding with evil, and after the death of a son, having a change of heart.

The so-called change of heart was merely self-preservation when it began to threaten one’s life.

Xu Guang thought of the Wine Daoist, in the eyes of the Wine Daoist, this village chief probably also used Jiufeng Mountain?

If Shen Muyu wasn’t there, he might have killed this person, right?

"Has he met anyone?"

This point, Xu Guang was also very curious. This Demon Cultivator was hiding here, but none in Changsong Prefecture had received any news.

Where did his cultivation resources come from?

Could it all be from the Dark Tower? The more his resources were used, the higher the risk of exposure.

From that letter over ten years ago, it was clear that this person had been hiding for over ten years, was someone supporting him?

Who was helping conceal his identity?

"I don’t know." This was normal; as an Eighth-Grade Grand Martial Artist, it was harder for the village chief to track the movements of a Half-step Fifth-Grade True Man.

"You’ve killed him, there won’t be a good end for you."

The village chief spoke again.

"He has many fellow apprentices, scattered from Jingzhou to Zouchuan Dao."

Xu Guang raised his eyebrows.

"Are they all like this?"

The village chief shook his head slightly, thinking for a moment before softly saying, "They’re all different; some have sheep heads, some have cow heads, like the legendary Ox-Head and Horse-Face."

Xu Guang squinted his eyes, the Barbarians have infiltrated to such an extent?

And the Barbarians have started embracing Central Plains culture and cultivating Central Plains techniques.

The fact that the Cultivation Technique from the Dragon Gate has been transmitted is actually quite strange.

He remembered a rumor that Shi Moyun and the Master Nanxuan behind him had been lurking in the Dragon Gate for many years.

This was a disgrace to the Dragon Gate.

Could there be a connection between them?

However, this was not something he should be concerned about.

"Do I still need to die?"

Xu Guang looked at him and sneered, "Clearly so afraid of death, don’t pretend to be so righteous."

He could see clearly now, there’s not a single good person in this village.

Xu Guang smiled, but there was no leniency in his eyes.

The village chief fell into silence.

"The Ghost Shark has been well taken care of by you all, I might as well help you raise some children."

"Hmm?"

The village chief lifted his head in astonishment.

...

"Zi Yun, do you think that village chief is a good or bad person?"

Shen Muyu appeared confused.

He brought the Ghost Shark, creating a utopia for the people of Cloud Water Village in this bandit-infested mountain range.

Yet, because of the Ghost Shark, the entire village became divided, calculating against each other, gradually losing their humanity.

The offspring are the future of a species; even a vicious tiger doesn’t eat its cubs, yet these people handed their newborns to the River God with their own hands.

In such circumstances, can they still be considered human?

Jiang Zi Yun shook her head, a hint of ferocity flickering in her eyes, "That entire village should be wiped out."

Shen Muyu showed reluctance.

After a while, as Zhuang Yuechi was leading the horse, while Shen Muyu was pondering, Jiang Zi Yun moved closer to Xu Guang and whispered.

"Do you think everyone in that village should be killed?"

Xu Guang glanced at her, "Miss Zi Yun has quite a strong inclination to kill."

Then he looked toward the direction of Cloud Water Village, a peculiar look in his eyes.

"In a while, it’ll be another good ghost land; can you guess how many Spirit Crystals it could produce?"

Jiang Zi Yun was stunned, "Are you saying... there are ghosts in the village?"

Xu Guang said nothing, merely mounted the back of General Wei.

"I better hurry to trouble the Shen Family, I’m eager to assume my post in Southern Sichuan, some things... can’t wait."

A Level 9 Feng Shui Master, I wonder how long it would take to nurture a Fierce Ghost?

It was his first time using Feng Shui methods to create a ghost-nurturing ground.

It’s like harming people.

...

On the road, Shen Muyu was actually not too eager to trouble the Shen Family anymore, after all, she couldn’t kill, she was at a loss.

So she opened her mouth to ask.

"When we get to the Shen Family, what do you want?"

Xu Guang looked at Shen Muyu.

This was the first time the two of them rode together on the back of General Wei.

Of course, there was plenty of space on General Wei’s back, with a two to three-meter gap between them, but that was close enough.

As for Zhuang Yue on the side, he appeared surprised, as if he’d seen a ghost.

Xu Guang thought for a moment, then softly said, "Miss Shen, why don’t I handle this matter?"

Shen Muyu shook his head and then got off General Wei’s back.

Xu Guang sighed softly.

He knew that Shen Muyu might have realized something.

...

Late at night.

In a dense forest, Xu Guang left under the pretext of relieving himself.

Someone was already waiting inside.

It was... Master Fuqing.

Xu Guang took out the Ghost Shark’s head and threw it on the ground.

"Sister, I didn’t expect you’d come personally; you must have read the letter by now, right?"

"The matters mentioned in your letter were so important, I came directly."

Master Fuqing’s expression was subtle; she stared at the Ghost Shark’s head for a long while, her face turning serious, and suddenly spoke.

"He is not a Barbarian."

Xu Guang was taken aback, "You mean..."

Fuqing’s expression grew even more serious, after a long pause, she sighed, "Zouchuan Dao might not stay peaceful."

"Leave this thing to me, I’ll hand it over to the Law Enforcement Hall, the other families should also be informed..."

Xu Guang nodded, hesitated for a moment, and softly asked, "Should Shen Muyu and I still go to Changsong Prefecture?"

Fuqing knew of Xu Guang’s suspicion.

"Going to the Shen Family?"

Xu Guang nodded.

"This person definitely has someone backing his cultivation; I want to investigate."

"I thought you wouldn’t like doing these things."

"I truly dislike trouble, nor do I care about others’ reputations, but my Wanhua Institute has been dormant for too long; even within the sect, some look down on my senior sister, I feel like I need to do something."

Xu Guang said seriously.

A hint of gratification flashed in Fuqing’s eyes.

She hadn’t misjudged Xu Guang.

When it was time to act, he indeed took action.

In contrast, those disciples in the institute who always spoke of loyalty lacked courage, always retreating at critical moments.

"Do what you think is right, if anything happens, I’ll support you."

Xu Guang smiled, "I am not impulsive, don’t worry, I won’t invite unnecessary trouble."

Master Fuqing also smiled, "Bringing along Shen Muyu and Jiang Zi Yun is indeed smart."

Xu Guang felt awkward, as he actually had no intention of using the two women as shields, he just wanted to accompany Shen Muyu to the Shen Family and extort a good sum; Shen Muyu eats the meat, he drinks the soup.

But with the incident involving the Ghost Shark, if he were alone, he certainly wouldn’t involve himself too much.

But as a member of Wanhua Institute, and with Fuqing treating him so well, he has to do something.

"I noticed you seemed to follow the Multi-Sword Style, take this Twenty-Four Solar Terms Sword as a reward."

Before leaving, Master Fuqing gave Xu Guang a Secret Manual.

A Martial Technique of Innate Level.

But its value far exceeded the Meridian Divine Fist he found in the Ghost Shark’s hideout.

Twenty-Four Solar Terms Sword...

Requires twenty-five swords, the last sword being the trump card, also the killing sword.

Xu Guang quite liked it, he thought of many things, perhaps being able to impersonate a Sword Immortal.

"When I have the chance later, I should get a Sword Box made."