Chapter 260: Return It to the Sender

Xu Yuan suddenly raised the carriage bell and gave it a gentle shake.

Ding-ding-dang-dang...

Fu Chongjiu, who was fiercely attacking Di Youzhi and Qin Ze, shook his head.

Two tender plants, like bean sprouts, grew out of his ears.

Their roots spread rapidly, firmly locking Fu Chongjiu's soul.

The bell's trickery was thus ineffective against him.

Xu Yuan threw out the Haikou Toad Shadow again, his gaze sweeping toward Fu Chongjiu—

A bronze mirror appeared in Fu Chongjiu's hand, reflecting the Haikou Toad's gaze away.

It nearly shone directly on Xu Yuan himself!

Startled, Xu Yuan hurriedly urged his Fire Wheel to dodge, then retracted the Haikou Toad Shadow.

Xu Yuan released the Sword Pill; together with the female blade of the Dragon-Slaying Sword, they attacked Fu Chongjiu from left and right.

Among all his methods, only these two could likely inflict harm upon Fu Chongjiu.

Fu Chongjiu turned around, wielding his long blade with both hands to strike repeatedly.

He clanged the two swords away with a series of ding-ding-dang-dang sounds.

At the same time, huge scales on his back opened up, resembling a row of curved blades!

He suddenly rammed backward into Di Youzhi with his back.

Blood continued to spray from the wound on his neck.

Fu Chongjiu felt his strength rapidly waning.

He thought this was damage caused by the Dragon-Slaying Sword, unaware it was the effect of the "Ghost Doctor Steals Life."

This fate pattern works subtly; especially if the opponent is injured, it constantly "bleeds" them.

Fu Chongjiu knew he could delay no longer; he must end this quickly.

Thus, the lightning on his long blade surged another foot.

Every time Xu Yuan's Sword Pill collided with the long blade, he felt a numbness run through his whole body.

The Dragon-Slaying Sword, however, could block the transmission of this lightning.

But what was hateful was that as Fu Chongjiu retreated, that mass of "Evil Filth Silk" moved along with him!

This fellow not only wanted to flee but also intended to steal this official's male sword?

Daydreaming! Xu Yuan cursed inwardly, fixed his eyes on the Evil Filth Silk, and suddenly brought two fingers together to point at it.

The Sword Pill shot toward the Evil Filth Silk with a "shiu" sound.

Fu Chongjiu could hardly believe his eyes; did this boy intend to split the Evil Filth Silk with the Sword Pill?

Perfect!

Since your mind is addled, I shall gladly accept this Sixth-Rank Sword Pill!

If the Evil Filth Silk can trap the Dragon-Slaying Sword, it can certainly trap the Sword Pill.

Xu Yuan then felt the "Eight Directions of Wounding Sha" stir slightly!

The moment the Sword Pill pierced the Evil Filth Silk, countless blood threads surged up, wrapping the Sword Pill in layer upon layer.

Yet immediately after, Fu Chongjiu discovered the male sword had flown out of the Evil Filth Silk and returned to Xu Yuan's side!

"Not right!" Fu Chongjiu shouted, realizing he had fallen into this boy's trap!

The Sword Pill was condensed with Merchant Law; he used the Sword Pill to trade with him, exchanging it for the male sword!

The two blades of the Dragon-Slaying Sword united!

A trace of panic rose in Fu Chongjiu's heart; he could not fight on and must flee immediately!

If he did not leave now, he likely would not be able to escape.

He took a deep breath and suddenly exerted all his strength, shaking his body.

With a "whoosh," all those huge scales on his back shot out!

Caught off guard, Di Youzhi and Qin Ze were instantly battered and disheveled by the dozens of scales.

Di Youzhi's right arm was severed on the spot!

Those scales, still carrying a piercing shriek, spun and danced, constantly slicing as Qin Ze and Di Youzhi scrambled to dodge.

This technique of Fu Chongjiu's was named "Dragon Sheds Its Armor"!

Fu Jingyu, atop the mountain, stamped his foot, dipped his finger in the lamp flame, and drew a talisman in mid-air.

With a "boom," it fell into the valley, protecting the three members of the Purification Bureau, yet it only added a layer of defense, like each person wearing a leather armor, unable to fully block those scales.

Seizing this opportunity, Fu Chongjiu dashed down the slope toward the outside of the mountain.

Song Lu, atop the mountain, had already commanded two squads of the Purification Bureau to aim their muskets at him.

"Fire!"

Boom-boom-boom...

The sound of muskets roared.

A cloud of gunpowder smoke rose from the mountaintop.

Without the protection of his scales, Fu Chongjiu's body, still comparable to a Sixth-Rank Wu Xiu, would not be harmed by one or two bullets.

But the dozens of muskets from the two squads still blasted four or five bloody holes into his body.

The pair of Dragon-Slaying Swords pursued closely!

Coordinating with each other, they attacked from left and right.

Fu Chongjiu waved his long blade, repeatedly blocking, panting without cease, cold sweat streaming down.

With several new wounds on his body, the effect of the "Ghost Doctor Steals Life" grew even stronger.

But Fu Chongjiu still managed to dash out of the mountains.

Not far away lay a small river; if he could just jump into it, Fu Chongjiu would escape!

With his swimming skills, no one could hope to catch him.

While retreating through the air, Fu Chongjiu suddenly stepped on something.

A patch of skin shot up from the ground with a whoosh.

It wrapped around one of Fu Chongjiu's feet; he stumbled, his sword technique fell into disarray, and the Xiong Sword seized the opportunity to strike, piercing his right shoulder.

Ssshh—

Fresh blood sprayed out again.

Fu Chongjiu, furious, was about to spit out his bone-dissolving poison water, but Xu Yuan had already retracted the Skin Pill and departed.

Xu Yuan had used the Skin Pill so little that Fu Chongjiu had not detected it.

He had guarded against the beast-tendon rope, but he had not guarded against the Skin Pill.

Fu Chongjiu gasped violently, stumbling as he lunged toward the small river.

Behind him, the two Dragon-Slaying Swords pursued relentlessly; he could no longer block every single strike.

The long sword erupted with lightning, protecting only his vital points.

Speed was paramount now; as long as he did not die, there would be plenty of chances after escaping to turn the tables on Xu Yuan!

Under his desperate, headlong sprint, he soon reached the riverbank.

Fu Chongjiu leaped into the air—

and glanced back mid-flight at the pursuing Xu Yuan.

His eyes were filled with venomous hatred.

And a trace of smugness!

Xu Yuan, you are already a dead man.

I have the Fu family as my backing; as long as I do not die, I can make many mistakes.

But you cannot; a single mistake will cost you your life!

Mid-air, he began to transform; his legs turned into a massive fish tail.

His body became sleek, his head sharpened, to reduce resistance in the water.

Slap—

The instant Fu Chongjiu entered the water, a large net suddenly rose from beneath the surface.

It enveloped Fu Chongjiu right at the water's surface!

Fu Chongjiu was greatly startled; he struggled with all his might, even spitting out his bone-dissolving poison water.

Yet this net seemed fragile, tearing easily, but immediately re-wrapped around him, endless and unceasing.

Even his bone-dissolving poison water could not corrode this fishing net!

In an instant, Fu Chongjiu understood where this fishing net came from.

The Fu family.

It was one of the artisan-crafted items specially forged by the family to hunt water dragons.

It was precisely the one he had given to Fu Shuanghui!

Since some snakes and water dragons also spray poison, this fishing net could withstand the bone-dissolving poison water.

How hateful!

Fu Chongjiu raged furiously; they were actually using the item I gave away to turn against me!

The moment Xu Yuan smelled the fishy odor, he had already devised this trap.

The two Dragon-Slaying Swords stabbed down from the sky.

They pierced into Fu Chongjiu's head from left and right.

Fu Chongjiu roared wildly for half a breath, then abruptly ceased.

His eyes bulged wide with unyielding resentment, yet he could only die filled with hatred.

A phantom, thin thread drilled into Fu Chongjiu's brain, intending to drag his soul away.

Xu Yuan currently had no way to stop the Soul-Pulling Thread technique.

But Xu Yuan had already condensed a ball of fire on the tip of his tongue.

The moment Fu Chongjiu's soul was fished out, he would incinerate it with a mouthful of fire.

All Xu Yuan wanted was Fu Chongjiu's Dragon Pearl.

He did not need to conduct a "Soul Interrogation" on Fu Chongjiu; destroying his soul was sufficient, preventing him from returning to the Fu family and leaking more secrets.

Yet Fu Chongjiu's soul was not pulled out.

Xu Yuan immediately sensed: the two Dragon-Slaying Swords were thirsting to drink "Dragon Blood" and feast upon "Dragon Soul"!

(End of this chapter)