Chapter 42: Demonstrating Power

Chen Zhao merely smiled faintly.

He had prepared for this.

The Qingming Naling Sword spun freely, hidden within the dark thunder, directly targeting the fire spear.

The Mu Chen Spirit Breath surged straight toward Liang Chengfeng.

Liang Chengfeng recognized the power of this move and dared not meet it head-on; he retreated while striking the Array.

Yet he was still caught by the Spirit Breath.

Only for an instant.

The Evil Qi on his body instantly dissolved, his aura plummeting to Qi Refining Seventh Layer!

And the follow-up of the Dark Thunder Sword Art came too swiftly—how could Su Muqing possibly react?

Even so, she did not panic.

That fire spear was a High-Grade Dharma Treasure, enhanced by the Golden Charm Chanting Art; to clash directly, only a Top-Grade Magical Tool could stand against it!

After a sound like shattering glass.

The Wuqing Treasure Sword pierced through the spearhead, forcibly splitting it in two, and the Golden Charm lost its anchor, instantly recoiling and scattering into countless fragments.

The sword's momentum remained unbroken; in an instant, it had reached right before Su Muqing's delicate nose.

She clenched her silver teeth, urgently concentrating her cultivation power to resist—now she had no attention left for Chen Zhao.

Attack where he must defend.

As soon as Chen Zhao broke free, the Qingming Spirit-Absorbing Sword sharply turned, rushing straight at Liang Chengfeng.

Forcing him to flee while shouting:

"Brother, stop holding back—use your hidden cards now!"

He was equally helpless.

His entire set of Evil Techniques was completely suppressed, leaving him no choice but to ally with Su Muqing.

But how could Su Muqing willingly let him use her as a blade to kill?

Having just lost a High-Grade Dharma Treasure, she now understood the Qingming Spirit-Absorbing Sword's ability to shatter weapons—so she dared use only spiritual arts and spells.

"If only that bastard hadn't cursed me, forcing me to learn only one technique..."

Su Muqing silently seethed.

Her spiritual art had only binding power—no offensive might.

But if she was forced to reveal weakness by Chen Zhao's pressure, the Evil Cultivator would surely turn his spear against her, attacking with two against one.

That demonic transformation art was useless against Chen Zhao, but a devastating downgrade against her.

Precisely because of this, the Evil Cultivator now posed a far greater threat to her than Chen Zhao did.

"Younger brother, earlier this Evil Cultivator used poison—I was clouded in mind, but I've just regained clarity—quickly join me against him!"

Su Muqing cried out sharply.

At the same time, she whipped her long whip toward Liang Chengfeng.

You want me to break your demonic transformation for you?

I've been waiting for you to say that!

Chen Zhao chuckled softly, successfully seizing the initiative.

He rode his sword forward, forcing Liang Chengfeng to face the whip's shadow—but the whip could only inflict pain, not real damage.

Liang Chengfeng's mind shifted—he clearly understood his own advantage.

Since Chen and Su were allied, and his Evil Techniques could not harm Chen Zhao, he would kill Su Muqing first!

He drew his great sword and slashed downward!

The ground cracked inch by inch, shattering like glass, and the three figures fragmented into countless pieces.

Su Muqing was only at Qi Refining Sixth Layer—her protective Dharma Treasure could not withstand this!

At the same moment.

Three silver nails silently shot out, aimed straight at Chen Zhao's skull.

Chen Zhao's Mental Power was extraordinary—he saw them clearly.

This was exactly what he had been waiting for!

He unleashed the Wind-Riding Art to its full power, dashing straight toward Su Muqing.

In two breaths, he had flashed behind her.

The Qingfeng Blade lightly deflected—the silver nails instantly redirected toward the beauty's head.

Liang Chengfeng was perfectly happy with this.

For him, reducing one opponent was enough—he didn't care which one.

"Child's play!"

Su Muqing cried out sharply.

Their attacks moved like turtles crawling—she only needed to shift slightly to avoid them...

Just then.

She turned her head and saw Chen Zhao's cold, mocking smile, holding up a strange cloth doll.

Su Muqing was confused for only an instant—then she understood.

It's you!

You're the one who cast the curse!

"It's your turn to enjoy it, Miss Su."

Hearing Chen Zhao's taunting words, she felt a searing pain surge through her!

Chen Zhao's cultivation improved, and his pain sensitivity naturally far surpassed before!

She let out a muffled groan, interrupting her spellcasting.

And three Soul-Shaking Nails had already pierced into the back of her skull!

One inch, two inches...

Seeing the moment had arrived, Chen Zhao formed a hand seal and sent the Heart-Eating Larva into Su Muqing's mouth.

In no time at all.

The larva had taken root within her Spirit Platform; Chen Zhao merely thought of it, and Su Muqing was overcome with sorrow, sitting down suddenly and bursting into loud sobs.

"Mission accomplished."

Chen Zhao swung the Qingming Spirit-Absorbing Sword, instantly reducing the Soul-Shaking Nails to dust.

Spirit-soul Dharma Treasures are no ordinary items; the moment this one was destroyed, Liang Chengfeng immediately spat out a stream of black blood.

How could he not realize he had been used?

Taking advantage of Su Muqing's turbulent spirit-soul and the collapsing Array, he burned his essence blood, preparing to smash the Array with a single punch.

"Su Muqing, use your divine ability to control this man."

Chen Zhao formed a hand seal and pointed.

"Obey."

The moment Su Muqing felt resistance rising in her heart, her head exploded with pain—she had no choice but to comply.

For cultivation, for immortality, she could only temporarily submit to another.

Humiliation!

She recalled countless nights and days tortured by pain.

She longed to devour Chen Zhao alive, but as Evil Qi entered her body, this humiliation immediately twisted into something else.

When it reached her lips, only a single tear remained, and one phrase:

"As you command."

Countless golden talismans, wrapped around the Wuqing Treasure Sword, surged instantly toward Liang Chengfeng's back.

With the Mu Chen Spirit Breath fully activated, his cultivation plummeted back to Qi Refining Fifth Layer.

He gritted his teeth in desperation.

His heart's essence blood ignited at once.

By the time the sword arrived, only a corner of the Array had shattered—Liang Chengfeng had vanished.

Chen Zhao sighed softly, making no move to pursue.

This man had used some Secret Technique—the cost must have been great, and he could not retaliate for a long while.

Moreover,

The Evil Cultivator's opportunity was not only useless to him, but a burden—with too little gain.

He turned his head toward Su Muqing.

The beautiful woman knelt on the ground, weeping like pear blossoms drenched in rain.

"What's so bad about obeying me?"

He knelt down and gently patted her face.

Chen Zhao understood this woman's preferences—he knew exactly how to treat her.

"Smile. Listen to me."

Fearing another surge of pain, Su Muqing could only force a smile uglier than her tears.

"As long as you remain loyal and obedient, I can give you pills, Alchemy techniques, any opportunity."

Who is he fooling? Isn't she an Alchemist?

Su Muqing's eyes flared in outrage—but the pain made her grimace.

Until Chen Zhao shoved a Du'e Pill and a Nourishing Spirit Pill into her hand.

Her eyes instantly cleared.

Evil Cultivators cannot brew Nourishing Spirit Pills—these were Chen Zhao's own creations.

Yet in pure efficacy, they were three full tiers stronger than hers!

"Want to learn? I'll teach you."

Chen Zhao chuckled softly—he knew she was hooked.

He pulled out only the Condensation Chapter of the Ninefold Control of Essence Technique, waving it before her.

"First, pay tuition—one Mu Spirit Pill."

Meanwhile,

Ten li beyond the secret realm,

A pitch-black Evil Wind abruptly halted, slowly revealing a figure.

Liang Chengfeng gasped for breath, his gaze fierce and venomous.

"I, Liang, remember this day—I'll return to settle the score!"

Just then, a refined male voice spoke.

"Every bite and sip is karmic cause and effect; Wu Xuzi stole the lifespans of ten thousand, bearing their karmic debts—he lives by possession, and dies by possession."

"Young friend, you took the withering-and-blooming technique—what weight of karmic debt will you now bear?"

Liang Chengfeng whirled his head around.

He was stunned.

The newcomer had the aura of an immortal, with crane-white hair and a childlike complexion.

And his face—was none other than Wu Xuzi!

"Young friend, why be startled? He Wu Xuzi schemed against me—can I not scheme against him?"

"Wu Xuzi" chuckled, yet he seemed more like the true path than that lingering soul.

But the next instant.

A black soul shot from his mouth and flew into Liang Chengfeng's mind.

Only two breaths passed.

"Zhenwu, Fulong Mountain, Fang Zijing..."

After absorbing the memories, he rolled up his sleeves and examined the ink painting of the Nine-Petal Black Lotus.

He smiled faintly and shook his head.

"I, Liang Chenfeng, detest conflict most of all—how is it that after all this time, this sect still exists?"

"If the sect lord gives an order, I'll have to trouble myself with a Dharma Battle again."

"Karma and retribution are always like this."