ALL NOVEL Chapter 87: Execution
Above the lake’s surface.
The remnants of the old cultivator splashed into the water, spreading a broad crimson hue.
Fang Xi swiftly retrieved the old man’s gourd magical artifact and bag of holding, remaining silent as he contemplated his situation.
The ‘Black Cloud Pocket’ was still too slow; if not for the old cultivator’s overconfidence and carelessness while approaching, Fang Xi might not have gotten close enough so quickly. His sudden retreat caught the enemy off guard, allowing him to narrow the distance.
Otherwise, he would have had to resort to using the ‘flight talisman’.
This highlighted one of the drawbacks of being a body cultivator - limitations in long-range attacks.
“Not just long-range attacks, but also reconnaissance!” Fang Xi leaned on the Black Iron Sword, attempting to assess the central battlefield’s status but found himself unable…
Meanwhile, Old Daoist Xiu Mu and Wei Yixin’s couple had tactfully chosen different directions to flee, leaving their fates uncertain.
‘What if… I change my appearance now and infiltrate back as someone else?’
A sudden idea emerged in Fang Xi’s mind.With a Zongshi’s ‘Qi Circulation Mastery’ combined with the Black Iron Sword, he was confident enough to take down a Late Stage Qi Refinement cultivator. This would undoubtedly tip the balance on the battlefield!
‘However, it might seem too deliberate. Ruan Xingling has limited allies here; she could easily guess that one among us is involved… If she investigates further, I’d be exposed…’
‘Although exposing my identity doesn’t sound catastrophic, it still feels unwise… High power attracts suspicion and envy, and this woman isn’t easy to fool…’
‘Forget it, let’s quietly wait for the outcome instead. Given Ruan Xingling’s shrewdness, she likely has some trump cards up her sleeve…’
‘Even if we lose this gamble, there will always be other opportunities, or perhaps consider joining Gui Ye Divine Sect as the head of their Spirit Plant Department?’
On the battlefield above Lake Reef,
a cluster of blue luminescence entangled with black clouds, revealing glimpses of fluttering blue butterflies amidst ghostly wails…
Lu Jingqing, protected by his Talisman of Indestructibility, sat cross-legged and silently channeling his cultivation technique. Having reverted from his Crimson Ape form, his eyelids twitched frequently, indicating that he would soon regain full mobility.
As for Ruan Xingling?
With only a seventh-layer Qi Refinement cultivation base, she faced grave peril being besieged by the Kou brothers.
“Haha… Keep pushing, big bro! This little bitch is almost done!”
Kou’s second brother wielded a Golden Dragonfish Blade, its blade glinting as it haphazardly hacked at Ruan Xingling’s floral basket shield.
Each strike on her protective basket caused petals to scatter, visibly weakening the spirit plant within, which seemed close to wilting.
The elder Kou brother, more composed, remained silent, using a Golden Dragonfish Hammer as his weapon!
This heavy high-grade magical artifact clashed repeatedly with Ruan Xingling’s flying sword, eliciting mournful cries with every impact.
Together, the Kou brothers overwhelmed Ruan Xingling, clearly dominating the battle.
Suddenly, the eldest Kou brother flashed a menacing grin and surged his magical energy!
Boom!
The Golden Dragon Hammer rapidly expanded several times, its scales shimmering with golden light as if coming alive. With a forceful strike, it precisely landed on the flying sword’s blade!
Buzzzz!
A distinct crack appeared on the surface of the flying sword, sending it plunging into the lake and creating ripples.
“Ugh…”
Standing atop her flower basket, surrounded by countless petals, Ruan Xingling’s face flushed red before turning deathly pale.
“Haha… Time to die!” Seeing an opportunity, the second Kou brother transformed his Golden Dragon Blade into a streak of radiant light. The blade’s glow intensified, swiftly piercing through the flower basket’s defense and aiming directly for Ruan Xingling’s slender, fair neck!
Despite being greedy and lecherous, he showed no mercy towards average-looking female cultivators, ruthlessly crushing them like wilted flowers.
Jingle-jangle!
Just as the blade penetrated the flower basket, Ruan Xingling gently shook her left hand, producing a melodious bell sound.
Both Kou brothers felt their minds jolt, as if struck by a hammer, leaving them disoriented and dazed.
The Golden Dragonfish Blade and Hammer, both high-grade magical artifacts, swayed uncontrollably like intoxicated warriors mid-flight.
Seizing the opportunity, Ruan Xingling tapped her bag of holding, releasing a shimmering paper talisman.
After infusing it with magical energy, the talisman activated instantly, unleashing streaks of flickering lightning!
A second-order low-grade—Lightning Strike Talisman!
Zap!
A bolt of purple lightning descended from above, striking the eldest Kou brother directly!
His defensive aura shattered as easily as parchment, and the spiritual glow of his mage robe dimmed rapidly, disintegrating into ash!
Boom!
In its aftermath, the eldest Kou brother’s upper body was charred black, his life force swiftly weakening—an unmistakable sign of severe injury!
“Big Bro?!”
Snapping out of his daze, the younger Kou brother panicked and hastily maneuvered the Golden Dragonfish Blade to shield his elder sibling.
“It turns out you possess a unique magical artifact that targets the mental landscape! And a second-order paper talisman too! You’ve been hiding your true capabilities well, Miss Ruan!” The eldest Kou brother spat out a mouthful of blood, gasping for breath.
“I must admit, I didn’t expect you, Eldest Brother Kou, to be a third-stage body cultivator! Otherwise… there would have been no escape from that lightning strike!”
Ruan Xingling twirled the bell in her hand, her voice remaining steady and calm.
“Hmph! And what about now?”
The leader of the Kou Clan tore open his upper garments, exuding a menacing aura.
However, in the next instant, he froze.
One, two, three…
Smiling slyly, Ruan Xingling produced three distinct-colored paper talismans from her bag of holding, each pulsating with potent magical energy. She gleefully declared, “It’s time for both of you to make your journey!”
“Not good, split up!” The leader cried out oddly, forming hand seals. His wounds burst open, releasing a crimson glow that enveloped him entirely. With astonishing speed, he darted away, employing a rare blood escape technique!
“Big Bro!”
Seeing his elder brother flee, Kou Jiao had no choice but to choose another direction, transforming into a streak of golden light to escape.
At the scene, Ruan Xingling watched as the fearsome Kou brothers made their getaway. Suddenly, she let out a bitter laugh as the paper talismans in her hand turned ethereal, disintegrating into specks of shimmering light… They were all fakes!
“What a pity; I can’t detain both of them even if those paper talismans were genuine. My magical energy is nearly depleted.”
With a soft sigh, she turned her attention to the cultivator named Yin engaged with Feng Bai Meng and nodded resolutely. “At least today, one shall not escape!”
Ruan Xingling steered her flower basket towards Feng Bai Meng’s battlefield, the melodious chimes ringing once more…
“Damn it, I never expected that girl to be so troublesome!” The second Kou sibling maneuvered his escape light, swiftly covering over ten kilometers in mere moments.
Gritting his teeth internally, he lamented, “We’ve truly met our match this time, sigh… Ever since the mysterious disappearance of our third brother, my luck keeps worsening…”
“Today’s grudge will not go unavenged; someday, the Ruan family will pay dearly! Hmph!”
As the second Kou sibling uttered these defeated words, something caught his peripheral vision - a leisurely drifting black cloud magical artifact.
Upon it stood a figure, wielding a massive black iron sword and seemingly observing the battlefield from afar.
Noticing their approaching escape light, the figure hastily turned to flee in terror.
“It’s one of that woman’s subordinates!” A fierce gleam flashed in the second Kou sibling’s eyes as he prepared to pursue and eliminate the interloper!
However, at the last moment, he reconsidered, “Surviving is paramount… Consider yourself lucky!”
“Why isn’t he chasing me? This doesn’t align with the nature of tribulation cultivators!” Fang Xi continued his act, but noticed that the escaping light seemed intent on leaving rather than pursuing him, causing a slight frustration.
If the opponent had directly chased after him, Fang Xi could have replicated his earlier counter-attack against the old cultivator, saving one ‘flight talisman’.
“What a pity, truly unfortunate!”
With a sigh, he retrieved a flight talisman and slapped it onto himself.
As magical energy coursed through him, his body soared upwards at a speed far exceeding the Black Cloud Pocket!
Moments later, the second Kou brother realized that the mere fourth-level Qi Refinement cultivator wasn’t fleeing; instead, he was flying towards him. Unable to contain his fury, he roared, “Boy, you’re seeking death!”
The Golden Dragon Blade transformed into a streak of blinding light, swiftly bearing down on Fang Xi!
Fang Xi neither dodged nor retreated, letting out a powerful shout.
His true astral energy flared outward, enveloping his entire body like a crimson veil!
Clang!
The Golden Dragon Blade struck the true astral energy shield and rebounded instantly.
In the next instant, Fang Xi met the utterly horrified gaze of the second Kou brother.
Flight Talisman activated!
Astric energy surged throughout his body!
The Black Iron Sword resonated loudly, its blade and tip glowing with a three-inch-long scarlet sword aura!
“Slash!”
Holding the sword with both hands, Fang Xi raised it high, unleashing a forceful downward strike reminiscent of splitting Mount Hua!
Thwack!
Infused with astral energy, the Black Iron Sword effortlessly cleaved through the golden protective barrier and landed squarely on the second Kou brother’s body.
Only after Fang Xi had distanced himself did the second Kou brother seem to react. A blood-red line appeared on his forehead, extending downward across his nose, mouth, and finally reaching his abdomen.
His body then split apart horizontally, separating into two halves that fell onto the lake surface, leaving a trail of blood splattered in the air.
With just one strike, the tribulation cultivator met his demise!
Fang Xi sheathed the Black Iron Sword, feeling highly satisfied with this maneuver. He intentionally chose a vertical slash over a horizontal one, fearing that a cultivator’s resilience might allow them to still use secret techniques or magical artifacts even when severed at the waist.
A downward strike, however, ensured instant death, leaving no chance for struggle!
“Too bad it lacks some immortal flair though…” Fang Xi muttered as he collected the second Kou brother’s bag of holding along with a familiar-looking Golden Dragonfish Blade.
“This magical artifact… indeed matches the set from the third Kou brother. Wonder how long until I can gather all three pieces.”
He stored the Golden Dragonfish Blade in his own bag of holding and carefully hid away the second Kou brother’s belongings. After a moment’s thought, he retrieved the old cultivator’s yellow gourd artifact, refined it further, and commanded it to expel a glob of black liquid onto himself!
Splash!
The patched-up green mage robe instantly tore, giving him a disheveled appearance. However, beneath the robes, his skin remained unblemished and smooth.
With his true astral energy shielding him, mid-grade magical artifacts couldn’t breach his defenses.
“Should be convincing enough now?”
Having prepared accordingly, Fang Xi steered the Black Cloud Pocket and swayed towards the central battlefield.
His timing was impeccable, arriving just as Ruan Xingling gently rang her bell, momentarily mesmerizing the cultivator named Yin.
Countless blue Dream Butterfly Gu swiftly flew forth, enveloping the Yin cultivator entirely.
When the swarm dispersed, only a gaunt skeleton-like corpse remained, sinking into the lake.
“Well done, Xingling!”
Feng Baimeng, visibly delighted, retrieved the deceased cultivator’s bag of holding and small banner magical artifact.
At that moment, from two other directions, Old Daoist Xiu Mu and Wei Yixin with his wife also approached.
The Wei couple appeared composed and energetic; being two against one had not strained them significantly. In contrast, Old Daoist Xiu Mu seemed somewhat depleted of magical energy.
However, the most disheveled among them was undoubtedly Fang Xi.
“Fellow Daoist Fang, you actually survived against that fifth-layer Lu Clan cultivator?” Hua Chanjuan covered her mouth, expressing disbelief.
“I exhausted all my trump cards after a grueling battle, finally managing to slay that formidable foe…” Fang Xi lifted the yellow gourd in his hand, responding with a wry smile.
With the situation now under control, it was crucial to display some strength during the upcoming division of spoils. Otherwise, everyone might see him as an easy target for exploitation.
Ruan Xingling descended from her flower basket, scanning each person with a gentle smile. “I’m relieved to see everyone unharmed - truly cause for celebration!”
The old Daoist, Xiu Mu, bowed with a wry grin, “Thanks to the Xianzi’s formidable magical prowess, those Kou brothers were driven away. Otherwise, we would have met our demise… My apologies for my own incompetence; I allowed the Lu Clan cultivator to escape.”
With a stern expression, Wei Yixin tossed a severed head towards them.
As Feng Baimeng landed, the group surrounded Lu Jingqing. Trapped within the protection of the Talisman of Indestructibility, Lu Jingqing finally opened his eyes, only to be filled with despair upon witnessing this scene…