Chapter 244: He Lian Tang!

Whoosh!

In the night wind, Qin Shuo moved with the wind, like a dragon and snake leaping, like lightning flashing across the sky.

"The power of the Ghost Mother Sect is even more terrifying than I imagined……"

While muttering to himself, he again darted forward a hundred zhang.

The terror of the Ghost Mother Sect lies not only in the Nine Sons it controls, but also in figures like the Netherworld Dharma King, who sell their lives for it.

But even more terrifying are sects like the Iron Sword Sect, scattered across the jianghu, hidden in the shadows.

These forces outwardly uphold righteousness and chivalry, aiding the distressed, yet secretly they engage in deeds that devour people without sparing a bone.

Such as the Fire Dragon Temple and the Rising Cloud Observatory, they are famed local Daoist temples and shrines, with thriving incense and crowds of visitors.

According to some locals, in years of great disaster, the Fire Dragon Temple even descends the mountain to give alms, healing the sick and saving lives.

Who would have thought that such a temple actually houses over a hundred mountain ghosts within?

Also there are the Clear River Manor and the Golden Blade Fortress, both famed local benevolent gentry, well spoken of throughout the area.

But behind the scenes, they engage in concocting pills like the Hundred Infants Pill and the Thousand Persons Pill.

If I hadn't seen it with my own eyes, Qin Shuo could scarcely believe that, to refine a single Ghost Mother Primordial Pill capable of breaking through realms and extending lifespan, someone would actually sacrifice their own parents, wife, and children.

The allure of the Ghost Mother Primordial Pill is immense—not only does it extend lifespan, it also boosts cultivation.

Like the Iron Sword Sect, with just one Ghost Mother Primordial Pill, a second-rate sect can leap to become a first-rate power that even the Giant Whale Gang would come courting.

Such a leap in strength and status is something few can hold onto.

And that is the true terror of the Ghost Mother Sect.

As long as you seek shortcuts, want to quickly boost your strength, and extend your lifespan, he will give you ghost pills and mountain ghosts.

All you need to pay is merely a bit of conscience.

In a world where martial might reigns supreme, the weak preyed upon by the strong is the norm.

What is sacrificing a bit of conscience to become stronger?

Many sects harbor this mindset, being invaded and infiltrated by the Ghost Mother Sect,

ultimately becoming puppets that raise mountain ghosts.

In the past half month, Qin Shuo has battled across more than ten Ghost Mother Sect strongholds, slaying upwards of a thousand people.

And this is merely a corner of the Heavenly River Prefecture.

If one looks across the entire Heavenly River Prefecture, the Eight Prefectures of Yun, and even the Three Provinces of the Celestial Phoenix Dao,

how many forces colluding with the Ghost Mother Sect would there be?

No wonder Fu Lingyun didn't hesitate to offend the Wind Thunder Valley, determined to track down the whereabouts of the Primordial Ghost Mother.

As long as the mountain ghosts capable of bearing ghost pills are not eradicated for a day,

those who take risks, seeking to boost their cultivation with ghost pills, will only grow more numerous.

"Huh? Changed direction again?"

As his thoughts turned, Qin Shuo suddenly raised an eyebrow.

This isn't the first time the Netherworld Dharma King has changed direction.

Whenever night falls, he shifts course, trying to conceal his sight and qi lock from him.

However, with the Heavenly Wolf Divine Awareness, he can not only see night as day, but also lock onto him merely by scent.

Those tricks the Netherworld Dharma King thinks are clever are, in his view, utterly insignificant—he easily sees through them.

At this moment, driven by the instinct to survive, the Netherworld Dharma King summons his remaining strength and heads toward the southwest of the Heavenly River Prefecture.

……

Outside the Poison King Valley, mountain mist lay like a sea.

Before the valley entrance paved with blue stone, the banner of the Giant Whale Gang fluttered in the wind.

He Lian Tang stood in a brocade robe, hands behind his back, with over ten attendants behind him, all possessing steady auras and respectable cultivation.

"Senior Poison King, the Giant Whale Gang sincerely invites you; we hope you will come down from the mountain for a meeting!"

He Lian Tang's tone was respectful, yet neither humble nor arrogant.

Inside the valley, no one answered; only the variegated five-colored poison mist roiled, the oppressive atmosphere making one feel as if an ancient giant beast lay slumbering within.

He stood still for a long while.

Within the valley, there was still not the slightest movement.

Just as everyone thought the Poison King was away, a black shadow came from far to near, stumbling down the mountain path in the blink of an eye.

The visitor wore a tattered black robe, hair disheveled and face grimy, about fifty years old, his aura strong yet chaotic, as if he might collapse at any moment.

"Brother Su—save me!"

Before the person even arrived, his shrill cry for help echoed through the valley, laden with unhidden exhaustion and weakness, as well as terror.

"Who are you……"

He Lian Tang saw the black-robed man address the Myriad Poisons King as 'Brother Su', assuming he was a close associate of the Poison King, and was about to speak to draw closer.

But he saw that the valley, which had answered none of his shouts just before, now responded.

"Brother Wangchuan?"

Within the churning poison mist of the valley, a hoarse sound of surprise rang out.

"Brother Yunzhe, save me!"

The Netherworld Dharma King appeared with disheveled hair, his voice shrill and urgent, his gaze continually looking back at the path he came from, as if a primordial ferocious beast chased him from behind.

"Huh?"

Another sound of surprise, tinged with hesitation.

After a few breaths, the valley once again echoed with an aged, low voice: "Come in, then!"

As the words fell, the poison mist in the valley, which was as variegated and dazzling as a rainbow, actually split open a road wide enough for one person to pass.

Seeing this, the Netherworld Dharma King was overjoyed and dove right in.

He Lian Tang was about to act when the passage had already closed, once again shrouded by the poison mist.

Only then did the Ten Thousand Poisons King's aged voice sound again:

"The Giant Whale Gang's kindness, I appreciate it."

But I am old, accustomed to coming and going alone, I dislike restraints; the position of guest official is more than I deserve.

"Helm Master He Lian, you had better retreat."

"Poison King..."

He Lian Tang still wanted to say more, but suddenly his heart tightened.

He turned his head sharply.

All he saw was a tall, slender figure slowly walking up the mountain path.

It was a young man in black martial robes, with a long sword at his waist, whose stride showed no overflow of overly strong qi.

Yet it instinctively made He Lian Tang feel threatened.

Master!

Grand master!

At a glance, He Lian Tang's pupils contracted sharply.

All the pores on his body burst open, like a wildcat facing a tiger, his hairs standing on end.

Because as the young man approached, he had already recognized the comer's identity.

"Qin Chao Jia..."

Whoosh!

Even the mountain wind seemed to pause for a moment.

"Huh?"

A hundred zhang away, Qin Shuo halted, his piercing gaze, sharper than any hawk's, shot into the valley.

In an instant, He Lian Tang felt pressure rolling in like a tide.

Especially when that gaze fell upon him, He Lian Tang felt as if a great mountain weighed down on him, his inner pressure surging.

"Qin... Colonel Qin..."

He Lian Tang hastily corrected himself.

A person's name, a tree's shadow.

If one were to speak of the past few months, in the Yunzhou region, whose fame resounds most? Without doubt it is this very person, who, upon first entering the Demon Suppression Office, stirred up heaven‑shaking waves as Colonel Yunlong…

Qin Shuo!

He punched the Demon King to death, split Wind Thunder Valley with his blade, raided the Xiao family, and destroyed the Iron Sword Sect and the Golden Blade Fortress…

Each of these deeds almost made his name known to everyone in the Yunzhou region.

However, many have heard of his fame, but few have seen him in person.

Had it not been for the recent repeated orders from the upper echelons of the Giant Whale Gang, sending portraits of this 'Qin Chao Jia' to the garrisons of every prefecture and county, lest those below fail to recognize Mount Tai and provoke this Killing God,

He Lian Tang too would not have recognized this old man's appearance.

"Who?"

Behind He Lian Tang, the Giant Whale Gang disciples first stared blankly, then each went rigid, as if struck by lightning.

"You are…"

Qin Shuo's eyes showed a questioning look.

He never expected that, out in these wilds, someone would actually know him.

"The true transmission of the Giant Whale Gang, the Chief Helm Master of the Tianhe Prefecture branch, He Lian Tang, greets Colonel Qin!"

He Lian Tang's voice was respectful, his posture low.

If someone had told him a month ago that he would one day bow to a youth not yet of age twenty, he would surely have scoffed.

But now…

Xiao Chang Gong, Xiao Ying Qi, Xu Long Sheng…

Each of these masters, whose strength far surpassed his, have perished at the boy's hands.

No matter how arrogant he is or how high his status, he could not possibly be foolish enough to show off before this youth.

What's more, right now out in these wilds, the other party has come pursuing the culprit.

If we were to treat them as accomplices of the Guimu Sect and wipe them out together, they would truly be unable to cry.

Most importantly, according to the information he has gathered over the past half month, this sort of thing is exactly what Colonel Qin would do.

In half a month, he exterminated thirteen clans and slaughtered over a thousand people…

Such brutal carnage is enough to make all the powers of Tianhe Prefecture change color at the mention of it.

"Oh?"

Qin Shuo understood clearly.

Tianhe Prefecture is to the Giant Whale Gang as Songyang Prefecture is to Wind Thunder Valley.

Although the court has not yet formally made it its fief, the Giant Whale Gang's power in Tianhe Prefecture is already not far off.

Knowing the other side would not obstruct him, Qin Shuo simply ignored them and headed straight for the valley.

Seeing this, He Lian Tang gritted his teeth, stepped sideways, and wanted to warn them of the danger in the valley.

But unexpectedly, the other party spoke first:

"How? Helm Master He Lian, do you intend to obstruct Qin Mou in the execution of his duties?"

Helian Tang's scalp went numb in an instant, and he hurriedly explained:

"Colonel Qin misunderstood."

"I merely wanted to remind Colonel Qin that the poisonous miasma in the valley is fierce; rushing in recklessly could be dangerous."

"Hmm. I know."

Qin Shuo nodded calmly.

With his superb perception, he could naturally sense how dangerous the valley's poisonous mist was, yet he felt no fear.

But after Helian Tang's reminder, he actually stopped his steps and, facing the valley, called out loudly:

"Demon Suppression Office's Qin Shuo, ordered to investigate the demonic cultivators of the Gui Mu Sect, please, Senior Poison King, clear the way!"