Chapter 46: Demon Heart Seed

The entire corridor fell silent at once, the young man’s smile freezing on his face.

The two hiding by the stairs no longer concealed themselves, stepping forward with hurried footsteps to stand behind the young man.

The three stared at Li Muxian, killing intent surging in their eyes, yet uncertain of his strength, they hesitated, not advancing.

Li Muxian shook his head; the three before him were far too weak—one barely reached the Primordial Realm.

To be honest, though he knew they had come to kill him, he had not the slightest urge to strike back.

“What are you trying to do?”

At that moment, the eunuch Xiao Anzi suddenly appeared at one end of the corridor; seeing this scene, he hurried forward.

“Attack. If the palace guards arrive, it’ll be too late.”

One of the young men growled low, a ruthless expression flashing across his face, then lunged straight at Li Muxian.

Hearing this, the other two no longer hesitated; they sank their inner energy into their feet and shot forward with a rush of wind close behind.

Yet the eunuch Xiao Anzi seemed exceptionally skilled in lightness arts—his movement was clearly faster, appearing before them in mere flashes.

Whoo! Whoo! Whoo!

Several palms, condensed with Guiyin True Qi, struck out, unleashing a chilling aura that slammed toward the three.

Like being blasted by a sudden icy gale, two of them shivered with cold; their forward steps had not even landed before they were flung backward.

The remaining man surged his true qi, punched through the air current before him, and pressed onward toward Li Muxian—only to suddenly collide with a diagonal palm strike from Xiao Anzi.

That palm swirled with strands of Guiyin True Qi, piercingly sharp, chilling the air around it further.

Boom!

The young man in the Confucian robe was flung away, joining the other two as he crashed onto the corridor floor, cracking the wooden planks and sending splinters flying.

“The Light Supreme Pavilion has clear rules: no private brawls. You’ll all await punishment.”

Xiao Anzi stood before Li Muxian, coldly gazing at the three on the ground.

Two of them spat out a mouthful of dark blood, struggling to rise while clutching their chests; one, clearly filled with regret, gritted his teeth:

“I should’ve acted right away—missed the best chance to kill him!”

The other turned his head, pale-faced, toward the Confucian-robed young man, asking:

“We’re no match for that little eunuch. What do we do now?”

Hearing this, the Confucian-robed young man wiped blood from his lips but said nothing, only glaring fixedly at Li Muxian.

“You still intend to attack?”

Xiao Anzi narrowed his eyes, subtly channeling his true qi in his palm, ready to counter any sudden strike.

At that moment, the Confucian-robed young man slowly rose to his feet, glanced at the two beside him, and spoke in a chilling tone:

“We still have a chance—but we need your help.”

Hearing this, the other two’s eyes lit up; they were about to speak when a hand landed on their heads.

Before they understood what was happening, their bodies suddenly lost control, trembling violently, withering visibly before their eyes.

Thin streams of crimson blood-qi surged from the young man’s palm into his body, while his skin and face gradually plumped, glowing with renewed vitality.

Plop!

The young man, now flushed with redness, pushed forward with one hand—two desiccated corpses collapsed to the ground like dried husks.

“Thank you. I’ll fulfill your wish.”

Blood-red sparks flickered in the Confucian-robed young man’s eyes; he slowly lifted his head toward Xiao Anzi and Li Muxian, a faint, cruel smile curling at his lips.

“Are you a demonic cultivator?”

Xiao Anzi stared at him warily, his expression filled with doubt—but then he shook his head.

“Impossible. Everyone entering the Light Supreme Pavilion has been secretly checked. If you practiced demonic arts, you could never have hidden it!”

The Confucian-robed young man gently twisted his neck.

"That’s why I say you’re a young eunuch—your insight is pathetically shallow!"

No sooner had he spoken than his figure dissolved into a crimson shadow and vanished from the spot.

Xiao Anzi felt a nauseating stench of blood rush toward him—the man was already before him.

Seeing this, he instantly narrowed his eyes; his palm, already charged with Guiyin True Qi, slammed toward the crimson figure.

But the next instant, Xiao Anzi was horrified to realize his palm had struck only a crimson afterimage.

The real Confucian-robed young man had suddenly appeared beside him—and a chilling sense of mortal peril descended upon him.

In his peripheral vision, Xiao Anzi saw the young man’s pale hand now sprouting blood-red, blade-like claws, driving straight toward his heart.

Fear and despair flashed across his face—just as he thought he would be ripped open, his life ending on the spot—

The blood-red claws, like a scythe of death, halted mere half an inch from his heart.

Xiao Anzi’s eyes widened; he involuntarily swallowed.

He still didn’t understand what had happened—when a lazy voice sounded beside his ear:

“How’s that? Thrilling?”

Xiao Anzi stiffly turned his neck—and found Li Muxian calmly watching him.

Xiao Anzi hastily retreated several steps, putting distance between his heart and those blood-red claws that could end him.

Then he stared at the Confucian-robed young man—his face twisted in fury, motionless—and finally understood.

He drew a deep, heavy breath, turned to Li Muxian, and bowed deeply:

“Thank you, Young Master Li, for saving my life—I am eternally grateful!”

Li Muxian had once dispelled the Beiqi Ming Qi from him—something even his master An Quan could not do.

Now he had saved him again. Though he did not know Li Muxian’s true strength, he was certain it was extraordinary.

Hearing this, Li Muxian shrugged and walked to stand before the Confucian-robed young man.

In his mind, he was pondering the creation of the Life-Death Talisman technique.

From Xiao Anzi’s reaction just now, he confirmed: true fear arises only in the instant of facing death—that must be the principle behind the Life-Death Talisman’s torment.

Thinking this, he flicked his finger—the young man, now flushed red with bloodshot eyes, suddenly moved his throat and could speak at last, though his voice was hysterical:

“Die, die, die!”

Li Muxian paid no mind, merely raised an eyebrow and asked:

“Did you practice the Absorbing Star Great Law?”

But the Confucian-robed young man did not answer; his eyes grew even redder, ranting like a madman.

Seeing this, Li Muxian frowned slightly, preparing to test the newly comprehended Life-Death Talisman technique on him.

Then, a soft, feminine voice floated down from above:

“If I’m not mistaken, this is ‘Demon Heart Seed’!”

(End of Chapter)