Chapter 221

A Daoist who emerged from the dense forest spoke in an inexplicable tone:

"What a reincarnated immortal who has already opened his apertures; despite being a poor farmer's son, he can suddenly awaken and reach the Heavenly Phenomena realm."

The gray-clad hemp-shirt youth said calmly:

"The three major Daoist lineages of the Central Plains are, respectively, Dragon Tiger Mountain led by the Celestial Master's Mansion, Martial Hall Mountain led by Martial Hall, and Azure City Mountain led by the Nine Dou of Rice Dao."

"For a thousand years, the three major Daoist sects have had uninterrupted incense, flourishing greatly; yet nowadays, Longhu Mountain, backed by Leaving Yang, has become the ancestral seat of Daoism, while Wudang Mountain secretly colludes with Northern Liang, thus falling slightly behind Longhu Mountain, and only the Nine Dou of Rice Dao is near extinction."

"That said, Liangyang's Qingcheng King Wu Lingsu established the Qingyang Palace and the Divine Sky Sect on Azure City Mountain, driving out the originally flourishing Nine Dou of Rice Dao."

"Although Wu Lingsu appears to serve the Liangyang Zhao clan, he is actually a covert agent of Northern Liang, and he is also the maternal uncle of Xu Fengnian."

"I just can't fathom why you would still sell your life for the Xu family, and even become whatever guard of the Listening Tide Pavilion in the Northern Liang prince's residence."

He paused, then looked toward the Daoist:

"Weishu Yang, do you think I might be the reincarnation of the patriarch of the Nine Dou of Rice Dao?"

The Daoist's expression jolted, and he couldn't help but say:

"I became the guard of the Listening Tide Pavilion in the Northern Liang prince's residence solely for our sect's sole copy of the 'Two Principles Cantong Qi'."

"Oh, really?" Zhuang Buran asked flatly:

"Then why are you conspiring with these people today to surround and kill me? Are you trying to betray your master and destroy your ancestors?"

"Disciple dares not, just just" Wei Shuyang, for a moment, didn't know how to reply.

Just thinking that if the gray-clad hemp-shirt youth opposite him were his own sect's patriarch, his heart would surge with excitement; he would surely be able to retake the mountain gate, and afterward, even if he couldn't become the ancestral seat of Daoism, he would certainly not fall short of Wudang Mountain.

He immediately thought that the reason this person killed the Northern Liang heir was likely to avenge their sect.

The black-robed person with white hair and silver threads had a yin, soft, sharp voice:

"Fool, you haven't witnessed this person's extremely wicked nature; if he truly is the reincarnation of the patriarch of the Nine Dou of Rice Dao, the first thing upon opening his apertures will be to split and kill you, this enemy-serving junior disciple."

Weishu Yang was stunned, involuntarily recalling how the gray-clad hemp-shirt youth had just said he would count three numbers to spare a life, but instead he simply counted to three and split and killed everyone.

"No wonder he is the great internal eunuch Han Diao Si who has overseen Liangyang's ten thousand eunuchs for over twenty years."

Zhuang Buran clapped his hands and laughed lightly:

"If I truly am the reincarnation of the patriarch of the Nine Dou of Rice Dao, I will certainly split and kill this waste, so as not to bother my eyes."

His gaze shifted:

"Among the three great villains of the Spring and Autumn period, you and Xu Xiao each occupy one, and you are also rivals; why then do you today ally with the Xu family, when I seemingly should have no grudge against the Liangyang Zhao clan?"

The youth beside Han Diao Si spoke in a deep voice:

"Although I have no grudge against you, I do have a grudge for obstructing the Dao."

"Hehe, you couldn't possibly be the illegitimate son of Liangyang Emperor Zhao Chun, Zhao Kai, could you? Your assistance to Northern Liang today might be because Xu Xiao promised to help you seize the throne."

Zhuang Buran smirked:

"Interesting, he has lost his foolish eldest son, his second son is an unopened-minded fool, and yet he actually cooperates with you, this illegitimate son."

"If I'm not mistaken, Xu Xiao's adopted son Chen Zhibao bears the nickname 'Villain Slayer', and even the prestige of Northern Liang's 300,000 cavalry ranks only below him."

"Although you have strategies, you lack decisiveness; you are merely a talentless ambitious person. It seems cooperating with you is only a stopgap measure; whether you succeed in seizing the throne or fail, he doesn't care, merely wanting to exhaust all the world's experts to avenge his son."

"You likewise don't care, for anyone capable of great undertakings should deeply understand the essence of 'when the birds are gone, the bow is stored; when the rabbit dies, the dog is cooked,' and especially your Liangyang Zhao clan excels at this."

Zhao Kai said coldly:

"To live long without dying is to be a thief; this saying is indeed true, your past life must have been some rebellious, ruthless ruffian."

"Some time has passed, allowing me to recall my many past lives." The gray-clad hemp-shirt youth said leisurely:

"My first life was that of a great sage who eradicated wickedness and evil, carried out Heaven's will, punished evil and promoted good, bearing the name of the Immortal Bu Ran."

"My second life was that of a holy monk who saved all beings; my third life was that of a divine person at the pinnacle of martial arts."

"My fourth life was that of the master of the Seven Slaughter Villa, who harmonized with Heaven's Way, followed the people's hearts, and performed good deeds, renowned throughout the world."

"My fifth life was that of a peerless tyrant who suppressed all wickedness; my sixth life was that of a world-saving hero who spared no life; my seventh life was that of a lazy Daoist little immortal; my eighth life was that of a peerless sword immortal who upheld righteousness, warded off evil, and protected the Dao."

"This life, I am a poor household youth, still undecided on my conduct."

He said with a faint smile:

"If you all know of Zhuang's many past lives, you should know I am not a wicked person; why then do you come to force me to act, even to the point that I cannot help but unleash a great slaughter?"

"Moreover, setting aside your past lives, there is not a trace of them in the vast jianghu." The old man dressed as a slave, holding a knife, had a face of indifference:

"Judging by your nature alone, I fear you have slain all the world's demonic leaders, evil monks, and regarded them as immortals and holy monks."

The gray-clad hemp-shirt youth sighed:

"Your words remind me of an old friend, who once told me that prejudice in the human heart is a great mountain; no matter how hard you strive, you cannot hope to move it."

He said this, and his gaze fell upon the knife-wielding old man:

"Among the Thirteen Champions of Spring and Autumn, the blade champion Qi Lianhua can overwhelm Cao Changqing in literature and rival Ye Bai Kui in martial prowess."

"Know that the former is famed as occupying the eight dou of heavenly phenomena with unmatched charm, while the latter is the weapon champion among the Thirteen Champions of Spring and Autumn, moreover the military sage of Greater Chu and the foremost of the Four Great Generals of Spring and Autumn."

"You were originally an official of the Western Chu court, yet you were not valued, and moreover neglected your wife and daughters because of it; after Western Chu fell, you only then felt remorse for your wife and daughters, thus concealing your identity, hiding your name and serving as a third-rank servant in the Northern Liang prince's residence, all to protect the offspring born of your daughter."

"You coming to seek revenge from me, I understand, but this young lady's words."

The gray-clad hemp-shirt youth shifted his gaze to the cold-faced spear-wielding woman:

"You are the daughter of Wang Xiu, one of the Four Great Masters, the Spear Immortal; your father was killed by Xu Xiao's adopted son Chen Zhibao, and know that your father was likewise Chen Zhibao's teacher, yet he became one who killed his teacher for the benefit of the Northern Liang army."

"And you, I don't know if you have a brain problem, but you have become Xu Fengnian's personal maid and willingly been cultivated into his assassin."

He didn't know what he had thought of, and yet he burst out laughing:

"Could Xu Xiao possess some bewitching demonic art that causes those who bear grudges against him to instead work for him?"

Zhuang Buran suddenly smiled and asked:

"Previously, out of consideration for Old Dog Huang's loyalty, I let him off and even had him bring back the head of the Eldest Xu Heir; I wonder if the Villain Slayer Xu is still healthy now?"

The atmosphere on the scene instantly solidified, and most people's expressions turned extremely cold.

"You secretly practiced evil arts, hiding fire thunder inside Feng Nian's skull, and furthermore used Jian Jiuhuang's body as a sword sheath, concealing three strands of sword qi."

Qi Lianhua gritted his teeth and said:

"Truly a ruthless heart."

Zhuang Buran clapped his hands and laughed loudly:

"Hahaha, I'll say one more thing: being a dog of the Xu family is not as good as being my dog; at least I truly have the ability to avenge my own dog."

"Everyone, please go to your death!"

(End of chapter)