269: Chapter 268 The Culprit is Here 269: Chapter 268 The Culprit is Here Xiang Zhiwen’s decision was extremely timely, because everything that had happened could not possibly have been done by someone in the same realm as the minor cultivators of Bridge Connection, and it necessarily had to be an Upper Cultivator from the Tongtian Third Realm, and probably only an Upper Cultivator from the God Sensing Natural Realm could achieve it.
In the face of such malice, any hesitation would doom him forever, and any compromise could only bring even greater trouble.
As soon as he severed his own Purple Mansion, Hou Niao immediately felt a lightness as if something had been removed from his body.
Seizing this opportunity, he drew his longsword and leapt forward, aiming at the direction from which the power was emanating.
His blade radiated like a rainbow, slashing with all his might.
This stroke was his ultimate effort; the three-foot longsword extended its qi gang about several feet long, where the desolate intent to kill was so abundant, and it had reached a new height after years of insight.
It was behind a huge stalactite clinging tightly to the cave wall.
During earlier observations, both of them had thoroughly explored it, yet they had no idea when someone had secretly infiltrated behind it.
If it weren’t for Xiang Zhiwen decisively destroying his Purple Mansion and disrupting the life field, revealing a slight flaw, he might not have even been aware of where the danger was truly coming from.
The sword’s gleam was sharp, instantly slicing through stalactites as thick as water barrels, as if nothing in the world could exist in front of such sharpness; yet this was only an illusion, as even the most fierce sword momentum couldn’t mask the nature of qi gang formed by spiritual power, and the addition of sword intent couldn’t break through the mana barrier.
This stroke, after all, was ineffective, and Hou Niao was also sent flying from the collision of energy, twisting in the air, still unable to control his form, causing the surrounding stalactites to shatter to the ground.
However, that huge stalactite was eventually sliced open, revealing a human figure standing amid the gloomy intent.
Xiang Zhiwen, despite the backlash from destroying his own Purple Mansion, looked at the figure behind the stalactite with disbelief,
Zheng Shixie looked somewhat regretful at the two men.
Regrettably, his plan had fallen short and failed.
“I came here to escort and protect you, but it seems you don’t quite appreciate my care?”
Xiang Zhiwen’s mind was roiling with emotion.
He had never imagined that it would be an elder from his own sect who was striking at him from behind,
We have had no conflicts recently or grievances from the past.
Uncle, what ultimately motivated you to plot so deeply?”
He couldn’t understand; if it was just to kill someone, there were too many opportunities, there was no need to contrive these stories; why strike during his breakthrough, clearly wanting to gain something from it?
But he couldn’t figure out what valuable thing an exalted cultivator from the Tongxuan Realm could possibly gain from someone like him, a minor cultivator?
If Zheng Shixie were in the Bridge Connection Realm, it would be more understandable, since there can always be a reason, but Zheng Shixie had clearly passed that stage—are there still reasons to do it again?
Zheng Shixie wanted to make one final effort, “I told you, it was to protect you; think about it, what if you hadn’t destroyed the path of your Purple Mansion?
If you had continued, perhaps you would have successfully ascended to the Upper Realm by now?
Now though, you chose to trust your trouble-seeking junior brother, severing your own prospects—what exactly was your purpose?”
Xiang Zhiwen was no child, so how could he possibly believe his lies?
Deliberately luring him to Jin City Hall by tempting him with the prospect of a Spiritual Spring, then sneakily following him, even mixing his own Life Field into the mix while he was in the midst of a breakthrough.
This was not the act of a protector; it resembled a kind of Body Seizing!
“I trust my brother, but I do not trust you!”
After being silent, Hou Niao finally spoke, “You are not Zheng Shixie!
You are the Soul Ghost wearing a human skin from West Mang Mountain!”
Zheng Shixie, surprised, looked up and laughed heartily, “I have been lurking in Jin City for two years, and none in Jin City, encompassing three Cultivation households, have seen through me.
Unexpectedly, today a mere Bridge Connection has exposed me.
Remarkable insight, commendable heartiness!
The one who caused the most trouble and slaughtered my soul kin at West Mang Mountain was you, wasn’t it?
Others combined couldn’t match the number you’ve killed; you truly are a natural-born spoiler of spirits, never leaving any chaos untouched.
Think your insight is incredible?
Unbeknownst to you, speaking up now, I fear you two can hardly escape this predicament!”
Hou Niao snorted coldly, “You speak as if you would have spared us if your secrets remained hidden.
It’s uncertain who will be the one sparing whom today!”
Xiang Zhiwen glared angrily.
“Soul Ghost wearing human skin?
Is it that Ghost King from West Mang Mountain who was repelled by Uncle Master Yu?
You frame Uncle Master Zheng and infiltrate the Quanzhen Sect with bad intentions.
Do you realize today’s actions could bring disaster upon your West Mang Mountain?”
The Soul Ghost wearing human skin scorned, “Do you think you can escape today’s calamity?
Since you cannot escape, why worry about the disaster for West Mang City?”
Hou Niao was less agitated; he saw this as merely a cycle of vengeance within the Cultivation World, much like humans once recklessly slaughtered Soul Ghosts.
This was simply revenge later on, although it was impossible to target the entire Quanzhen Sect or the Jin City branch.
So, killing a few disciples wasn’t anything new.
But he felt it wasn’t just about slaughter, “What do you want to do?
Why choose to strike at Elder Brother Xiang here?”
The Soul Ghost wearing human skin was leisurely, not worried about any mishap.
Their current location was hundreds of feet below a mountain cave, with twisty paths from which escape was challenging.
Even if he let these two juniors run for an hour, he could quickly capture them; thus, he was not in a hurry.
“Hahaha, I am a person of sentiment.
People are going to die, and it’s not nice to keep you in the dark.
To be frank, the most disobedient ghosts in our West Mang Mountain always end up confused.
For the sake of our future Soul Ghost squad’s combat effectiveness, I don’t mind letting you know why I chose here to make my move.”
He burst forth, because there was no need for secrecy, with a formidable presence that alone caused the two Sword Cultivators to inwardly groan.
This Skinwearing Ghost had formed a Soul Pill, theoretically equivalent to a human Golden Core Cultivator.
However, such a realm comparison was not convincing; if judged solely on strength, its power was incomparable to that of human Golden Core Cultivators, possibly only equivalent to human practitioners in the last two realms of Tongtian.
Its real strength was evident when it was driven back by the God Sensing Realm’s Yu Zhengxing.
“Do you think we Soul Ghosts only know how to fight and kill?
We are not human; we have our methods of revenge.
Since we can only beg for peace on the surface, why not slip into your Quanzhen Sect under a human disguise and dissolve it from within?
Wouldn’t that be delightful?
Zheng Shixie, that waste, was my target.
I battled with them for a long time not because I couldn’t handle them, but because I wanted to fully understand this man!
You think too highly of yourselves, Quanzhen Sect, believing yourselves unmatched in combat.
Yet, you are far behind in the way of Cultivation.
I couldn’t take on that woman from Anhe Daoist because she carried Dao Power, nor could I take on that woman from Huncheng Sect.
The only one I could take on was your Quanzhen Sect’s Sword Cultivators, who know nothing but their swords, practically worthless beings without their sword courage!”