Author: 年终 / Nian Zhong

Translator: Kinky || https://kinkytranslations.com/

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Chapter 152: Blood Guide

The True Immortal blinked his eyes, and his face became numb. He was taken aback for a moment but didn’t respond to Yin Ci. Instead, his hand continued to reach out towards Shi Jingzhi.

“Last time we were talking and laughing, but now you’re so indifferent. Brother Sun, this isn’t like you.”

Yin Ci increased the force in his grip. The True Immortal’s brows furrowed, and immediately, the hand of Yin Ci was bound and torn by thin roots, exposing white bones. However, Yin Ci’s face remained calm, seemingly feeling no pain.

Blood-red tendrils climbed up the exposed bone, transforming into flesh. Yin Ci’s hand was restored to its original state in front of the True Immortal. The True Immortal paused for a moment, his gaze sweeping over the red tendrils before settling on Yin Ci.

When the two Hanging Tree clashed, the results were even better than they had expected. Perhaps the effect was too good that the True Immortal didn’t even bother to argue verbally. The surrounding roots made explosive noises, all aiming at Yin Ci, obviously intending to tear him to pieces. The rain collected on the tangled threads splashed high, making it seem like a water battle on the wasteland.

“Jingzhi!”

With a shout from Yin Ci, the two switched weapons. Yin Ci wielded the “Medicine Cures Illness” flag, generating a whirlwind like a sword qi, while Shi Jingzhi covered the Hanging Shadow Sword in golden flames, radiating brilliant arcs of light.

Unlike their first encounter with the True Immortal, this time the golden flames contained a hint of black. The True Immortal instinctively stepped back, his root-like tentacles retracting, shielding him in the center. However, upon realizing the feebleness of the flames, his tense face slowly relaxed.

Compared to the enormous Hanging Tree, this flame wasn’t even significant.

“…Is it wushu ore?” His tone was calm. “Just by obtaining some ore slag, you think you can oppose the Hanging Tree?”

Jiang Youyue, who had been holding his breath, finally exhaled.

So, they knew the use of wushu ore. Unfortunately, Yin Zizhu was too arrogant.

The Hanging Tree, after all, was a living entity of the world. There were naturally many things that could counter it. Over three hundred years, the True Immortal had exterminated all animals that gnawed on its roots and destroyed the mines that poisoned the tree. Compared to those that could directly harm the tree, wushu ore was the least harmful—it was hard to refine and required intense golden fire to ignite its toxic fire capable of injuring the Hanging Tree.

So, they left it for last.

For nearly a hundred years, the Immortal Assembly used both soft and hard tactics to abandon all remaining mine sites in Great Yun and recalled all wushu ore products on the market. Even if one or two were lost outside, they posed no threat.

Jiang Youyue, riding the wriggling Threads of Worries, reverted to his regular magic.

Vapor turned to fog, and rain threads turned to ice. Sharp ice pellets rained down from the sky. Shi Jingzhi shivered, and the flames around him dimmed. Nearby, Yan Qing and Shi Zhongyu seemed to be at a disadvantage, clumsily cutting through the Threads of Worries, retreating towards Yin Ci.

Ordinary people couldn’t see the Three Thousand Threads of Worries, but they could see the droplets and ice on them. The threads churned, gradually forming a white layer. They lay on the wasteland, soft and round like cotton, covering all the wild grass and bloodstains. If one ignored the ghostly semi-transparent roots, the scene was somewhat peaceful.

At first glance, it looked like snow in deep winter.

Yin Ci controlled the sword qi with the flag, his moves were desperate. He was surrounded by menacing roots and didn’t dare to jump, only spinning laboriously in the “snow”. His sword qi sliced through the True Immortal’s robe and flesh. The next moment, the flesh regenerated, and the robe mended itself.

Following his movements, Shi Jingzhi clumsily danced with his sword. The two supported each other, reminiscent of a duo dance. Wherever Yin Ci’s sword went, Shi Jingzhi’s flames followed.

The tree’s roots instinctively feared the black flame, slowing down. A deep gash appeared on the True Immortal’s abdomen. Glowing green blood dripped out incessantly, absorbed by the Threads of Worries.

The edges of the wound were charred, healing slowly.

“It’s better for you both to give up. What can you achieve with this pointless struggle?” Jiang Youyue coldly said. “Shi Jingzhi, are you still so deluded? What ‘family’? He just wants to use you as bait for a desperate fight!”

If they could persuade Shi Jingzhi to retreat, the golden flame would diminish, and the True Immortal’s roots would instantly shred Yin Ci. By the time he recovered, they would have long escaped with the Child of Desire.

However, that Child of Desire showed no hesitation and continued to wield the dark toxic flame with a deep smile. More and more translucent roots gathered, forming a dense black mist around the master and disciple.

It looked like a black lotus blooming on the snow.

The situation was dire, and momentum lost. With the True Immortal ahead and demons surrounding them, Yin Ci’s clothes were torn and stained with blood, which was washed chaotically by the icy rain. Shi Jingzhi, on the other hand, looked slightly better, but his neatly tied long hair was drenched and disheveled, making him look extremely miserable. The situation seemed utterly hopeless, yet the two of them acted more relaxed, as if all of this was just a pleasant dream.

They wore faint smiles on the corners of their lips.

Given the circumstances, such complacency appeared utterly mad. Jiang Youyue had seen many who were at their wit’s end, but the reactions of these two were truly unusual, sending chills down his spine.

Why could Yin Ci still manage to smile?

Why did the Child of Desire trust him so much?

…If the bond between the two was truly unbreakable, their whole act was probably designed to lure out the True Immortal. But with just a tiny spark, what could they possibly achieve? To slay the True Immortal? The True Immortal was connected to the hanging tree!

They—

Distracted, Jiang Youyue momentarily lowered his guard. The master and disciple duo, looking as if they were a single entity, charged with all their strength towards the True Immortal. The latter, despising the black fire, tried to evade, but was suddenly grabbed by Yin Ci.

Yin Ci and Shi Jingzhi separated. They acted as if sharing one body and turned sharply. Half of Yin Ci’s body was instantly pierced by roots. Clenching his fist covered in blood and flesh, he directly punched into the wound in the True Immortal’s abdomen.

This punch didn’t contain the black fire, and the True Immortal didn’t even flinch. On the contrary, once separated from Shi Jingzhi’s protective circle, Yin Ci was caught by a root, nearly flayed to the bone. Suspended in mid-air by the root, blood continuously dripped from his toes, forming a thin stream. The absorbing Threads of Worries couldn’t keep up, gradually becoming stained a dull red.

Yin Ci, covered in blood, reached out and tore at the root before lunging at the True Immortal. A gust of sword wind emerged, and a bloody rain fell towards the True Immortal. The latter frowned, raising his hand to deliver a final blow to the battered figure before him.

Jiang Youyue was overjoyed, almost instantly redirecting his spell entirely at Yin Ci. Shi Jingzhi ignited the black and gold flame, rapidly charging towards Yin Ci—

The Hanging Shadow Sword, ablaze with roaring flames, pierced through Yin Ci’s chest.

The sword penetrated from the back of Yin Ci, protruding from the front, its tip stopping at the True Immortal’s chest. At first, the golden flame burned away fragments of Yin Ci’s clothing, exuding scorching heat. But soon, the flame turned black, gently touching the cloth, occasionally wet droplets passing through the fire, falling to the ground.

It was eerily quiet, like death itself.

Yin Ci immediately spat out a mouthful of blood, covering most of the True Immortal’s face. The red tendrils were scorched by the black flame, instantly withering. Yin Ci’s recovery slowed significantly. From one side, he looked like a bloody skeleton.

But he was smiling, laughing amidst the blood and black fire. His hands was like a curse, clutching the True Immortal while his fingers sank deep into his flesh.

The sword that came out of Yin Ci’s chest caught the True Immortal off guard. The blade sunk several inches into his chest, causing a terrifying burn. He tried to break free but was pinned by Yin Ci’s sacrificial grip. The two were so close that their black fires fed off each other, together forming a pitch-black fireball. The True Immortal didn’t scream but stood stiff; its surrounding roots also freezing, resembling a startled beast.

The scene was so absurd that Jiang Youyue held his breath, almost forgetting how to cast his spells.

Did the Child of Desire finally betray, or…

Shi Jingzhi seemed to have noticed Jiang Youyue’s gaze, turning his head and silently mouthing to him.

“Boom.” Shi Jingzhi’s lips touched.

He put in extra force, and the blazing black fireball exploded instantly, like a pitch-black sun rising from the ground.

In the overwhelming darkness, Shi Jingzhi’s smile was radiant yet cold. For a moment, two shadowy figures, a man and a woman, appeared behind him, both laughing wickedly. Jiang Youyue tried to get a closer look, but the shadows dissipated like mist, as if they had never existed.

From that one sword, a poisonous fire spread everywhere, soon engulfing the sky.

The golden fire was intensely scorching, but once it burned through the wushu ore, the black fire that emerged wasn’t blazing hot. Flames spread everywhere, swaying continuously, and the entire wasteland was embraced by the black flames. The world seemed to have been shattered into fragments, with only sporadic light remaining. Although it was still daytime, this place seemed to have descended into night, with a bone-deep darkness everywhere.

For a moment, the only sound was the crackling of the sinister fire.

The black fire consumed relentlessly, and the Three Thousand Threads of Worries melted like snow. Transparent roots curled madly, making a sizzling sound. The dark clouds in the sky churned wildly, and the heavy rain ceased. The rumbling mudslides lost their momentum, halting at the foot of the mountain.

In Jiang Youyue’s eyes, the bare branches each seemed to be pressed against the ground, rolling in what appeared to be immense pain. For reasons unknown, the Hanging Tree seemed to be undergoing tremendous suffering. The True Immortal, influenced by it, began to contort, unable to maintain his handsome human form. He staggered and fell, but Yin Ci didn’t let go. He lunged forward with his sword.

Around Yin Ci, it was as if black flames covered him, making him appear like a mere living skeleton within those eerie fires. Yet even in such a state, he tightened his embrace, imprisoning the True Immortal closely within his arms.

The black fire burned even more fiercely, causing the ground to constantly shake. Shi Jingzhi, disheveled, found the black flames on his Hanging Shadow Sword growing stronger.

He walked towards the burning Yin Ci step by step. Kneeling beside him, he reached through the black flames, almost gently caressing Yin Ci’s bones. Then, Shi Jingzhi pulled out his sword and, changing to a more lethal angle, struck fiercely. This time, the Hanging Shadow Sword pinned both Yin Ci and the True Immortal together.

Just as Qu Duanyun was about to capitalize on the situation, he was taken aback by the scene. Without minding Yan Qing close by, his eyes were bloodshot.

“Master!”

Jiang Youyue was hardly better than Qu Duanyun. Flames, wrapped around the massive roots, rose from the ground. The Imperial Preceptor’s magic was like pouring a cup of water onto a blazing fire—completely ineffective.

The True Immortal needed to recover quickly. Clenching his teeth, Jiang Youyue took out a withered immortal hand and quickly cast a spell. Surely, Shi Jingzhi had used some cunning trick. By investigating, he would recognize the residue of the technique. As long as he could…

Jiang Youyue’s expression froze.

He identified the technique, and it wasn’t unique to Shi Jingzhi. It had existed for a long time and was simple enough that even the lower ranks of the Immortal Assembly could learn it. During the previous chaos of looking for the Shirou, he had used it countless times.

It was the curse of the Twin Roots.

“I’ve been informed. ‘When the Twin Roots is divided into two, one part is placed externally on flesh and blood, and the other is consumed by the blood’s master, forming a connection. With this connection, the two are linked, sharing life and death.’…”

Shi Jingzhi mouthed the words silently.

“At the time, it was said that if the connection was burned by fire, the blood’s master would also burn to death. Now it seems to be true.”

‘Impossible,’ Jiang Youyue thought in a daze.

The Hanging Tree grew underground, its bare branches untouchable. It was impossible for it to consume the Twin Roots like a human. Unless someone merged with the tree, becoming one with it, and willingly swallowed the Twin Roots.

No, that’s not right. Jiang Youyue suddenly felt cold sweat pouring out, his hands shaking uncontrollably.

Such a person did exist, and there was only one in the world. The Great Yun Hanging Tree had grown for nearly a thousand years, and only one incident occurred—

It was Yin Ci, the “Root of Calamity”, who merged with the tree’s roots.

Fear surged, and everything clicked. For a behemoth like the Hanging Tree, regular flesh couldn’t act as a blood guide. Even one branch wouldn’t suffice; the flesh needed to be significant.

Like the True Immortal, as the fruit of the hanging tree, who controlled countless roots.

Realizing this, Jiang Youyue’s vision darkened. This nearly impossible situation was unfolding before him. With that punch earlier, Yin Ci likely inserted the Twin Roots into the True Immortal’s body. The Root of Calamity didn’t give the True Immortal any time to react, as the black fire followed immediately.

The curse was complete, and the True Immortal had become the blood guide.

If he was completely burned, the damage would also be transferred to the Hanging Tree. The Hanging Shadow Sword couldn’t burn down thousands of miles of landscape, but burning the True Immortal wasn’t impossible. Jiang Youyue felt numb, with a heavy bitterness in his mouth. For decades, he had never tasted such panic.

For over a century, the Immortal Assembly cultivated the perfect “Imperial Celestial”. Generations considered setbacks and even the possibility of failure. As long as the Hanging Tree existed, they believed they’d find a way to coexist. It was just a tree—silent, dangerous, but manageable.

They never considered the possibility of “losing the Hanging Tree”.

…Whose nation was it really that fell to this national calamity?

Shi Jingzhi exerted his full strength, and the enraging fire reflected a dark hue in his amber eyes. He smiled, but his eyes held no mirth, only an overwhelming murderous intent.

“What’s wrong?”

Shi Jingzhi’s smile was gentle as spring, even as his hand, which caressed Yin Ci, trembled. Surrounded by black flames, he seemed both alluring and sinister, with the flames swaying like the tails of a monster.

“It’s just the curse of the Twin Roots. Lord Jiang, it’s a move you clearly taught us.”

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The author has something to say:

Imperial Preceptor’s Lineage: Cultivates trees to bear fruit; writes papers.

Imperial Preceptor’s Lineage: Hmm, this Queen Lan Fruit won’t do, almost had an accident; this Budu Fruit won’t do either, it’s gone bad on the branch; this one! This Jingzhi Fruit will do.

Imperial Preceptor’s Lineage: So happy. The paper can finally be written.

The next day.

Imperial Preceptor’s Lineage: ? Where’s the tree?

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