Chapter 188: Beg for Mercy, Secret

188. Chapter 188: Beg for Mercy, Secret

When the words were spoken, it was already too late.

Third Young Master Yin acted without hesitation, extremely decisive and swift.

The moment he appeared and activated the banner to lay the formation, Xiao Zhangqing and the other two sensed his arrival.

But in the next instant, Third Young Master Yin released countless evil spirits from his artifact, intending to slaughter all the Jin family cultivators of Shuangfeng Ridge along with the ordinary folk.

Fortunately, Xiao Zhangqing and his two companions allocated tasks in an instant, each performing their duty.

Su Wushuang was responsible for rescuing the Jin family members of Shuangfeng Ridge; although their lives were not his concern, having arrived he could not simply watch Third Young Master Yin indiscriminately slaughter dozens of low‑rank cultivators and thousands of civilians.

Moreover, Su Wushuang's techniques and methods were precisely suited to countering the countless evil spirits of Third Young Master Yin.

Gu Zongyuan and Xiao Zhangqing were tasked with intercepting and killing Third Young Master Yin.

Boom! A long spear blazing with fierce flames surged like a swimming dragon, piercing the darkness and incinerating countless evil spirits along the way into ash, roaring as it thrust toward Third Young Master Yin.

"Gu Zongyuan, this young master has no interest in sparring with you. When my Holy Sect arrives, I will lay waste to Character: Liyang Immortal City for three days!"

Third Young Master Yin flicked his folding fan, a gust of cold wind rose, temporarily slowing Gu Zongyuan's spear assault, and he seized the chance to dart aside.

At the same time, he clenched a formula to summon his mana, swiftly gathering the nine‑faced banner, preparing to make a getaway.

Third Young Master Yin's escape technique truly was extraordinary.

When he retracted the banner, his figure flickered, instantly turning into a wisp of black mist, from which several vague silhouettes split off, fleeing in all directions.

Each silhouette moved at a speed nearly matching that of a mid‑Core Formation cultivator's escape speed.

Meanwhile, a dozen or so silhouettes fled simultaneously, each with a solid aura and no flaw, even Soul Transformation could discern them.

Thus, even a late‑Core Formation cultivator would be at a loss.

Heh heh heh! Gu Zongyuan did not give up; his flaming spear flew in rapid succession, striking two of the black‑mist silhouettes at top speed.

As the spear turned, flames burned, and the black‑mist silhouettes it pierced vanished instantly, leaving nothing behind.

Obviously, those two black‑mist figures were false copies, not the true body.

At this moment Su Wushuang also gave chase, striking with full force and shattering several black silhouettes.

But they were still wrong; none captured the real Third Young Master Yin.

Third Young Master Yin's escape technique is not only swift but also hard to distinguish real from fake; thanks to it he has evaded Gu Zongyuan and Su Wushuang's pursuits many times over the past months.

It is also the confidence that allows him to accept the mission deep within the Da Yu Cultivation World.

With such a life‑saving trump card, even when facing most late‑Core Formation cultivators, he is confident he can escape.

Whoosh! At that moment, on a moonless, windy night, as if the dark clouds suddenly cleared, specks of starlight ignited; upon closer look they were sword qi, like the power of constellations streaming through, continuously slashing the black silhouettes to pieces.

Plucking Stars to Change the Dipper Sword Formula!

Xiao Zhangqing made his move.

His first priority was to use his powerful spiritual perception to discern Third Young Master Yin's split‑body escape technique; if he could directly locate the true body, dealing with him would be much easier.

Unexpectedly, his escape technique indeed contained substance: each split‑body harbored a genuine Soul Transformation aura, not merely an illusion! This is likely linked to his method of imprisoning evil spirits.

Unable to directly identify which was the true body, Xiao Zhangqing could only resort to the same clumsy method as Gu Zongyuan and Su Wushuang—destroying the split‑bodies one by one until the real one emerged.

Xiao Zhangqing simultaneously employed the Great Roc Riding the Wind Escape Technique, moving so fast the naked eye could not track him, like teleportation, far swifter than the black shadows' shielding speed.

Coupled with the Plucking Stars to Change the Dipper Sword Formula, whose power is strong enough that a single strike reaches mid‑Core Formation combat strength, the black‑shadow split‑bodies of Third Young Master Yin could not withstand it; they shattered on contact.

Thus Xiao Zhangqing's pursuit became extremely rapid.

In an instant he eliminated most of the split‑bodies.

With Gu Zongyuan and Su Wushuang assisting nearby.

Consequently, before the true Third Young Master Yin could get far, his split‑body escape technique was already losing effectiveness, fully exposed and revealed!

"Where did this sword cultivator emerge from? His escape technique is that fast?"

Third Young Master Yin had been leisurely indifferent, paying no heed to Gu Zongyuan and Su Wushuang's joint pursuit, but upon seeing Xiao Zhangqing act, his complexion changed dramatically, a chill gripping his heart.

Where did this master come from? He even surpasses Su Wushuang, a mid‑Core Formation cultivator! In Character: Liyang Immortal City, after Master Character: Liyang departed, is there still such a powerful presence nearby?

Third Young Master Yin came here to carry out his mission, naturally having gathered clear information about Character: Liyang Immortal City.

He knew that ten years ago Character: Liyang Immortal City underwent a great upheaval; the top Scattered Cultivator of the Da Yu Cultivation World fled abroad, leaving no true masters, which gave him the courage to come.

Otherwise, if a Core Formation Perfection master existed, no matter how bold he was, he would not dare to trespass.

As for Xiao Zhangqing, the duel with Zhu Qingyun that day had few witnesses; Gu Zongyuan and Su Wushuang did not publicize it, each ordering their subordinates to keep silent, and Zhu Qingyun would not reveal a word externally, so Xiao Zhangqing's strength remained unknown to the outside world.

Whoosh whoosh!

In an instant, another two split‑bodies were cut down.

At this point, the scattered black‑mist silhouettes had been slashed more than half.

Just as Xiao Zhangqing locked onto another split‑body and sped after it, this one finally reacted differently from the previously easily cut ones.

This split‑body unexpectedly increased its speed by several notches during Xiao Zhangqing's chase, then maneuvered flexibly, changing direction to evade his sword qi.

Xiao Zhangqing's eyes brightened; he immediately pushed the Great Roc Riding the Wind to its limit, eliminating even wind resistance, as if teleporting through space, a few swift leaps rapidly closed the gap with the black‑mist silhouette.

Seeing this, the now‑exposed Third Young Master Yin could no longer disguise himself; he twisted his formula, causing the black‑mist split‑bodies fleeing in other directions to vanish, while his own black mist grew denser and his speed surged again.

Simultaneously he activated the banner, sending several relatively strong evil spirits toward Xiao Zhangqing to block his pursuit.

These evil spirits were at most late‑Foundation Establishment level; they posed no threat to Xiao Zhangqing, who sliced each with a single sword thrust.

Even though Third Young Master Yin's speed surged again, it still paled in comparison to Xiao Zhangqing's Great Roc Riding the Wind.

The distance between them rapidly closed.

Ten li, eight li, five li, three li… in a flash.

Their separation narrowed to within a single sword length.

"You cannot escape."

Xiao Zhangqing had never heard of Third Young Master Yin's name before, nor had he ever seen him.

Yin San Gongzi was now terrified to the extreme; having committed evil for two hundred years and slain countless victims, he felt a dense death threat for the first time.

This time was even more urgent than at the Southwest battlefield! At the Southwest battlefield, although he attacked Baihua Valley and failed, he fled in disgrace.

But he knew clearly that the Demon Sect army was behind him, with his brother stationed to guard him.

Yet this time, he ventured alone deep into the interior of Da Yu Cultivation World, truly isolated and without aid!

Although other Demon Sect Core Formation cultivators also crossed the Cloud Mist Mountain Range, they were far apart, and even if someone happened to pass by, their strength would not surpass his by much, so they could not save him!

He exhausted all his strength to activate the secret method, but his evasion speed had already reached its limit and could not be increased further.

He could only flee wildly while glancing back.

At last, Xiao Zhangqing's figure appeared within his sight, and a sword light like a star emerged, illuminating the night sky and allowing Yin San Gongzi to see Xiao Zhangqing's face clearly.

"Is that you? Xiao Zhangqing?"

Yin San Gongzi widened his eyes and shouted in disbelief.

"You recognize me?"

Xiao Zhangqing's words landed, and the sword aura already descended.

Yin San Gongzi could not evade, so he raised a black command flag to enclose himself, forming a protective shield to intercept the incoming sword aura.

Xiao Zhangqing naturally recognized him.

Years ago, when a Demon Sect Evil Cultivator first invaded the Southwest Region of Da Yu Cultivation World, he was the vanguard. At that time he was confident, believing he could easily capture the few cultivation markets nearest the Southern Wilderness border, since those markets only housed weak Foundation Establishment families, which he disregarded.

In the end, when besieging Nanshan Fang, he was abruptly blocked, dragged on for over a year without success, leaving him at a loss.

Eventually, to deal with Xiao Zhangqing, he even borrowed a precious third‑tier Soul Dao Magic Treasure and sent a capable commander into Nanshan Fang to assassinate Xiao Zhangqing.

His subordinate fell in Nanshan Fang, and the third‑tier Soul Dao Magic Treasure was taken by Xiao Zhangqing.

He, a respectable Core Formation cultivator with a powerful backing, retreated dejectedly back to the Southern Wilderness.

Thus, the name Xiao Zhangqing had lingered in his mind for years; when a massive invasion occurred ten years ago, Xiao Zhangqing had already left Nanshan Fang, depriving him of a chance for revenge.

He did not expect that on this mission to Character: Liyang Immortal City, he would unexpectedly learn of Xiao Zhangqing's whereabouts.

During this period, he indeed contemplated secretly infiltrating Character: Liyang Immortal City to avenge the past evil against Xiao Zhangqing, but considering Xiao Zhangqing's record of helping slay the mid‑Core Formation Blood Crow True Person, he restrained his vengeance and prepared to complete the mission first.

Only he did not seek revenge on Xiao Zhangqing, yet Xiao Zhangqing again blocked his mission.

Moreover, Xiao Zhangqing's strength had already reached such terrifying levels!

His evasion speed was faster than his, and even exhausting all his strength he could not shake off; his Sword Dao Divine Skill had reached mid‑Core Formation, surpassing Su Wushuang.

"This Xiao Zhangqing, could his destiny not clash with mine?"

Yin San Gongzi thought bitterly in his heart.

Knowing the potency of Xiao Zhangqing's sword aura, he dared not hold back; he pushed the nine‑faced command flag to its limit, summoning hundreds to thousands of evil ghosts around him as layered shields.

Yet under the Plucking Stars, Changing Dipper Sword Technique, those evil ghost souls were insignificant; a single sword strike vaporized dozens.

If this continued, within minutes Yin San Gongzi's years of accumulation would be exhausted here.

"I'll fight you to the end!"

Yin San Gongzi's expression hardened; the nine‑faced command flag suddenly spun wildly, and the black mist he had used for defense abruptly expanded, turning defense into offense as countless evil ghosts lunged at Xiao Zhangqing.

Like moths to flame, they surged forward one after another.

Even though this assault doubled the consumption of his evil ghost spirits, he could not care; he needed to seize a sliver of hope.

Sweeping sword lights cut through, annihilating swaths of evil ghosts; even the few that slipped through and neared Xiao Zhangqing were easily dealt with by a burst of his mana or the activation of a Talisman Script.

"Huh? Is this your killing move?"

Xiao Zhangqing suddenly showed a hint of surprise; among the many evil ghosts, three stood out with markedly stronger auras, reaching the level of a Fake Core True Person, and with massive cannon fodder they broke through the sword light barrier.

Squeak! A ghost opened its gaping blood‑red maw, flashing sharp fangs, and lunged to bite Xiao Zhangqing's head.

If Xiao Zhangqing withdrew his sword to defend, those three 'Ghost Kings' might eventually be slain by him, but Yin San Gongzi could then seize the chance to flee.

Unfortunately, Xiao Zhangqing offered no defense; faced with the Fake Core level ghost's bite, he simply raised his hand and punched.

Boom! Pure bodily force produced an explosive sound, as if the very space rippled.

The frontmost Ghost King's ghost body was instantly blasted apart, its black mist nearly unable to sustain itself.

Xiao Zhangqing struck again, and the other two Ghost Kings were no different; three punches and two claws dispatched them.

"You… you're a Body Cultivator?!"

Yin San Gongzi stared in disbelief at the scene, as if he were the one seeing a ghost.

"Congratulations, you've discovered my new skill."

Xiao Zhangqing wielded his mana to control the Jade Clear Bright Sword, channeling his bodily force, rapidly draining Yin San Gongzi's foundation.

Yin San Gongzi collapsed, shouting in desperation, "Xiao Zhangqing, let me go; I can trade you a secret!"

"Otherwise, Character: Liyang Immortal City will face total annihilation and become a dead city!" (End of chapter)