CHAPTER 478: JUST KEEP CACKLING

Chapter 478: Just Keep Cackling

...

The Sect Summoning Token possessed two unique features.

Feature 1: Instantaneous summoning.

Feature 2: Instantaneous recall.

With these two abilities, Chen Huaian could freely maneuver among the Ascenders, playing both thief and guard. The only caution required was executing the recall swiftly—he absolutely didn't want any Moon Shadow Sect disciples injured by his actions.

"Senior, what are you doing?"

A voice suddenly spoke behind Chen Huaian, startling him.

"Senior, what's that in your hand? Some kind of magical artifact?"

Wang Shouyi circled around to face Chen Huaian, staring intently at the Sect Summoning Token with undisguised curiosity.

"This... ahem." Chen Huaian had a flash of inspiration. "It's a detection device!"

"Detection device?"

"Correct." Chen Huaian nodded solemnly. "This object can predict danger in advance. I used it to sense the threat targeting our group, which is why I've been following at a distance. Should danger arise, I can intervene immediately!"

To Wang Shouyi's eyes, the sect token appeared as nothing more than a blank jade plaque. Calling it a detection device wasn't entirely unreasonable—he mentally categorized it alongside man-made artifacts like compasses enhanced with tracking arrays.

"So that's how it is! How noble of you, Senior!"

Wang Shouyi clasped his hands in admiration.

The struggle for Celestial Jade Marrow wasn't just a conflict between sects—on a smaller scale, it was also competition between the elite disciples within each sect. Several direct disciples of Kunlun Immortal Palace had previously spoken disrespectfully to the Senior. Yet here he was, setting aside past grievances for the greater good...

This must be why the Senior had achieved such success!

Wang Shouyi felt tears welling up.

Damn it! He wanted to become someone like the Senior too!

But he was still too selfish, holding onto every slight, unable to tolerate the smallest offense.

"Ridiculous! We don't need Elder Chen's so-called help with any detection device."

Their conversation hadn't been quiet.

Several direct disciples of Kunlun Immortal Palace overheard.

Wu Wenbin snorted coldly, sneering: "Junior Brother Wang, Elder Chen, instead of wasting time, perhaps you should think about how to seize the next batch of Celestial Jade Marrow. Don't come crying to Her Eminence later saying—oh dear, we didn't get anything, but we did our guard duty... Let me remind you, Her Eminence won't tolerate slackers!"

"Silence! How dare you speak like that?"

Wang Shouyi's face darkened, his glare forcing Wu Wenbin back. He turned to explain to Chen Huaian: "Senior, they're just resentful that you were promoted to Honorary Elder so soon after joining Kunlun Immortal Palace. They don't understand it was entirely due to your capabilities."

"No matter."

Chen Huaian smiled.

Why bother with the taunts of dead men?

The Sect Summoning Token in his storage ring emitted a faint glow.

A subtle spatial fluctuation appeared overhead.

Accompanied by the clear ring of a sword!

Clang—!

The sword's roar was deafening as thunder, as if lightning had split the mountain peak, sending fine cracks through the very air.

In the next instant, a white-clad figure stepped from the void, descending like a meteor.

The Xuanwu Heavy Sword in his hands gleamed coldly, its edge razor-sharp. His white hair cascaded wildly like a waterfall, eyes gleaming with murderous intent as cold as a frozen pond.

The moment Su Qinian appeared, his spiritual sense unfurled, instantly comprehending the battlefield and locating Patriarch Chen Huaian.

He made no announcement—the Patriarch's summons always meant covert missions, and the chaotic battlefield offered unclear circumstances.

Instead, he sent a mental message: "Patriarch! Your orders?"

"These green-robed disciples near me—eliminate them immediately!"

Chen Huaian's reply came through their private link.

"As you command—!"

Su Qinian's gaze locked onto Wu Wenbin and the others, his Half-Step Unity cultivation pressure crashing over them like a tidal wave.

Before anyone could react, he had already crossed the distance like a gale, the Xuanwu Sword on his back.

"Who—?!"

Wu Wenbin's cry caught in his throat as he barely raised an arm in defense.

Su Qinian gripped his sword with both hands and swung horizontally, the heavy blade carrying mountain-toppling force as it cleaved downward.

The sword edge tore through air with a shrill shriek, landing with devastating impact against Wu Wenbin's neck.

The defensive weapon in its path shattered instantly.

A crimson line blossomed like a bursting dam.

Wu Wenbin's pupils contracted violently. His body remained standing, but a massive chunk was missing diagonally from his neck downward.

His fingers twitched faintly, as if attempting to form a counterattack seal, but it was already too late.

"Brother Wu!?" A fellow Kunlun direct disciple nearby nearly burst his eyes from rage, simultaneously drawing his ritual sword to slash at Su Qinian.

This was a female cultivator, her enraged expression suggesting close ties to Wu Wenbin.

Unfortunately, Su Qinian had hundreds of "white moonlight" romantic interests—showing mercy to women wasn't in his nature.

"Rushing to your deaths?!" He didn't dodge. Instead, the Xuanwu Heavy Sword abruptly angled upward like an earth-rending dragon, sending the ritual sword flying from her grip. Seizing the momentum, he pivoted, the heavy blade whipping up a howling gale that carved a crimson crescent through the air—cleanly bisecting the female cultivator at the waist.

Against these watered-down Golden Core cultivators, no sword techniques were necessary.

Only the purest, most efficient basic attacks.

Someone, recognizing the hopeless situation, turned to flee, only to be stunned by a thunderous roar. The heavy sword rose high before descending like a falling mountain—before the blade even landed, its sword energy crashed down like collapsing peaks, smashing both the fleeing Kunlun disciple and the ground beneath into a deep fissure filled with unrecognizable gore.

Seeing their assailant's ghostly speed, some abandoned escape attempts to jointly erect defensive formations.

Su Qinian's feet stamped the earth, launching him forward like a cannonball, the Xuanwu Sword's tip piercing through air. The heavy blade collided with the barrier in an ear-splitting explosion, shattering it instantly. The unabated momentum skewered the formation-casting Kunlun disciples like meat kebabs.

With a flick of his wrist, the Xuanwu Sword sent a bloody rain scattering across the sky.

From appearance to the slaughter of five Kunlun direct disciples—mere moments had passed in the blink of an eye.

"So... so strong..."

Wang Shouyi stared at Su Qinian's bloodless figure, his self-proclaimed pride as a genius crumbling before such terror.

"Indeed, terrifyingly strong."

Chen Huaian nodded agreement, also feigning fear.

Su Qinian raised his sword to pursue the fleeing Kunlun disciples when the Patriarch's voice suddenly echoed in his mind.

"Su Qinian, I've heard you have hundreds of 'white moonlight' romantic interests. Is this true?"

Su Qinian's steps faltered slightly. "The Patriarch sees all. Though the count has reached two hundred by now."

"With so many romantic entanglements yet remaining unscathed, your acting skills must be exceptional. Why not perform alongside me today?"

"What role does the Patriarch wish me to play?"

"Fight me!"

"Understood!"

The moment Su Qinian agreed, Chen Huaian had already flashed in front of him.

"Senior, no!" Wang Shouyi's legs nearly gave out from terror at the sight, immediately rushing to intervene. That swordsman had been cutting people down like vegetables—even with the Senior's strength, he stood no chance!

"Stay your hand from harming more Kunlun Immortal Palace disciples!" Chen Huaian didn't draw his sword, instead producing a spear from his storage ring, its tip angled toward the ground as he declared coldly: "If you wish to proceed, you'll have to step over my corpse!"

The commotion had already drawn the attention of Hua Jin and Monk Faming.

Their acting window was closing fast.

The two men locked eyes in a brief, silent moment.

[Patriarch, what should I say now?]

Chen Huaian's eyelid twitched. "I thought you were good at acting?"

[But I've... never played a villain before...]

"Just cackle menacingly, say whatever, then attack!"

[Understood!]

Su Qinian paused briefly.

Channeling memories of flirting with his romantic interests, his face twisted into a perfectly lewd smirk.

"Kekeke! Prepare to die! Kekekeke!"

...

...

Can't you let me rest for even a single day?

Thanks to the bosses for the Supreme God certification. Update order:

(1) MTF-Xinwei-10 Swallow Kicks Flying Flowers

(2) tijin

(3) Don't Want to Work

(4) Dream Soul

(5) Humble CRA on Business Trip

(6) A Fish With Wings

(7) Wu Ye, Parent of Piglet Leopard

If missed anyone, please comment below.