Chapter 217

Night fell.

Wan Yun Lake.

This place used to be the largest lake in Yunzhou, but because not a single drop of rain fell in March, and with countless people coming to draw water, it has already dried up.

Yet beneath this dried-up riverbed lies another world.

A massive cavern glows with light.

Eighty-one copper pillars are driven deep into the earth, firmly pinning down a piece of land, and faintly, one can still see struggling dragon energy.

There are still several people around here.

Leading them is a white-haired man, his vital energy appearing in an eerie white, faintly revealing skull heads.

He is Zhang Miao of the Hungry Ghost Dao, one of the Five Ways of the Reincarnation Tower.

Zhang Miao glanced around, his eyes icy.

"How is it? Any problems?"

A feng shui master approached, shook his head: "No problem, the dragon energy is perfectly sealed."

The Reincarnation Tower has set up nine grand formations in total, and Zhang Miao is responsible for two of them, so he constantly runs back and forth between the two grand formations.

"Good, as long as there's no problem."

"Now is the critical moment—we cannot afford any mistakes."

"Moreover, the Embroidered Uniform Guard has already shown movement on their side."

A thin man sitting on a stone beside him burst into laughter.

"Big brother, how could the Embroidered Uniform Guard possibly stir up waves?"

"Their commander was just recently beaten to severe injury by us; he should already be dead from poison by now."

This man is Zhang Miao's younger brother, Zhang Meng.

Zhang Miao did not turn back: "Of course I'm not referring to him; this time it's Shen Qing, the World-Passing Yama of Qingzhou, who has come."

Hearing this, Zhang Meng also sat up straight: "That World-Passing Yama? I've been hearing his name lately, my ears are about to grow calluses."

"I heard he's very skilled at solving cases, but I don't know how long it will take him to find us."

Zhang Miao turned and glanced at him: "He's more formidable than you imagine; the Song family of Ruide City has already been wiped out by him—he should already know of our Reincarnation Tower."

"Wow!"

Zhang Meng let out an exaggerated cry, excitement flashing in his eyes.

"He's really that formidable? I can't wait to clash with him!"

Zhang Miao shouted sternly: "Zhang Meng! Put away your contempt!"

"If you face Shen Qing with this attitude, you will surely die!"

Seeing Zhang Miao angry, Zhang Meng hastily covered his ears: "Understood, understood—I will definitely take this seriously."

Even without knowing him well, Zhang Miao could tell this reply was perfunctory—indeed, everyone around could hear it.

But immediately after, he muttered: "In my view, you're just boosting others' morale while destroying your own prestige."

"Shen Qing is a genius, but no matter how talented, he's only twenty—how formidable could he possibly be?"

Zhang Miao was about to rebuke him.

At that moment, the riverbed above suddenly emitted a cracking sound, countless stones rapidly falling.

"What's going on?"

At that moment, a brilliant golden blade descended vertically, swiftly splitting the earth in two.

Several grand masters who failed to dodge were directly cleaved into blood mist, and even the copper pillars below were shattered into fragments.

Immediately afterward, the riverbed overhead began to collapse; in this gap, Zhang Miao also made out the scene in midair.

His pupils contracted—he saw Shen Qing, accompanied by nine individuals at the Yuan Dan realm, standing in midair, and Shen Qing was looking at him with a contemptuous gaze.

Zhang Miao gritted his teeth.

"Shen Qing! How did he find this place so quickly?"

"Prepare to scatter and flee."

But at that moment, he noticed Zhang Meng, who had just been sitting on the stone, was already gone.

From the dust and smoke came his voice: "Big brother, look—I capture the king by first capturing the thief!"

Zhang Meng had already used the cover of smoke and dust to swiftly charge toward the sky.

In midair, Jia He and others had icy gazes: "These rats really are hiding in this place."

"Hmm, still trying to run?"

Suddenly, Sun Chu squinted: "Looks like a rat isn't submitting, charging straight at us?"

Shen Qing expressionlessly waved his hand: "Stop them—don't let a single one escape."

"Yes!"

Nine people immediately scattered; the rest went to pursue the fleeing ones, while two went to block Zhang Meng.

Seeing two people coming to block him, Zhang Meng let out a cold laugh.

"Only two people? Are you underestimating me too much!"

Speaking, Zhang Meng's vital energy surged wildly, and ten Zhang Mengs appeared in the air—this caught the two off guard.

This is Zhang Meng's technique: through vital energy vibration, it creates ten vital energy phantoms, serving no real purpose, nor causing any harm.

It's merely a more elaborate illusion; ordinary people encountering it will be dazed for a moment, but that's all.

The two swung their blades several times, dispersing three or four phantoms, but the real Zhang Meng had already slipped past them, lunging straight at Shen Qing.

Meanwhile, Shen Qing stood still in place, unmoving, which only made Zhang Meng more arrogant.

He laughed wildly: "Shen Qing! The outside world says all sorts of things about you, but in my view, you're nothing special!"

"Remember my name! Zhang Meng! The one who kills you is called Zhang Meng!"

Saying that, he again split into ten phantoms wielding knives, slashing toward Shen Qing.

Shen Qing raised his hand with a calm expression, only to hear a zheng sound, and Shen Qing grabbed Zhang Meng's long blade bare-handed, while domineering true qi trembled, shattering all the surrounding phantoms.

Shen Qing turned his head to look at Zhang Meng: "Want to kill me? On what grounds? Just because of your circus troupe's great law?"

If your phantom had even a bit of attack power, or could explode, Shen Qing would look at you with more respect, but what use is this phantom at all?

Zhang Meng was already stunned, and then fear surged in his eyes—he now understood why his elder brother valued Shen Qing so highly.

What "capture the thief by capturing the leader"? He no longer had the leisure to think about that.

He let go of the hilt, turned his head, and ran.

But how could he possibly escape? Before he had taken a few steps, Shen Qing's calm voice sounded behind him.

"Leaving in such a hurry? You forgot to take your blade with you."

The next instant.

Chi!

Zhang Meng stopped his steps, somewhat incredulously lowering his head, a long blade piercing through Zhang Meng's chest.

Immediately after, domineering true qi instantly destroyed his meridians, and he weakly collapsed onto the ground.

But the next instant, Shen Qing grabbed his neck with one hand.

Zhang Miao also flew up into the sky at this time, standing opposite Shen Qing, Zhang Meng casting him a pleading look.

Zhang Miao let out a loud shout.

"Shen Qing! Stop!"

Shen Qing couldn't be bothered to pay him any heed, his palm exerting slight force, directly crushing his skull, and immediately several blade lights surged from his fingertips, swiftly slicing through Zhang Meng's corpse.

Seeing this, Zhang Miao could no longer bear it, his eyes turning red, he let out a anguished howl!

"No!! No!!"

"Shen Qing! I will kill you!"

Upon hearing this, Shen Qing's smile at the corner of his mouth became even more pronounced.

"Could it be."

"That there is also friendship and bond between the two of you?"