Chapter 255: Pursuit and Kill

Zhan Yue Peak.

After the alarm bell was rung within the peak, Yuwen Chengqing, who had been in seclusion in a secret chamber, finally reacted.

He snapped open his eyes, his entire body radiating a grim and mighty martial qi.

Across from him, in the still hall of the main chamber, seven elders of Zhan Yue Peak sat in meditation, utterly absorbed in their martial cultivation, deaf to all outside noise.

Seeing this, Yuwen Chengqing nodded in satisfaction and muttered to himself:

“Good. Martial cultivation is like rowing upstream—fall behind, and you’re lost. If I don’t regularly force the elders into seclusion, they’ll eventually be drained by wine and women, and Zhan Yue Peak will surely perish!”

In Yuwen Chengqing’s view, Heaven rewards diligence—only through constant cultivation and seclusion could the peak produce more martial experts.

Sometimes Yuwen Chengqing even wondered: if all the other peak leaders of Luoshen Peak were as diligent as he was, perhaps Luoshen Peak’s unification of the Three Sects was within reach.

“Sigh, the sect is still too lazy. When can I find a chance to propose to the Sect Master that all disciples be forced to cultivate at least eighty percent of their time?”

As he thought this, Yuwen Chengqing frowned, then looked up, a flicker of confusion crossing his face:

“Why is the alarm bell ringing now? I already told my lady to come find me anytime there’s an emergency.”

Yuwen Chengqing suddenly rose to his feet, a faint sense of dread stirring in his heart.

Yet he did not disturb the elders still meditating; instead, his form shifted, and he headed straight out of the secret chamber.

Soon, a powerful and terrifyingly vast aura erupted from the summit of Zhan Yue Peak.

In an instant, all disciples still scattered across the peak and too slow to flee were stunned into stillness by the horrifying martial qi, frozen in place, daring not to move a muscle.

At the same time, Sikong Xuan looked up toward Zhan Yue Peak’s summit, a sharp gleam flashing in his cloudy eyes, his aged body gradually radiating an intense battle intent.

His purpose in coming to Luoshen Peak was precisely this: with his time running short, he wanted one final, glorious battle on horseback across the martial world, fulfilling his long-held dream—even if it cost him his life.

But before he even moved, Yulan Peak had surrendered. Though later he had struck Yu Mianjiao a palm.

Yet fighting someone who offers no resistance is like slapping a rock—what’s the point?

Now, finally, he’d found a hard bone to chew, perfect for a satisfying fight—this trip to Luoshen Peak wouldn’t be wasted after all.

Just as Sikong Xuan’s battle intent surged, Yuwen Chengqing, upon emerging from seclusion, moved instantly to the spot on the peak where the alarm bell had been rung.

He grabbed a disciple who had already collapsed under the pressure of his aura and demanded in a deep voice:

“What happened on the peak?”

The disciple took a long moment to react, then struggled to speak:

“Peak Leader… Luoshen Peak is gone!”

“What?”

Yuwen Chengqing’s face darkened instantly. He was about to demand further details when the disciple, overwhelmed by the terrifying aura radiating from him, fainted dead away.

Seeing this, Yuwen Chengqing tossed the man aside and hurried to find other disciples still on the peak.

How long had he been in seclusion? Luoshen Peak was already gone?

When had this happened? Why had he received no word?

Yuwen Chengqing then seized several disciples who had not yet fled, and after questioning them, finally pieced together the full story.

“The Sect Master and the Four Venerables are all dead? How is this possible!”

Yuwen Chengqing was struck as if by lightning, unable to accept this sudden, devastating news.

After all, he hadn’t even finished his seclusion—and now he emerged to find Luoshen Peak’s heavens had collapsed!

Everything felt unreal, as if he were trapped in a nightmare.

Yet reality kept hammering home: this was undeniably true.

Even when he went to find his wife, he discovered she had already fled, leaving behind an empty room.

And now, the number of disciples still remaining on Zhan Yue Peak was dwindling to almost nothing.

In an instant, Yuwen Chengqing slumped onto the stone steps outside Lady Ni’s courtyard, his aged face suddenly appearing ten years older.

The blow of Luoshen Peak’s destruction was clearly unbearable.

He had spent most of his life training day and night, finally breaking through after decades of hardship—only to have held the position of Peak Leader for just a few years.

And now, in the blink of an eye between closing his eyes and opening them again, Luoshen Peak was gone!

Who could accept this?

At that moment, Sikong Xuan’s thunderous voice echoed across the entire Zhan Yue Peak:

“Yuwen Chengqing! You stayed to defend your sect instead of fleeing—I respect you as a man. Now that you’ve emerged from seclusion, come down and fight me! Let us settle this with our lives!”

Sikong Xuan’s voice reverberated across every corner of the peak.

Yuwen Chengqing snapped back to awareness, instantly rising to his feet, unleashing a towering, razor-sharp, deadly aura—his terrifying martial energy surged like a dam bursting, crashing down the mountain.

Below, Sikong Xuan saw the overwhelming aura rushing toward him and stroked his beard with a sigh:

“Good!”

Instantly, his martial qi surged, and he extended a palm, drawing in the surrounding heavenly qi to prepare for battle with Yuwen Chengqing.

But the next moment, Sikong Xuan looked up—and saw the massive aura suddenly reverse, vanishing in an instant, as if it had never existed.

His outstretched hand froze mid-air. He frowned, his face filled with confusion.

On Zhan Yue Peak, Yuwen Chengqing immediately retracted his aura and wiped the sweat from his brow.

A wave of sudden dread flooded his heart!

Just now, spurred by Sikong Xuan’s words, he had acted on instinct.

But halfway through, he suddenly realized:

He had just considered fighting back against the Great Li Tianjin Guard? That was no different from suicide!

The Great Li court’s top experts had already killed the Sect Master and the Four Venerables.

Before such beings, they could kill him with a single move—any resistance would be a joke!

His martial talent was far inferior to the other peak leaders of Luoshen Peak; he had spent most of his life in relentless, grueling training to achieve his hard-won cultivation.

Only he knew the suffering and hardship involved—if he died pointlessly now, how could he accept it?

As he thought, Yuwen Chengqing’s expression shifted wildly. He took a deep breath, made his decision, and resolved to abandon Zhan Yue Peak and flee immediately.

But then, below the mountain, Ouyang Mingqi, seeing Yuwen Chengqing suddenly withdraw, shifted his gaze and could not bear to watch his noble-minded senior brother perish—he called out:

“Senior Brother Yuwen, Luoshen Peak’s fate is sealed. No matter how hard we fight, it’s useless. Join us in surrendering to the Great Li court—perhaps we can still achieve great things.”

At these words, Sikong Xuan’s beard and hair bristled. He whirled and glared fiercely at Ouyang Mingqi:

“Don’t speak! You’re ruining my chance!”

Hearing Ouyang Mingqi’s shout, Yuwen Chengqing, who had been about to flee, froze in place.

The next instant, his expression changed. He immediately retracted his aura.

His form flashed, and he hurried to a rock on the mountainside, then quietly peered down.

Through the night’s darkness, he saw the Tianjin Guard had surrounded Zhan Yue Peak completely, like a sealed bucket.

By the light of the torches below, he instantly recognized Sikong Xuan at the front, flanked by Yu Mianjiao of the Ninth Peak and Ouyang Mingqi of the Fifth Peak.

The situation was clear: these two had long since betrayed their sect and joined the Great Li Tianjin Guard’s hounds.

Seeing this, Yuwen Chengqing, hidden behind the rock, was filled with turmoil.

After a moment, he gritted his teeth, shifted his form, and headed straight down the mountain, shouting loudly:

“Ouyang younger brother speaks truly—I surrender! I won’t be a stubborn fool!”

Yu Mianjiao and the others all looked up. Sikong Xuan’s cloudy eyes darkened, and he barked:

“Surrendering without a fight? There’s trickery here. I’ll capture him first!”

Without another word, Sikong Xuan lunged at Yuwen Chengqing.

He’d finally found a hard bone—and now the man had gone soft before even striking? He wouldn’t let him escape so easily!

Luoshen Peak had only one peak leader left. Surrender? Not a chance!

Surrender meant deception!

Instantly, the heavenly qi around Zhan Yue Peak’s base boiled.

Sikong Xuan struck with a palm—vast green light flared, and dozens of palm prints, tearing through air and wind, slammed toward Yuwen Chengqing.

Yuwen Chengqing’s face changed. He formed a qi barrier to block the attack while retreating rapidly, shouting:

“I surrender sincerely! Don’t misunderstand!”

“I’d believe you if I were a fool!”

Sikong Xuan vanished from his spot, becoming a green shadow chasing Yuwen Chengqing, coldly saying:

“All other Luoshen Peak leaders fled or surrendered. Only you were in seclusion, hoping to break through and strike the Tianjin Guard a fatal blow.”

Everyone saw it. Now you emerge and suddenly surrender? Do you think we’re fools?”

At this moment, Sikong Xuan didn’t care whether Yuwen Chengqing’s surrender was real or fake.

He treated all surrender as deception—only then did he have grounds to attack. If Yuwen Chengqing truly surrendered, Sikong Xuan couldn’t strike him—and this entire trip to Luoshen Peak would be wasted!

Seeing Sikong Xuan relentlessly pursuing him, Yuwen Chengqing fled toward the opposite side of the mountain, shouting explanations as he ran.

He insisted he had been in seclusion and knew nothing of the outside events—otherwise, he would have been the first to surrender to the Great Li court.

But Sikong Xuan paid no heed. He didn’t stop chasing—instead, he roared in fury:

“I misjudged you! You’re just another coward!”

Seeing this, Yuwen Chengqing seemed to have no choice but to flee desperately.

Yet as he looked ahead, a strange gleam flashed in his eyes.

Below Zhan Yue Peak, Yu Mianjiao watched the chasing figures of Yuwen Chengqing and Sikong Xuan vanish into the night. She frowned slightly and said:

“Will it be safe letting Master Sikong chase after him alone? Should we follow and assist?”

Hearing this, Ouyang Mingqi stared at the disappearing figures, his expression thoughtful, and said:

I think Master Sikong doesn’t want us getting involved—he looks like he’s eager to fight someone.

Still, we should follow them closely. If something truly happens, we can step in then—it might even earn us a merit, which would make our safety in the Tianjin Guard more secure!

Yu Mianjiao’s eyes flickered slightly, then she nodded gently.

Next, she and Ouyang Mingqi vanished in a blur, chasing after the direction where Sikong Xuan and the other had disappeared.

But halfway there, Ouyang Mingqi suddenly looked up toward the direction Yuwancheng had fled, a flicker of unusual expression clearly passing through his eyes.

He furrowed his brow slightly but said nothing more, silently continuing to follow.

…

Luoshen Peak’s main peak.

After the hemp-robed elder and Lin Xuner delivered Li Muxian to Luoshen Peak’s main peak, they hurried off toward Bailian Peak, fearing their enemy might escape!

Li Muxian, accompanied by the clingy black cat, ascended the main peak standing at the center of the eight peaks.

By the time they reached Luoshen Peak’s main peak, word had already spread, and many elders and disciples had fled, though some remained on the main peak.

Among those who stayed, some planned to surrender once the Tianjin Guard arrived; others were utterly loyal to Luoshen Peak, determined to fight to the death alongside it!

Li Muxian had no intention of acting against these people—they would be handled by Fu Qiwén and the Tianjin Guard.

But after he and the black cat entered the main peak, several foolish elders and disciples kept attacking him.

The result: the slightly stronger ones were pinpointed to death by Li Muxian; the weaker ones were clawed to death by the black cat.

This black cat wasn’t just large—it was also formidable; ordinary Luoshen Peak disciples couldn’t match it.

Moreover, the black cat killed with ferocity—its glowing green eyes glared with the menace of a demon incarnate!

Eventually, Li Muxian followed the information he’d obtained from the Luoshen Peak Patriarch and arrived at a secret cave near the northern summit of the main peak.

But the Luoshen Peak Patriarch either held something back, or the Painful Life-Death Seal had tortured him so badly he’d forgotten to mention it.

The secret cave was filled with traps; Li Muxian pondered for a long while but couldn’t figure out how to disarm them. In the end, he had no choice but to overpower them all, blasting every trap into rubble.

Enduring all poisons and the ancestral methods left by past Luoshen Peak Patriarchs, Li Muxian, with the black cat in tow, finally entered the cave’s interior.

(End of Chapter)