Chapter 42

Zhang Jian received a small slip of paper that had suddenly appeared on the desk that day, and after receiving the news, he had someone send the news to his maternal grandfather Qi Yi.

Zhang Jian did not care whether the Qi family believed it or not, but he rushed to the Iron Immortal Observatory first.

Yet he realized this was an opportunity to intervene in the affairs of the prefecture.

On the other hand, after receiving the news, Qi Yi, though half-believing and half-doubting, still immediately led the Qi family's retainers to rush to the Iron Immortal Observatory.

The Iron Immortal Observatory is located in the suburbs.

It has been bustling with incense offerings year-round.

The Elder Daoist Xu虚 is renowned as the double absolute of medicine and Dao in Fengyang Prefecture; his Daoist arts are known only among the noble circles, but his medical attainments are famous throughout Fengyang Prefecture.

There are always pilgrims coming and going here, and those seeking medical treatment are even more continuous.

Outside the city, Zhang Jian faintly sensed several waves of cold and eerie spiritual fluctuations; within his crimson pupils, he could see vast amounts of blood energy rising far away.

Resentful energy surged into the sky.

"Something has already happened!"

Zhang Jian's heart stirred darkly; as he approached the Iron Immortal Observatory, he noticed several left-path cultivators hidden in the shadows.

Zhang Jian had already learned to distinguish these left-path cultivators from orthodox cultivators; these left-path cultivators mostly cultivate a single path of technique, their spiritual energy within is strongly biased toward one aspect, to the point that even their souls are tainted, presenting a cold or brutal aura.

This is actually the impurity contained within spiritual power.

Most orthodox cultivators possess the Great Dao lineage within them; similar to how even if their spiritual roots are biased toward extremely violent thunder, their internal spiritual energy remains rich and pure.

Zhang Jian scanned his surroundings with his divine sense; most of those around were Qi-refining stage left-path cultivators; these left-path cultivators should have merely obtained a single left-path technique, mastered the technique, but their spiritual energy had not improved at all.

Zhang Jian did not underestimate them.

Yet in his sight, the mountain gate of the Iron Immortal Observatory had already been shattered; the two young Daoist boys guarding the gate lay withered and dry on the steps.

A place of purity and tranquility had today become a battlefield of carnage.

Not only the two young Daoist boys, but the entire mountain gate was filled with a thick layer of strange and eerie atmosphere.

"Spiritual fluctuations of monsters?"

At this moment, Zhang Jian frowned tightly; this spiritual fluctuation was not unfamiliar to him.

His body moved with extreme speed; within the main hall of the Iron Immortal Observatory, the Daoist Xu虚's face was furious, his eyes filled with intense anger; wherever his gaze fell, the purple-robed disciples lay fallen to the ground, life or death unknown, while in the distance were three terrifying aberrations.

One was a monster with a tiger's head and a human body, another was a snake demon ten or more zhang tall, and the third was a terrifying shadow shrouded in a blood robe.

At this moment, Daoist Xu虚 pointed at the three monsters and shouted angrily: "Three monsters, you truly think my Fengyang Prefecture inside and out is just for show? You secretly approached the prefecture city and slaughtered my observatory's disciples—you will surely die without a burial place!"

Upon hearing this, the black tiger-headed humanoid monster let out a deep, low laugh.

"Elder Daoist Xu虚, placing your hope in the people of Fengyang Prefecture's observatories at this time is truly foolish; you have been famous for years, saving countless people, yet you have offended many people!"

"No matter what, you took my mountain's great medicine; today you must repay it!"

Amidst the low, hoarse roar, it actually began to retreat slowly, while the other two monstrous figures swiftly lunged to attack Elder Daoist Xu虚.

It appeared as if this tiger-headed humanoid monster was the leader.

At the same time, layers of dark light began to circulate around him, and he started continuously drawing out the lingering souls of the observatory's disciples that flew out, directly absorbing them, causing the yin and cold spiritual energy emanating from him to become even more vast.

The monster energy grew even more magnificent.

"Monster Tiger, you will surely face retribution!"

Seeing this, Daoist Xu虚's eyes nearly split open; at the same time, gazing at these three monsters, he knew there would be no good outcome.

These three monsters are from Xiao Jun Mountain outside Fengyang Prefecture; he has had dealings with them before.

All have over three hundred years of cultivation.

Especially the leading black tiger monster, whose cultivation reaches five hundred years, and whose innate divine powers are formidable.

Although these three monsters do not know techniques, they are born with thick skin and tough flesh, and possess a few innate minor magical arts; in a three-on-one fight, he would surely lose.

This is because the monsters' spiritual energy and physical strength are naturally superior to his.

But even if he must risk his life today, he wants to take down one or two of them, which would at least not be in vain for these disciples and their teacher-student bond.

In the midst of his angry shout, Daoist Xu虚 immediately produced his signature technique.

"Please, Divine Sword, Slay the Evil!"

His internal spiritual energy surged; a layer of pure yang, vast radiance burst forth from his body surface; the divine sword in his hand trembled and instantly transformed into a streak of purple light, rushing swiftly toward the blood-colored figure.

Among the three monsters, he deeply hated this blood-sucking leech; many disciples in the Iron Immortal Observatory had suffered at its hands, their essence and blood withered.

The sword broke through the air; the blood-sucking leech was also greatly startled, transforming into a red shadow with countless blood shadows soaring into the air and scattering in all directions, yet the divine sword continued until it locked onto one of the blood-colored figures and severed it.

The sound of sizzling continuously echoed; the true form of the blood-sucking leech, struck by the sword light on the ground, could not help but emit a terrifying wail.

Its innate technique of blood shadow incarnation could not evade the sword's lock-on; it was directly struck in its true form, severely wounded by the flying sword.

At this moment, its body, severed into two parts, continued to twist on the ground, with countless crimson blood flowing out from within.

"Flying Sword Technique!"

Seeing this, the black tiger's face changed color, then instantly broke into a cold smile.

"Such flying sword technique—how many times can you wield it?"

Only then was seen that Daoist Xu虚's face had already turned pale.

Daoist Xu虚 secretly groaned in pain; he indeed possessed this divine artifact, which was indeed powerful, and combined with the Iron Immortal Observatory's flying sword technique, its power was tremendous, but the artifact is nurtured by magical power, and only magical power can release its might; purely in terms of spiritual energy, he felt quite strained.

Such willful 'squandering' can at most be activated once more.

The sword's sensation flew back once again into Daoist Xu虚's hand.

Daoist Xu虚's face was indeed resolute; without hesitation, he sacrificed another sword, this time indeed targeting the black tiger monster.

He knew this black tiger monster was the chief culprit.

Rest, rest!!

Fierce sword light shattered the air, like a blazing sun rising within the observatory, in an instant slashing toward the black tiger monster, yet the black tiger monster's face changed color, countless black energies rose from its entire body, and deep in its palms, it clutched two disciples who had not yet died completely.

"You dare!"

The Black Tiger demon cursed inwardly; he hadn't even had time to bring out the hostage in his hand when the old Daoist's sword came at him, but at this critical moment he could only unleash his meat shield, immediately mobilizing his demonic energy to the fullest.

Boom—!!

At the same time, several mighty thunderclaps rang out before the main hall, seven or eight bolts of lightning roaring and striking, instantly locking onto the cunning snake demon that had transformed into a black wind and was rushing swiftly toward the Daoist of the Void Heaven.

Accompanied by a mournful cry, the snake demon, tens of zhang in length, fell in response amidst the crimson thunder.

After the snake demon hit the ground, its entire body was scorched black, and it had already lost all signs of life.

"How could it be this weak?"

At this moment, far away, Zhang Jian gazed at the now lifeless snake demon, a hint of astonishment in his eyes.

How could it be this weak?