Chapter 149: Subduing the Slay Dragon

White Jade Mountains, Lock Serpent Mountain.

The night is dark and windy; the bright moon cannot shine.

Looking up, Lock Serpent Mountain looks like a brown giant serpent about to rush heavenward, yet its waist is bound by several chain-like things.

Xu Fei cautiously surveyed the surroundings: "Sir Shen, this place feels a bit evil."

Saying that, he crouched to the ground, pinched a bit of dirt, and rubbed it between his fingers.

"Even the soil is wet."

"But this area hasn't seen rain for a month."

Shen Qing said: "Lock Serpent Mountain was meant to become a blessed land, but the White Dragon Sect discovered it first, continually siphoning its qi; over time it has become an evil place."

So-called blessed land is simply a place with good feng shui.

The peak resembles a giant serpent; in feng shui it is called 'Snake Head Peak', governing noble aura, and where the serpent's head points there is a clear spring, known in feng shui as 'Snake Drinking Clear Source', governing wealth.

It can be said this is an excellent blessed land.

If a sect settled here, it would surely prosper; if ordinary families lived in the mountains, within three generations they would surely produce a wealthy heir.

But it is also easy to ruin this feng shui layout: just drive an iron pillar into the mountain to pin the feng shui, turning auspicious into ominous.

So Shen Qing also roughly guessed where the White Dragon Sect would forge the demon sword; Lock Serpent Mountain is not small, to pin it there is only one spot: the exact center of the mountain.

The two continued toward Lock Serpent Mountain; the road was deathly silent, not even a trace of beasts, until a cold glint flashed in the air—someone was nocking an arrow.

They were White Dragon Sect sentries left outside the mountain.

Xu Fei reacted quickly; he raised both hands, using one of the Embroidered Uniform Guard's most common tactics: feigning.

"Slow… slow, don't rush, I'm reinforcements sent from the sect…"

But the next instant, a figure with a faint golden light flashed past Xu Fei's side.

In midair, the golden light and glazed white light on Shen Qing's body interplayed, turning him into a phantom.

That man was startled, wanting to loose his arrow, but before he could release the bowstring, Shen Qing was already before him.

A golden‑glowing hand seized his throat, lifted him, and slammed him hard against the nearby stone.

Clang—clang—clang!

After several blows, the huge stone was shattered into fragments.

"I ask, you answer."

"How does one enter this mountain? Answer slowly, and I'll take something from you—don't blame me."

The man, beaten senseless, struggled to lift his head; whatever he saw was double‑visioned, and he gritted his teeth.

"I… I won't tell you anything…"

Before his words faded, Shen Qing pointed a finger, releasing a blade‑light that swiftly carved a flower‑pattern cut into the man's left arm; in an instant flesh and blood flew.

The fierce pain drilled straight into his heart, and the man's eyes cleared instantly.

"I'll talk, I'll talk… behind that stone—push it open and you can go in."

Shen Qing lifted his gaze to the indicated direction; sure enough, a huge stone stood there.

A finger pointed, and the man's head exploded.

Behind him, Xu Fei watched Shen Qing's thunderous methods, somewhat dazed.

At the same time he gained a deeper understanding of Shen Qing's swift and decisive style.

Shen Qing stepped forward, pointed a finger, and bored a hole in the great stone; sure enough, a deep cavern lay beyond.

"Let's go."

The two followed the deep cavern inward, disabling traps and hidden weapons along the way, soon reaching the innermost part of the cave.

Inside lay another world; Xu Fei was already dumbfounded.

Shen Qing also looked around.

This place is vast beyond compare; the whole Lock Serpent Mountain has been hollowed out by the White Dragon Sect.

Five huge copper pillars stood disorderly on the ground, reaching straight to the mountain's peak.

And at the very center of the cavern stood a tall black stone altar.

Around the altar lay five white‑haired men, apparently feng shui masters by their garb; though they looked weak, their eyes burned with endless fervor.

"We finally succeeded!"

Above the altar, several chains linked the surrounding stone walls, tightly binding a purple‑long sword resting on the altar.

At first glance the blade was a condensed dark violet, its purple light flickering like the night sky overlaid with a deep abyss, emanating a violent, frenzied aura.

Obviously, this is the demon sword Slay Dragon.

Shen Qing poured true qi into his eyes; his pupils turned purple.

Under his Illusion‑Breaking Eye, Shen Qing quickly discerned the pattern.

These five copper pillars look disorderly, but each is precisely driven into the vital pulse of Lock Serpent Mountain.

Beneath the copper pillars a faint white serpent's phantom can be seen, though now it is on its last breath.

He turned his gaze again to the demon sword Slay Dragon.

On the blade a purple serpent coiled, constantly hissing and roaring.

Shen Qing's voice was indifferent: "The White Dragon Sect is truly ruthless; they intend to sever the very lifeblood of Lock Serpent Mountain."

"But I must thank you properly—forging me a fine blade."

Shen Qing's voice echoed continually in the empty cavern.

In the next instant, several White Dragon Sect disciples lunged forward.

"Who dares intrude here! Give up your life!"

The commotion was great; Shen Qing drew his Red Sky sword, several blade‑lights flashed, and the White Dragon Sect members flying in the air were sliced into minced flesh.

Only the one with the highest cultivation survived, but before he could react, a hand flashing with golden light grabbed his throat.

"Earth Strong Star, where is You Wuchang?"

As soon as Shen Qing entered, he noticed there was no Golden Core Realm cultivator in this cave, so the Earth Strong Star wasn't here.

The man still wanted to struggle, but Shen Qing's surge of domineering true qi ripped apart his meridians, and pain instantly flooded his nerves.

The man gritted his teeth and, despite the pain, managed to say: "Just now a Golden Core Realm cultivator was probing… Lord You went to check the situation…"

As soon as he finished speaking, Shen Qing crushed the man's throat in one grip.

Afterward, he leisurely flew toward the altar.

The few geomancers guarding the altar below let out a frenzied roar.

"Who are you? What do you want?"

"Stop!"

Besides, those geomancers were already on the brink of death; they could barely move, after all, the fortune of Great Wu isn't so easily stolen.

Shen Qing also couldn't be bothered with them.

Shen Qing landed precisely on the altar's summit, and right before him lay the Demon Slaying Dragon Sword.

In Shen Qing's view, the purple python coiled around the demonic sword was madly howling at him, releasing endless brutal qi, making the surrounding air turn cold; any low‑level martial artist here would likely lose his mind instantly.

Shen Qing narrowed his eyes, sheathed the Crimson Sky, and reached with his right hand, golden light flashing, for the hilt of the demonic sword.

The giant python's howl grew even more frenzied.

The next moment, Shen Qing's hand gripped the hilt.

In that instant, the purple giant python also ceased its howling.

But this was merely the calm before the storm.

In the next instant, a fierce deep‑purple mist spread out, a fierce mental pressure surged along the hilt straight into Shen Qing's mind, as if trying to tear his soul apart, while a powerful suction burst forth, beginning to madly draw out his true qi.

Below the altar, a geomancer burst into loud laughter, his face utterly mad.

"Good, good, good! Your courage is indeed not small!"

"You dare grasp the demonic sword while only at Grand Master Realm!"

"How's that! Your soul's about to be ripped apart!"

"Your true qi's about to be drained! I tell you, this is just the beginning—later the Slaying Dragon will devour your flesh and blood clean!"

"Regret it! Hahaha…"

Gradually his laughter faded, for he noticed Shen Qing was looking at him with the expression of one viewing an idiot.

"Are you laughing at your mother?"