Chapter 405: The Death of the Mountain God

The moonlight was like water.

Zhang Xingyu pushed open the window and darted out over the courtyard wall.

Just then, a coquettish voice sounded above his head: "Rogue, don't think you can abandon me!"

He looked up and saw Tang Yunxi's eyebrows knit together, glaring at him in fury.

"Rogue, if you dare abandon me again to adventure alone, I'll ignore you for the rest of my life."

Zhang Xingyu was speechless.

After a moment, he forced a smile: "Yunxi, how could I possibly leave you? I just thought the moonlight tonight was beautiful, so I stepped out for some fresh air."

"Hmph!" Tang Yunxi snorted coldly, clearly unconvinced.

According to some love bible from a past life, sweet words are a man's sharpest offensive weapon in romance, and thick‑skinned boldness is his strongest defense.

Seeing Tang Yunxi still fuming, Zhang Xingyu hurried forward and took her jade‑white hand: "Dear Yunxi Fairy, I think the barren mountain peak is a perfect spot to watch the clouds; would the Fairy accompany me to climb and enjoy the sunrise?"

Pfft!

Tang Yunxi's raging anger instantly turned into tender affection.

The events along the way are omitted.

Around midnight, the two arrived at the summit of Black Mountain.

The Black Mountain summit was small but very flat. In its center stood a modest temple of blue‑green tiles and green bricks, containing only a main hall shrouded in thick mist.

They pushed open the temple doors and, along a three‑foot‑wide black‑stone path, walked dozens of steps to the main hall's entrance.

Calling it a main hall was a stretch; it was merely a stone room three to four meters high and five to six meters wide.

The hall's front was empty, and bright moonlight poured through the broken doors, illuminating the interior with a dazzling glow.

In the center stood a half‑meter‑high black altar, atop which was a black mountain‑god statue. The statue had a broad, open mouth, eyes like copper bells protruding high, skin as black as charcoal. Strangely, it had no limbs—just a head and a torso.

Zhang Xingyu and Tang Yunxi halted before the hall's doors.

They exchanged a glance and, in unspoken accord, summoned their flying swords.

Zhang Xingyu stepped forward and gently pushed the hall door with his hand.

The door opened slowly, emitting a harsh "creak‑creak" sound, like a mouse gnawing its teeth.

The two entered the hall hand in hand.

Just inside, the "creak‑creak" sound rang again. Turning back, the broken door was slowly closing behind them.

Instinctively sensing something amiss, they tried to stop the door, but it slammed shut with a "Bang!"

At the same time, the black mountain‑god statue in the hall's center began to sway gently. Moments later, its massive eyes emitted a faint red glow, and its huge mouth opened and closed.

"Outsiders, what are you doing in my shrine?" a hoarse voice rasped from the statue's mouth.

Before Zhang Xingyu could answer, Tang Yunxi beside him hissed low: "You evil god, where did you hide the little girl sent today?"

"Are you asking about the tribute they sent?" the statue asked slowly.

As its massive mouth opened and closed, a smooth bone fell out.

"You ate her?" Tang Yunxi blazed, her anger flaring.

"Evil god, die!" Tang Yunxi's sense of justice surged. She shouted, and her flying sword flashed brilliant violet light, slashing toward the mountain‑god statue.

Seeing the sword light approach, the mountain god gaped, and a bone shot out from its mouth.

It was a human scapula, crystal‑clear like jade, with luminous veins coursing over its surface.

Bang!

Sparks flew, and bone fragments scattered.

Tang Yunxi's flying sword shattered the bone. The sword light retained its force, continuing to strike the statue's head.

"You madwoman!"

A muffled curse rumbled from the statue's belly, and its massive mouth opened again, spitting out another bone.

It was a human humerus, gleaming silver, with runes flickering on its surface.

Bang!

Silver light burst forth, and the sword blade again shattered the bone.

"You madwoman! You still come!"

An angry curse echoed again from the statue's belly.

Simultaneously, its huge mouth opened and spat out another bone.

This time it expelled a golden skull, its surface covered with dense inscriptions, faintly resonating with the sound of the Great Dao.

Bang!

Golden light burst outward. The violet sword beam flew back.

Tang Yunxi furrowed her delicate brows. Zhang Xingyu was startled. That violet flying sword was no ordinary weapon. It was called A Zi, forged by Yunxi's father, the late Emperor Gai Tian, from ten‑thousand‑jin of refined divine material Purple‑Cloud Celestial Gold. Upon casting, it held a third‑rank celestial artifact status; after being refined by over ten great beings for tens of thousands of years, it had become a seventh‑rank high‑grade celestial artifact.

Unexpectedly, even a seventh‑rank high‑grade celestial sword was being rebounded by that golden skull.

Then, what rank might this golden skull be?

Celestial bone? Divine bone?

Just as Zhang Xingyu's doubt arose, the golden skull flew back into the statue's mouth.

The sword proved ineffective; Tang Yunxi swung again.

Seeing the sword light return, the statue rose with a rumbling "Boom!"

At the same time, golden light flickered over its surface. Moments later, the statue transformed into a nine‑foot‑tall divine general with thick brows, large eyes, dark skin, clad in golden armor, wielding a golden halberd, exuding majestic aura.

"You madwoman! Die!"

The divine general roared, brandishing the halberd toward the violet sword beam.

Clang!

Swords and halberds clashed, light bursting forth. The tremendous impact knocked the Immortal Sword Little Purple, causing its blade to bend and hum.

Tang Yunxi let out a muffled groan, her delicate body tilting backward.

Zhang Xingyu, quick-eyed and quick-handed, took a swift step and caught her.

His face showed an anxious expression: "Yunxi, how are you? Are you hurt?"

Tang Yunxi lightly shook her head: "I'm fine."

"You rest, I'll deal with it." Zhang Xingyu waved his hand, and the fire dragon in his hand took shape.

Seeing that, the divine general raised his golden halberd and fiercely chopped toward the fire dragon.

The divine general's aura was like a rainbow, the golden halberd's light flashing, the void torn by the halberd, emitting a piercing sound.

Zhang Xingyu's thoughts raced.

At a glance, the divine general's golden halberd was no ordinary item. His fire dragon was merely a high-grade magical treasure; if it collided with that halberd, it would likely be shattered.

At the moment the halberd was swung, the fire dragon sped up, tracing a beautiful arc in the air and thrusting toward the divine general's head.

The divine general swept his halberd to intercept. However, his halberd was heavy and powerful, strong in attack but somewhat lacking in agility.

The fire dragon dodged the halberd's block, and with a 'ding' it pierced the divine general's head.

"Roar!"

The divine general, attacked, raised his head and let out an angry roar.

He violently shook his head, flinging the fire dragon stuck on his head away.

Zhang Xingyu reached out to retrieve the fire dragon. He stared at the divine general; the divine general's head was unharmed. Evidently, the fire dragon's attack had caused no substantial harm to the divine general.

Grandma's bear! This divine general's head must be made of diamond. No, even if it were diamond, the fire dragon's sword would pierce it.

For a moment, Zhang Xingyu became angry.

In this world, nothing is unbeatable by a single strike of the fire dragon.

If there is, then strike twice.

Moments later, firelight shot up in the hall. Zhang Xingyu roared: "Fire Dragon, Slay Immortal!"