Author: 年终 / Nian Zhong

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

Chapter 153: The Martial Arts Circles

Yin Ci couldn’t feel pain.

He had once leaped from the highest mountain of Great Yun, shattering his body into pieces upon the abyss below. He had also swallowed the most potent poison, which burned his internal organs as if they were being tortured slowly. He had tried burning himself countless times. Even the most excruciating pain felt pleasant at this moment.

A century-long floating hatred found its target, and the puzzle that tormented him day and night had its answer. Recognizing his opponent, Yin Ci seemed to glimpse the battlefield from three hundred years ago. Old friends were still around, but unrecognizable. His poisoned body transformed into armor, and his broken bones became sharp blades. The silent black flame burned, evoking sounds of war in his ears.

Yin Ci turned his face slightly, glancing at Shi Jingzhi from the corner of his eyes.

As the True Immortal was regenerating, Shi Jingzhi used his immense qi to ignite the yang fire. Pure yang fire passed through the Hanging Shadow Sword, and the black flames burned the True Immortal’s body again and again.

The Hanging Tree was also burning.

It was just a tree, still obeying the laws of nature. With the effect of the “curse” of the Twin Roots, as the True Immortal was entirely set ablaze, so was the Hanging Tree.

Amidst the destruction, for the first time, Yin Ci felt a connection to the Hanging Tree. From the roots to the trunk and then to the branches deep underground, it burned slowly under the vast earth. There was no smoke, no light—only boundless darkness.

Beside him, a smile was on Shi Jingzhi’s face, but his eyes revealed intense pain. Amidst endless agony, Shi Jingzhi reached out; his palm warm but gentle, like a tear dropping on a red-hot furnace.

Yin Ci tried to utter comforting words, but the flames silenced him.

All he could do was look at the other calmly and gently.

Bare branches ignited, revealing burn marks. Thousands of tangled roots moved like snowballs, their semi-transparent tendrils coiling. Set against the continuous black fire, the once mundane wilderness transformed into a legendary eerie “Flesh Forest”.

Yin Ci’s eyes were burned, and his vision was blurred, making the surreal scene even more distorted. Yet, for some reason, Yin Ci felt that this scene was more “human” than any he had seen before.

Ten lives of monsters, a step between life and death.

Yin Ci’s body was battered, crawling on the ground. He firmly pinned the True Immortal, wishing he could nail it to himself with his bones.

The True Immortal didn’t scream. After a moment of stiffness, it struggled fiercely. Its skin loosened and rotted due to the poison fire, oozing a mixture of liquid and blood. Yin Ci tried his best to hold it down, but his muscles, also affected by the fire, weakened and couldn’t exert full strength.

After a series of spasms, the True Immortal twisted in ways impossible for humans. Ignoring the blade piercing its chest, it broke free from Yin Ci’s grip, leaving burnt flesh behind. One of Yin Ci’s arms was burnt to the bone, regenerating slowly, and was broken in the ensuing struggle.

The True Immortal and Hanging Tree both struggled, continuously burning and regenerating. The creature’s face alternated between reddish muscle and charred remnants. Amidst this cycle of destruction and rebirth, the True Immortal wavered, far from its earlier composure.

Shi Jingzhi picked up Yin Ci’s regenerating arm, leaving a gentle kiss on his bones. Yin Ci’s condition was no better than the True Immortal’s. Once like an immortal, he now resembled a creature crawling out of a chaotic grave.

Jiang Youyue and Qu Duanyun looked pale. Without hesitation, they charged. The Imperial Preceptor poured out spells relentlessly while Qu Duanyun danced with his sword, confronting Shi Jingzhi. Their combined attacks were golden and radiant, offering a contrast in the bleak surroundings, echoing a sense of righteousness.

Shi Jingzhi dodged with a sneer, not retreating but instead sticking closer to the True Immortal.

The two opponents’ intentions were clear. They hoped the poison fire would weaken, allowing the True Immortal’s self-healing to prevail. If the fire on the True Immortal went out, the Hanging Tree could be saved.

Qu Duanyun’s sword moves were swift and gradually became unrestrained. He unleashed powerful moves, pressing for Shi Jingzhi’s weaknesses. Jiang Youyue, the cunning fox, would seize lethal moments to launch intricate spells. Under their combined onslaught, Shi Jingzhi became more cautious with every move.

It was apparent that the Child of Desire was out of control, causing a severe blow to the Hanging Tree. Let alone the Immortal Assembly, even the True Immortal wouldn’t want him anymore. Unlike Yin Ci, his “immortality” was entirely determined by the True Immortal. If he was gravely injured again, he would surely die.

He danced on the edge of death. The natural fear of death in the Child of Desire boiled uncontrollably, causing his limbs to feel icy cold and his whole body to go numb. Shi Jingzhi was drenched in cold sweat. His pupils were dilating, and his hand holding the sword trembled incessantly.

Yet, he charged at the regenerating True Immortal time and time again, trying to make the poison fire burn longer.

The True Immortal was much harder to burn than they imagined. Although the Hanging Tree was set on fire, the True Immortal suppressed the black flames through rapid regeneration, only suffering burns but still showing signs of life.

If they couldn’t burn the True Immortal completely, at best they could only inflict minor burns on the Hanging Tree. Within decades or even years, the Hanging Tree would recover. Such a strategy could only succeed once; next time, the True Immortal would be prepared, and getting close would be harder than ascending to the heavens.

They had no way out.

Two fists were not match for four hands*. The wounds on Shi Jingzhi’s body increased while the True Immortal was getting further and further away from him. The battle had lasted for hours, and he was utterly exhausted, with the black flames on his sword weakening significantly.

*(双拳到底难敌四手) Idiom referring one person can’t defeat two.

With Jiang and Qu guarding him, the True Immortal got a moment to breathe. He absorbed a large amount of nearby Threads of Worries, and its sprawling roots retracted into the ground. The burning branches curl up into balls, keeping the poison fire on the outermost layer.

Although still aflame, its flesh slowly regenerated. Conversely, blood-red roots climbed up Yin Ci’s bones, struggling to gather and take shape in the black fire. The moist wasteland reverted to its original state, with rain-soaked mud looking like swamps and deformed corpses lying next to rotten roots. On the wasteland, there was no twisted “flesh forest”; only house-sized root balls, faintly visible in the poisonous fire.

As the Threads of Worries faded, Yan Qing and Shi Zhongyu finally appeared. Those like Su Si, standing further away, were okay, but Yan Qing was too close to the center of the battlefield. His clothes were drenched in blood. If not for relying on the Sword of Compassion, he’d look like he was about to collapse in the mud.

Outside reinforcements were in disarray, Yin Ci was immobile, and Shi Jingzhi was extremely weak. Everywhere was desolate and filled with the aura of death.

The momentum of the mortals was declining.

“You… have… talent…” The True Immortal finally manages to barely maintain a human form. Its lips hadn’t grown back, but its burned tongue had just regenerated. Because his damaged gums were still exposed, it made his speech somewhat unclear. “If you… wish to become immortal… What a pity…”

Shi Jingzhi took a deep breath, with only a thin layer of flame left on the Hanging Shadow Sword. His long hair was soaked in blood, his collar was messy, and his exposed skin was covered in bloodstains and ashes. His breathing was weak and fragmented, with life fading like a dying candle.

Behind him, Yin Ci leaned on a flagpole, trying to stand up. Yin Ci seemed to be at the end of the Hanging Tree; his burn wounds appeared even more horrifying than the True Immortal’s. His leg muscles were dry and cracked. As he tried to stand, his bones collapsed to the ground. The once-mighty general now looked like a butterfly stripped of its wings—fragile and ugly.

The master and disciple of the Kushan Sect, whether in appearance or situation, were in a pitiable state. The vastness of the world highlighted their insignificance and desperation.

“I will destroy all wushu mines and carefully cultivate the next generation of Child of Desire,” Qu Duanyun said coldly, realizing that Shi Jingzhi was no longer taking action. “Next time, even if we test their intentions, we won’t let the Child of Desire come in contact with ‘outsiders’.”

To assess the “quality” of a Child of Desire, love and hate, life and death were essential. Next time, they would make sure to handle those emotions as well.

Jiang Youyue sighed in relief, then said solemnly, “It’s my fault that they found a loophole this time.”

“It’s… okay…” The True Immortal’s head was still burning, but within the black fire, a pair of green eyes stood out. “The great Child of Desire… truly exceptional…”

It sighed deeply, raising its burning hand towards the sky. The broken clouds gathered again, and a heavy rainstorm ensued. The ground continued to tremble, with mud dragons moving forward.

The corpses of the Immortal Assembly members shakily rose, their broken limbs swinging limply. Like the time with Wu Huai at the Chigou Sect, “vine-like jade people” of various sizes emerged from the corpses’ mouths. They appear weaker, seemingly underdeveloped, their dry arms stretching towards Shi Jingzhi.

Shi Jingzhi, a mere mortal, couldn’t possibly escape. Though Yin Ci couldn’t die, with the heavy blow that the Hanging Tree just suffered, his threat level was greatly reduced. The situation was extremely perilous. Just as Shi Jingzhi seemed about to be overwhelmed by the True Immortal’s puppets, Jiang Youyue finally felt relieved. He fixed his disheveled hair, standing tall and straight.

Qu Duanyun heaved a sigh of relief and wiped the sweat off his face. “You turned a perfectly safe path into a deadly trap. How could you think of destroying the True Immortal with your power alone? Even if you were to ambush, you should’ve chosen a more appropriate place.”

Choosing such a barren land for setting the trap was clearly not well thought out.

Shi Jingzhi remained silent, seemingly devoid of fighting spirit. Raindrops rolled down his cheeks, and the black flame on his Hanging Shadow Sword dimmed once again, nearly extinguishing. Expressionless, he stepped back and gently held up Yin Ci’s battered body, holding him close.

“Zizhu, I…”

His voice was drowned out by the pouring rain.

The jade-like puppets were only ten steps away from them. In a matter of moments, Shi Jingzhi would be torn into shreds and then buried deep beneath the mud—

Fwish.

In the midst of the thunderstorm, this soft sound was nearly overshadowed. Qu Duanyun felt a numbing sensation on his shoulder, followed by an indescribable cold and weakness. His vision blurred, and he fell to his knees.

A poisoned arrow.

Despite the heavy rain, no presence approached; the archer must be quite distant. Only one person with such archery skills came to Qu Duanyun’s mind. And he also knew only one person capable of such a treacherous and venomous act.

Taiheng’s Yu Zikuan, and the Ling Sect’s Yan Zheng.

Was this a desperate struggle, a reckless act of bravery, or had the Child of Desire’s counterattack just begun?

Jiang Youyue was quick to react. He quickly cast a spell to mask his presence with mist. Mortal poison couldn’t harm the True Immortal. Jiang Youyue remained in place, continuing to control the puppets.

However, that single arrow was like a faint light in the fireworks.

Soon after, countless unfamiliar presences approached from all directions. The rumbling of the mud dragons ceased, replaced by the clear and righteous chanting of Buddhists scriptures. Pillars of bright light shone from afar, and numerous battle formations activated. The endless clouds were torn apart, revealing a clear blue sky.

A black horse charged into the group of puppets, exuding a powerful aura. As they observed their surroundings, Su Si was the first to arrive, piercing through the vine puppets with blade-like precision.

He took a slight detour on his way, scooping up the well-rested Yan Qing, who had been pretending to be severely injured. This time, Yan Qing didn’t hold back. Seated behind Su Si, he wielded his sword, displaying a more unrestrained and wild aura.

The third stance of the Jade Chime Sword technique: “Opening Gold and Stone”.

With a long whistle from Yan Qing, his Sword of Compassion trembled, emanating a faint golden glow. A gust of wind emerged, thundering like a surprise tempest or an uprising mountain. His young, solemn aura broke free, transforming into pure majesty.

The duo communicated without words, their coordination impeccable. The black horse leaped over the heads of the Kushan Sect’s master and disciple, releasing a powerful sword intent, instantly blowing away the puppets. A multitude of presences rapidly approached; there were thousands, all from the martial world.

Things were about to get worse.

Qu Duanyun pulled out the long arrow, trying to stand. But the poison from the Ling Sect was intricately venomous, and despite his unique abilities, he struggled. Jiang Youyue gritted his teeth, continuing his attack without rest. But even with his potent magic, Su Si blocked everything using treasures from the Chigou Sect. He had a large bundle of precious artifacts, using and discarding them as if they were cheap commodities.

“Apologies.”

The bastard said with a grin.

“Since I’ve become a Demonic Lord, it’s only right to splurge a bit.”

The move “Opening Gold and Stone” nearly exhausted all of Yan Qing’s vital qi. He didn’t fall, instead holding onto Su Si’s waist with one hand and wielding the Sword of Compassion with the other, continuing to fend off the approaching puppets.

The puppets that were blown away were immediately subdued by the first wave of “external reinforcements”—all were disciples of the Chigou Sect, stationed at various strongholds. Among them were many new members indoctrinated from the Ling Sect, all displaying a touch of madness in their actions. The members of the demonic sect couldn’t defeat the enchanted puppets one-on-one, so they ganged up and brutally dismembered them.

The next to arrive were the monks.

It wasn’t just the monks from the Jianchen Temple who arrived; the Jianchen Temple, as the head of all temples, had astonishingly persuasive power. The monks all wore impassive faces, continuously chanting their mantras. This time, it was a case of many ants biting an elephant to death. The True Immortal was already severely injured and hadn’t recovered. The ability to command wind and rain was confined to a tiny area, and he couldn’t unleash the Threads of Worries or his root tendrils.

The dark flames on him had not yet been extinguished, so he focused his attacks on Shi Jingzhi and Yin Ci. Unexpectedly, the third wave of reinforcements arrived shortly thereafter—the Taiheng Sect brought nearly a thousand people this time. Just among the elders, there were over a dozen, and they also brought many smaller sects that were affiliated with Taiheng. They rushed over from another direction, clearly intending to protect the master and disciple.

There were those who restrained with their spells, those who actively attacked, and those who supported and defended. It was clear that this had been planned in advance, but… it seemed impossible.

Qu Duanyun tried hard to stay lucid, but his thoughts became increasingly bewildered.

When did the two foxes from the Kushan Sect start their scheming? They had just told Monk Juehui and Protector Hua to leave, so how could the martial arts circle prepare so quickly?

Although the matter of the Hanging Tree was leaked by the Yueshui Pavilion, it was incredibly elusive. How could they possibly persuade so many people to risk their lives?

After the True Immortal indiscriminately attacked earlier, the officials and soldiers of the Immortal Assembly were either killed or injured. Facing an encirclement of nearly ten thousand people, they were reduced to just three individuals.

“With my strength alone, I indeed cannot burn the True Immortal.”

Shi Jingzhi slowly revealed a twisted smile, yet it was incredibly sincere.

“So, we invited more people—mortals, after all, are fragile and mundane. I ask for your patience.”

“You will die.”

Qu Duanyun gritted his teeth, his vision growing dark.

“You… even as a Child of Desire, disregarded your own life… With the Hanging Tree gone, Yin Zizhu will also die. What do you truly desire…”

However, he was too shocked by the scene before him to finish his sentence.

Shi Zhongyu had also regained her breath, leading the disciples of Taiheng to protect the two. The True Immortal’s assault was so fierce that the superior Taiheng Sect could barely withstand his intricate spells. Meanwhile, over a dozen elders stood behind Shi Jingzhi, infusing him with their vital qi.

A Child of Desire was inherently weak due to an excess of vital qi. Was this man not afraid of death?!

“I won’t die, and Zizhu won’t die either.”

Shi Jingzhi supported Yin Ci, who was still burning with dark flames, his body broken and battered, but his eyes sharp enough to send chills down one’s spine.

This time, Qu Duanyun clearly heard the words previously drowned out by the rain.

“Zizhu, I’m ready.”

The author has something to say:

Sect Master Shi: I want it all, I want it all!

Demonic Lord Yin nods approvingly (?

<<< || Table of Contents || >>>

Author: 年终 / Nian Zhong

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

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.”

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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Author: 年终 / Nian Zhong

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

Chapter 151: Family

Time reversed back to over ten days ago.

After the imperial court’s bandit suppression team set out, the situation didn’t show any signs of improvement.

Luojiu’s forces were as fierce as wolves and tigers. Not long after they conquered Twin Rivers, they began to penetrate into the Central Plains. Soldiers from all over fought desperately, but they couldn’t withstand the terrifying momentum of the “Divine Saint”. This man could take on a thousand on his own; his magic was unparalleled, and he could easily take on a whole troop. With the emperor gravely ill and a shortage of generals, Great Yun seemed like a young beast bitten on the back of its neck by a poisonous insect, almost helpless.

The Divine Saint was extremely cunning. Unlike the barbarians of the past, he didn’t resort to massacring cities or villages. He only targeted those with the most spirit and capability, brutally executing them in public. The citizens of Great Yun, who hadn’t experienced war or disaster in three hundred years and without the protection of the imperial court, were now as quiet as cicadas in the cold, extremely submissive.

Under such an atmosphere, Luojiu used Twin Rivers as a base and quickly expanded its influence into the Central Plains.

Xu Jingxing’s health remained the same, neither improving nor worsening. Shen Zhu solved the problem of Seeking Immortals, and with the Yueshui Pavilion enshrined in the royal court, the emperor naturally learned about the news of the Hanging Tree.

Facing this demonic entity, Xu Jingxing seemed disheartened, not even wanting to hear the war reports anymore.

Lately, only maids and eunuchs visited him, and sounds of smashing could be heard from his room. In less than a year, the prosperous nation showed signs of impending doom.

One day, as medicine was just brought in, another bout of angry shouts and smashing echoed from the room. The servants outside the door, fearing the emperor’s wrath, stayed far away.

“I, a humble subject, pay my respects to Your Majesty.”

The maid who brought the medicine closed the door and immediately knelt on the ground. Not far away, shards of jade porcelain scattered on the floor, looking like petals knocked down by rain. The room was in a mess, and its bright colors couldn’t hide the overwhelming aura of decay.

Xu Jingxing’s face looked withered as he weakly leaned against his bed. “Get up.”

The maid smiled sweetly. “Thank you, Your Majesty.”

Beside the maid, a eunuch with a hunched back finally looked up. He glanced at the broken porcelain, and his eyes were slightly red. “Emperor Brother, I have brought her.”

Judging by the eunuch’s features, it was clearly Xu Jingming in disguise.

Xu Jingming’s once dominant aura had faded. He used to be outwardly impressive but inwardly hollow, but now that façade was crumbling, revealing a more genuine vulnerability.

Xu Jingxing gave him a weak smile and then turned to the maid. “You must be Shen Zhu? I… cough… I heard that you’ve become the Minister of the Ministry of Heaven in the Yueshui Pavilion. Interesting. You hold a title there, and yet the Immortal Assembly didn’t target you…”

“Thanks to Sect Master Shi, who publicly ‘turned against’ me during the Chigou chaos, I was able to breathe a sigh of relief,” Shen Zhu said with a smirk.

“Now that you are the Minister of the Ministry of Heaven, even Jiang Youyue won’t be able to touch you. That’s good.”

Xu Jingxing looked at the dim ceiling and sighed deeply.

“Did Shi Jingzhi send you to tell me something?”

“You’re already aware of the situation with the demon tree. Now, I want to discuss with you the Hundred-Year Project of the Imperial Preceptor’s lineage and the phenomenon of ‘Heaven’s Displeasure’ in Great Yun…”

……

“What nonsense!”

After listening to Shen Zhu’s account, Xu Jingxing angrily shattered a vase by his bed. This time, it wasn’t for show—he was genuinely enraged.

“What kind of absurdity is this? It’s bad enough that the demon tree harms the people. This flesh idol gathers the energy of thousands to create a bloodthirsty tyrant! Wait, does Luojiu’s ‘Divine Saint’ also…”

Shen Zhu calmly replied, “Very likely. When He Cheng’an went to Luojiu, he already figured out the method of harnessing vital qi through the flesh idol. He had plenty of time to prepare before the real ‘seeding’. Luojiu isn’t large, and the population is concentrated, making it easier to create a ‘Child of Desire’.”

With the presence of a successor to the True Immortal, it was like a fruit that had fallen from a tree.

He Cheng’an, the old fruit, hit the ground and used the last bit of his value to leave the new Hanging Tree with favorable conditions. The Luojiu Hanging Tree was fortunate, growing quietly for three hundred years and getting a superior “puppet” first.

“The ‘Child of Desire’ is simply raised and selected when young, fed with the Shirou when mature, and dedicated to the Hanging Tree until death,” Shen Zhu explained indifferently when she saw Xu Jingxing’s puzzled look.

He Cheng’an’s foresight was correct. If used properly, the ‘Child of Desire’ could be a natural-born ruler. Their desire was insatiable. Even if Great Yun offered territory and compensation, it couldn’t stop the march of the Divine Saint. Ordinary people could only suffer in front of this “top-tier monster material”.

Xu Jingxing grew more disheartened, clutching the blanket and scoffing, “So, ordinary people really can’t compete with immortals?”

“Not necessarily.”

Shen Zhu chuckled.

“Luojiu has vast lands with sparse populations and limited vital qi. In terms of ability, our ‘Child of Desire’ is indeed stronger.”

“So that’s how it is.” Xu Jingxing gave a bitter smile. “That being said, does Shi Jingzhi want military power or the throne?”

Shen Zhu slightly raised her fine eyebrows, somewhat surprised. Xu Jingming took a deep cold breath, but ultimately held back his urge to speak.

“Presumably, He Cheng’an chose the founder of the dynasty in these chaotic times, hoping that he would fight and establish the empire, expanding the territory for those behind him.”

Xu Jingxing coughed violently again; his face filled with gloom. He gritted his teeth, every word dripping with sorrow.

“A bunch of fanatics, wanting the prince to ascend to the throne and wage wars all over? Now that Luojiu is causing chaos everywhere, when the Imperial Preceptor pushes that puppet monster to the throne, it will be an opportunity to continue the war. Instead of complying with their wishes, why not…”

“Our Sect Master won’t do it.” Shen Zhu interrupted with a cheeky smile. “He guessed you would say these things and had already told me.”

“…What?”

“He said he’s had enough of staying in this palace. He just wants to be with his beloved and travel all over the country. He has a plan with only one condition: Once everything settles, he must have a royal title and an imperial silver badge—you’ll have to give him as much money as he wishes to play with.”

Xu Jingxing and Xu Jingming: “……”

This request wasn’t serious at all, and Xu Jingxing took a moment to process it.

“That’s all?” The emperor asked in disbelief.

Shen Zhu took out a long list from her chest. “Not only that, but everything else can be bought with money. He alone cannot empty the national treasury, so please rest assured, Your Majesty.”

Xu Jingxing, out of patience, said, “The capital is about to fall, yet that bastard… Never mind, I agree; I agree to everything.”

Shen Zhu took a deep breath. “Then, please avoid the Imperial Preceptor’s ears and eyes and surrender to that Divine Saint.”

“That damn thing will tarnish our reputation for eternity!” Xu Jingming’s head buzzed, and he suddenly jumped up. “We can’t burn our own house just to kill a few rats, right?! No matter how bad the Imperial Preceptor is, they are still our own!”

Xu Jingxing stood still, but unlike Xu Jingming, his eyes sparkled and slowly brightened.

“If you don’t have troops, turn your enemies into allies. If we can’t resist a strong enemy, then divert them… Good, tell me more in detail.”

Several days later, at that very moment.

Faced with this news, Jiang Youyue’s attack suddenly halted, and his calm expression faltered. His cheek muscles twitched, and his face turned pale. Whether from shock or anger, he wobbled on the spot, losing his breath for a moment.

Xu Jingxing surrendered? Jiang Youyue’s mind went numb.

Not long after the word cloth news came, the energy of the Hanging Tree began to waver. Just now, he was using its power to fight all over, but now he felt as if he was stripped naked in an icy world, feeling cold and empty.

The Hanging Tree didn’t have much intelligence and only expressed unease. The dark clouds in the sky were shredded by unseen branches, forming eerie shapes that made people shiver. The unease was transmitted through the roots, and Jiang Youyue struggled to control them. The roots on the ground lashed out indiscriminately, causing dust and leaves to fly everywhere. The translucent roots writhed like waves.

A thicker root swept past, nearly hitting Jiang Youyue’s nose.

The Hanging Tree was hurt, so the news of the surrender was probably true.

Upon the Emperor’s order, the soldiers of Great Yun stopped their attacks. With free time on his hands, the Divine Saint had important things to do—stabilizing the situation, he began the Invitation to God.

The roots of the Luojiu’s Hanging Tree were summoned, immediately entangling and fighting with the Great Yun’s Hanging Tree. There wasn’t enough vital qi for two powerful entities. The Luojiu’s Hanging Tree was still “young” and very hungry, growing especially ferocious.

Twin Rivers, being a borderland, was just a minor issue for the Great Yun’s Hanging Tree. The problem was that Xu Jingxing had already surrendered, and more such incidents would happen in the future. If this continued, their Hanging Tree would be suffocated first. What would they rely on for prosperity and unification?

In the end, Xu Jingxing shouldn’t have been this weak—Luojiu hadn’t even reached the Central Plains yet, so why surrender so readily?!

“It was you.”

Jiang Youyue looked at Yin Ci and Shi Jingzhi in front of him, his eyes cold and piercing. The bruise on his cheek was evident.

Both knew from the beginning that they were no match for the power of the Hanging Tree, so they deliberately led the wolf into the room. They let the Hanging Trees fight against each other, using one to kill the other.

“Very well! Yin Zizhu, I never expected that the founding general of the past would now disregard the rise and fall of the nation. The Hanging Tree isn’t that weak. With these tricks, how many days can you delay?”

Jiang Youyue no longer pretended to be calm, anger evident in his voice. He raised his hands, barely controlling the chaotic roots. Those roots once again formed into spears, ready to strike.

“Founding general? I was a general for less than ten years, and then became the leader of the demonic sect for decades.”

Yin Ci held his black sword, its blade gaining a deeper hue from the fresh blood. Facing the spear in front of him, he didn’t even blink. Blood flung into the air, reflecting specks of golden fire and looking very much like the torn beads of a red necklace in the sky.

“Lord Jiang, this is indeed just the appetizer. Please, enjoy.” Shi Jingzhi wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, his smile cunning.

Just then, a distant group finally charged to the front line—these people were all exuding fierce hostility and murderous intent, all remnants of the Ling Sect. They ignored the Taiheng Sect and charged directly at the soldiers. The soldiers, who had just had a gentle fight with the orthodox sect for hours, were suddenly faced with a group of mad dogs, causing their formation to become chaotic and lose momentum.

Blood splattered everywhere, screams echoed. Every few steps in the wasteland, people were intertwined in combat. Dark weapons and poisons confronted spells. Both sides seemed evenly matched, plummeting the world into darkness.

Monk Juehui and Hua Jingchun saw their chance and were whisked away from the wasteland by the Taiheng Sect members. The imperial soldiers, with renewed vigor, pursued them. But they hadn’t gone far when they ran headlong into Su Si, riding a black horse—

Dressed in dark red with neatly tied hair, Su Si wore a sinister smile. Behind him were a group of assassins with the mark of the red scorpion, clearly not intending to let anyone pass.

“Why the rush? Chasing those orthodox sects, especially the older ones, is so boring.”

Su Si caressed the butcher knife in his hand. The blade nicked his thumb, and a few drops of blood oozed out. He sucked the blood from his thumb, and his smile grew colder.

“Why not play a game with me? I guarantee it’ll be enjoyable.”

With a flash of the blade, the Red Scorpion Feet assassins silently lunged forward. Unlike the straightforward Taiheng, their blades aimed for lethal spots. Blood sprayed from necks, dispersed by the wind.

A splash of blood landed on Su Si’s face, almost covering a mole near his eye. Wiping the blood off, he pointed his knife towards Qu Duanyun.

This was a clear provocation.

A vein popped on Qu Duanyun’s forehead. He wanted to help but was intercepted by the Sword of Compassion.

Without the interference of the imperial soldiers, Shi Zhongyu quickly gathered the Taiheng members. She and Yan Qing, together, firmly trapped Qu Duanyun, preventing him from returning to the imperial soldiers’ side.

Jiang Youyue looked displeased.

Before him, Qu Duanyun was suppressed by the orthodox alliance, and the soldiers were entangled by the demonic sect. Yin Zizhu never showed any signs of panic, while Shi Jingzhi, as if under some spell, willingly caused chaos with him. It seemed that the rumor of “The Immortal Assembly is causing chaos in the martial world” spreading was imminent—this was much more real than any illusory tales of the Hanging Tree and was bound to cause countless troubles.

Far away, the emperor lowered his head. In a few days, the Luojiu army would be here. They needed to form an Invitation to God again or the Hanging Tree would be further damaged. They needed to make Shi Jingzhi the new True Immortal, driving away the Divine Saint.

They had no time to waste.

Though the True Immortal was busy controlling natural disasters and couldn’t move, given the situation, it was best to ask him to take action.

Jiang Youyue made a decision, summoning the roots around him, lifting his head, and praying loudly to the sky.

His words were obscure, like a song. As the prayer continued, a luminescence began to emerge from the roots around the Imperial Preceptor, verdant and full of vitality.

Disgusting.

Yin Ci gritted his teeth, charging at Jiang Youyue with golden fire, slashing at the roots, trying to interrupt the strange call for help. But it was too late. Drops of flesh began to fall from the sky. The sky darkened as thunder roared and lightning flashed. A downpour, thick with a fishy smell, fell as the flesh droplets continued to pour.

The translucent roots quickly dispersed, leaving a clear space. The roots, now glowing, detached from the Imperial Preceptor, forming a dazzling magic formation on the ground. Amid the blinding green light, the flesh droplets hovered above the formation, boiling and writhing.

As when the True Immortal last appeared, the droplets slowly took shape, resembling Sun Wang.

The Hanging Tree was damaged, and the True Immortal no longer bothered to appear human. Expressionless, he made a gesture. The edges of his white robe instantly stretched out, transforming into countless threads, entangling both the imperial soldiers and Ling Sect followers.

In Yin Ci’s eyes, those white threads enveloped each person, draining them. They entered armor and clothes, softening flesh and bone. The once lively people now seemed boneless, collapsing to the ground like bags of cloth.

Yin Ci stared intently at “Sun Wang” not far away, his breathing growing slightly more rapid. The Threads of Worries were like the tide, trapping him in it and making it hard for him to even wield his sword. Shi Jingzhi became enraged and his golden flame engulfed a small acre, sparing a small space for him.

Within these pervasive Threads of Worries, there were quite a few sharp, thick roots mixed in. If it hadn’t been for Yin Ci’s timely defense, Shi Jingzhi would have almost been hooked through and gruesomely dragged to the True Immortal’s side.

Yin Ci immediately abandoned the offense, guarding Shi Jingzhi closely. The True Immortal approached step by step, not uttering a word.

The heavy rain continued to pour, accumulating and flowing on the invisible Threads of Worries. Under the flickering lightning, the accumulated water seemed to float in the air. Raindrops, heavy as stones, pelted their skin, making it hard to breathe. Kushan in the distance was obscured by the rain curtain, its silhouette consumed by the dim mist. Between heaven and earth, there seemed to be only this vast wasteland stained with blood.

At last, the True Immortal stopped in front of the master and disciple, raising a hand high. The earth emitted a rumbling noise, with nearby sounds of collapsing and breaking.

The downpour was causing landslides; this time, it was mudslides!

Natural disasters approached, yet the movements of the Thread of Worries and the tree roots didn’t pause. People looked around, only seeing a bleak scene. Even if the mortals could dodge the Thread of Worries, they couldn’t avoid the occasional attacking roots. Even if they managed to survive, they were bound to be buried by the mudslide.

The chaotic battle came to a standstill.

For the True Immortal to deal with mortals, it was even simpler than crushing ants. In less than half an incense stick’s time, the chaotic and bloody battlefield turned into a floating hell.

Most of the imperial soldiers and followers of the Ling Sect had perished, with only a few struggling on the spot. Qu Duanyun, recognized by the True Immortal, had a moment’s respite. He easily dispersed the Threads of Worries and directed his sword wind at Yan Qing. Jiang Youyue focused and continuously used his magic to trap the master and disciple of the Kushan Sect. The True Immortal reached out to grab Shi Jingzhi, who was still emitting golden flames—

A soft laugh echoed in the rain, followed by the sound of a long sword colliding with the Threads of Worries.

Clink.

Yin Ci released his Hanging Shadow Sword, letting it fall to the ground. With a flip of his right hand, he firmly grasped the True Immortal’s wrist.

“Elder Brother Sun.”

He curled up the corners of his mouth, his eyes as black as ancient ink. The downpour had wet Yin Ci’s long hair, the damp strands clinging to his cheeks. His complexion was pale, with only his lips retaining some color. However, his voice was clear and bright, showing no signs of panic or weakness.

“Don’t touch my family.”

The author has something to say:

Demonic Lord Yin: Elder Brother Sun, you once said I would marry the most beautiful woman in the world. Look who I brought.

Fox Shi: ?

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