Chapter 150

translation: All members of the Black Store Gang were sprayed with the spirit-light talisman, instantly losing control, seized by an invisible force, and followed Zhou Shuo as they burst out of the attic, almost in a puff of smoke leaving the ruins, and within the next half minute they ran half a li with him.

Translation: All members of the Black Store Gang were sprayed with the spirit-light talisman; instantly unable to control themselves, they were seized by an invisible force and followed Zhou Shuo as they burst out of the attic, almost in a puff of smoke leaving the ruins, and within the next half minute they ran half a li with Zhou Shuo.

translation: half a li

translation: All members of the Black Store Gang were sprayed with the spirit-light talisman, instantly losing control, seized by an invisible force, and followed Zhou Shuo as they burst out of the attic, almost in a puff of smoke leaving the ruins, and within the next half minute they ran half a li with him.

We'll produce single line.

Damn it! Zhou Shuo ran out for a minute, then suddenly stopped, looking at the gloomy trees around him and cursed. According to the route he came, he should have already run out of Lanruo Temple with that leg‑dangling trinket behind him, so why is he still in this forest? He must have fallen into a Qimen Dunjia trap, and the surrounding space has been scrambled by the tree demon.

Translation: "Damn it!" Zhou Shuo had run for a minute when he suddenly stopped, looking at the gloomy trees around him and cursing. According to the route he'd taken, he should have already left Lanruo Temple with the leg‑dangling trinkets behind him, yet he was still in this forest—he had fallen into a Qimen Dunjia formation, and the surrounding space had been scrambled by the tree demon.

leg‑dangling trinkets

translation: Mysterious Gate Escape

translation: one minute

Now line.

"Hahaha, kid, this Lanruo Temple isn't a place you can just come and go as you please!" a booming laugh rang out, a sharp female voice shouted, accompanied by alternating male and female voices, vines shot out from the dark forest in all directions, catching the unprepared black‑shop gang and dragging away four or five of them.

Translation: "Hahaha, kid, this Lanruo Temple isn't a place you can just come and go as you please." A hearty laugh rang out, a sharp female voice shouted, accompanied by alternating male and female tones, as vines shot out from the dark woods in all directions, seizing four or five members of the Black Store Gang who hadn't had time to guard against them.

translation: alternating male and female tones

"Damn..." Zhou Shuo stared at the vines probing out of the dark forest and cursed. He flicked his divine‑power whip; the bamboo segments of the whip instantly split apart, then reconnected with solid golden light, and he lashed out in all directions, breaking many vine sections. Yet the vines were like a snake nest, endlessly sprouting and hooking the black‑shop crew one after another.

Translation: "Damn..." Zhou Shuo stared at the vines poking out of the dim forest, cursed, and flicked his Divine Ability Whip; the whip's bamboo joints instantly split apart, then stuck together with solid golden light, after which he lashed out in all directions, breaking many vine sections—but the vines, like a snake nest, kept sprouting endlessly, hooking one after another of the Black Store gang members.

translation: whip's bamboo joints instantly split apart. then stuck together with solid golden light. then he lashed out in all directions. breaking many vine sections. however those vines, like a snake nest, kept sprouting endlessly. hooking one after another of the Black Store gang members.

"Help, save me! Hero, save me!" the voices of the black‑shop owner and his assistants faded deeper into the forest.

Translation: "Save, save me! Hero, save me!" The voices of the Black Store owner and his assistants faded deeper into the forest.

"Old monster, if you've got the guts, fight me properly—what kind of ability is this?" hearing the voice from deep in the forest, Zhou Shuo shouted in anger.

Translation: "Old monster, if you've got the guts, fight me—what's this supposed to be?" Zhou Shuo heard the voices drifting deeper into the forest and shouted in response.

"Hmph, this is my power, kid. You love meddling, so today I'll let you meddle to your heart's content—extreme demon realm." a deep male voice bellowed, and the surrounding vines instantly retracted. At the same time, a chilling yin energy swept through the forest. A tree‑demon matron draped in gold silk, appearing like a noble lady, emerged from the demonic aura, swinging her golden silk sleeves.

Translation: "Hmph, this is my ability, kid—you love meddling, so today Granny I'll let you meddle your fill, Extreme Demon Realm." A deep male voice bellowed, the surrounding vines instantly retracted, and a chilling yin energy swept through the forest as the tree‑demon granny, draped in gold‑brocade robes like a noblewoman, appeared amid the demonic aura, swinging her gold‑silk sleeves.

translation: Extreme Demon Realm

"Boom boom." low thunder rumbled in the sky, a hissing sound filled the air, and towering demonic energy surged upward, while the yin and yang of heaven and earth kept rolling. The matron stood in the dense forest, shaking her arms to make her silk robes flutter. Wearing gold‑tipped finger guards, she curled her ten fingers and clawed at the sky, letting out a wolf‑like howl.

Translation: "Boom—boom." Muffled thunder rumbled in the sky, a hissing gas sound rang incessantly, towering demonic energy surged upward as the yin and yang of heaven and earth kept rolling, while the granny stood in the dense forest, shaking her arms to set her silk‑robes fluttering, her ten fingers tipped with gold‑sharp guards clawing at the sky, emitting a wolf‑like howl.

translation: Boom—boom, hissing

"Spiritual evil displays its might, endless and unceasing." accompanying the howl, a blue‑cold electric arc sparked in the air and linked in the tree demon's hand.

Translation: "Spiritual Evil's Might, Endless Cycle." Accompanying the howl, a blue‑cold electric arc lit up in the air and linked in the tree demon's hand.

We translated phrase as "Spiritual Evil's Might, Endless Cycle". Keep.

"Oh wow, that's impressive." Zhou Shuo flicked his right arm, restoring the golden‑light‑linked divine whip to its jade‑bamboo form. He then gazed as his arms swung, moving the tree demon that shifted the colors of heaven and earth, raising his eyebrows involuntarily. He then thrust his right hand forward like a spear, and a golden‑yellow sword beam shot out from his fingertip.

Translation: "Oh wow, that's fierce." Zhou Shuo flicked his right arm, restoring the gold‑linked Divine Ability Whip to its jade‑bamboo form, then gazed as his arms swung, moving the tree demon that changed the colors of heaven and earth; he raised his eyebrows, then thrust his right hand forward—a blade of golden‑yellow sword light shot straight from his fingertip.

translation: restoring the gold‑linked Divine Ability Whip to its jade‑bamboo form. then gazed as his arms swung, moving the tree demon that changed the colors of heaven and earth. he raised his eyebrows. then thrust his right hand forward—a blade of golden‑yellow sword light shot straight from his fingertip.

"Whoosh!" the golden sword light instantly pierced through space and struck. The tree‑demon matron, in the midst of charging her big spell, blinked in surprise as the sword energy hit her right shoulder. Immediately after Zhou Shuo flicked his wrist, the golden blade sliced off her right arm.

Translation: "Hiss!" The golden‑yellow sword light instantly pierced through space to strike; the tree‑demon granny, in the midst of chanting her big move, blinked, the sword energy hit her right shoulder, and as Zhou Shuo flicked his wrist, the golden blade immediately severed her right arm.

translation: Hiss!

Having lost her right arm, the tree‑demon matron's expression twisted. The massive formation she had conjured, whose demonic energy had surged like waves, gradually calmed. The blue cold electricity vanished, and the forest's demonic mist slumped.

Translation: Having lost its right arm, the tree‑demon granny's expression twisted; the mighty display it had conjured, the demonic energy that had surged like waves, gradually calmed, the blue cold electricity vanished, and the forest's demonic mist slumped.

"How could this be?" the tree‑demon matron gripped her right shoulder where the arm was missing, stared at a broken branch on the ground, her masculine face filled with panic—the broken branch was exactly her severed hand.

Translation: "How could this be?" The tree‑demon granny gripped the right shoulder where her arm was missing, stared at a broken branch on the ground, her masculine face filled with panic—that broken branch was exactly her severed hand.

As a plant‑type demon, the tree‑demon matron possesses the toughest vitality; she can regenerate limbs, and even severed hands or feet can turn into branches and flee underground. But now not only is the broken branch devoid of life, the severed arm won't grow back either, and her own magical power has been damaged.

Translation: As a plant‑type demon, the tree‑demon granny's vitality is exceptionally tenacious; not only can she regenerate limbs, but even severed limbs that have been cut off will turn into branches and burrow underground—yet now not only is the broken branch devoid of life, the severed arm won't grow back, and her own magical power has been damaged.

"Not good." the tree‑demon matron felt the wound on her body, and in her panic she suddenly realized she was still fighting a person, yet she had a moment of blankness.

She realized she was still in combat, yet she had a moment of blankness.

Translation: "Not good." Feeling the wound on her body, the tree‑demon granny panicked and suddenly realized she was still fighting a person—she even had a moment of blankness.

The tree demon not only had its magic power wounded, its primordial spirit was also somewhat damaged, its thoughts a little muddled. Although it only had a brief moment of confusion, it was already too late—layers of talismans flared up in the surrounding void and on the ground.

Translation: The tree demon not only had its magical power injured, but its primordial spirit was also somewhat damaged, its thoughts a little muddled; although it was only a fleeting blank, it was already too late—layer after layer of talismans lit up in the surrounding void and on the ground.

"Old monster, you aren't 'spiritual evil displays its might, endless and unceasing,' are you? Let's see if you can't even last a moment longer." Zhou Shuo activated the Heaven‑Traversing Scroll, holding his divine whip amidst the endless talismans, his eyes glowing blue as he watched the tree demon bound by the seals.

Translation: "Old monster, you're not 'Spiritual Evil's Might, Endless Cycle,' are you? Let's see you not cease for a moment." Zhou Shuo activated the Heaven‑Piercing Scripture, holding his Divine Ability Whip amidst the endless talismans, his eyes glowing blue as he watched the tree demon bound by the talismans.

translation: Let's see you not cease for a moment.

"You can't kill me, you can't kill me—those people are still in my grasp!" the tree demon's primordial spirit was injured, its thoughts unclear, and it let out a shrill, miserable howl as a threat.

Translation: "You can't kill me, you can't kill me—those people are still in my hands." The tree demon's primordial spirit was injured, its thoughts unclear, and it issued a shrill, miserable howl as a threat.

"Saying that, I suppose I should just kill you…" Zhou Shuo cracked a slight smile. Originally his target was the Black Mountain Old Demon; this tree demon was merely incidental, but he wanted to slaughter the black‑shop lackeys, and he genuinely had a reason to kill it—not to avenge those temporary underlings, but because he still considered himself a good guy, right?

Translation: "Saying that, I suppose I should kill you after all…" Zhou Shuo's mouth twitched into a faint smile; his original target had been the Black Mountain Old Demon, this tree demon was merely incidental, but he wanted to kill those Black Store lackeys, and he really did have a reason to do away with it—not to avenge those temporary underlings, but he could still consider himself a good person, right?

translation: Black Store lackeys

The tree‑demon matron had no escape; countless spiritual lights wrapped around her, condensing her into a floating cocoon of light. The spiritual talismans relentlessly eroded her vital energy, and once that energy was completely drained, she would die.

Translation: The tree‑demon granny found no escape, countless spirit‑lights wrapped around her body, condensing her into a floating cocoon of light; the spirit‑light talendlessly sapped her vital energy, and once that energy was exhausted, she would be dead.

translation: spirit‑light talisman continuously sapped her vital energy

"Black Mountain Old Demon, Black Mountain Old Demon, hurry and save me, hurry and save me, Black Mountain Old Demon!" the tree demon, tightly bound by layers of talismans, was terrified to the extreme. Adding to the injury to its primordial spirit and muddled thoughts, when its vital energy had been depleted by thirty‑to‑forty percent, a sudden flash of spiritual light burst forth, and it let out an urgent cry for help.

Translation: "Black Mountain Old Demon, Black Mountain Old Demon, come save me, come save me, Black Mountain Old Demon!" The tree demon, tightly wrapped in layers of talismans, was terrified to the extreme; added to the injury to its primordial spirit, its thoughts were not clear, and only after its vital energy had been drained by thirty or forty percent did a flash of spirit‑light appear, letting out a desperate cry for help.

translation: thirty or forty percent

"No one can save you today." Zhou Shuo saw the tree demon's spiritual light flash, recalled its plea for help, grinned wickedly, blue light seeping from his eyes, inhaled sharply, puffed out his cheeks, and drew the Samadhi True Fire from his dantian.

Translation: "No one can save you today." Zhou Shuo saw the spirit‑light flash, recalled the pleading tree‑demon, gave a grim grin, blue light seeping from his eyes, he inhaled sharply, puffed out his cheeks, and drew Samadhi True Fire from his dantian.

Just as Zhou Shuo was about to unleash a burst of Samadhi True Fire to incinerate the tree demon, a massive will descended upon the sky above Lanruo Temple. The air let out a deep, angry roar, a crack sounded, the whole temple trembled, the ground bulged upward, and a giant formed of packed earth and stone rose up from the ground.

Translation: Just as Zhou Shuo was about to unleash a single breath of Samadhi True Fire to melt the tree demon, a massive will descended upon the sky above Lanruo Temple; the air let out a deep, angry roar, a crack sounded, the whole temple shook, the ground suddenly bulged upward, and a giant formed of packed earth and stone rose up from the earth.

translation: crack

"Don't be arrogant." Zhou Shuo looked at the earth‑and‑stone giant, spat the Samadhi True Fire toward the spirit ball woven from dense talismans, and thrust out four or five streaks of heavenly‑defying sword energy. With a hissing sound, five holes were punched into the giant's body; the earth‑stone colossus instantly collapsed and sank into the ground.

Translation: "Don't be arrogant." Zhou Shuo looked at the giant formed of packed earth and stone, spat Samadhi True Fire at the spirit‑ball woven from dense talismans, then thrust out four or five Heaven‑Defying Sword Qi; with a hissing sound, he punched five holes in the giant's body, and the earth‑stone colossus instantly collapsed and sank into the ground.

translation: spirit‑ball woven from dense talismans

"Save me, save me, Black Mountain Old Demon!" feeling the imminent scorching of the Samadhi True Fire, the tree demon was suddenly overcome with a sense of impending life‑or‑death danger and shouted for help.

Translation: "Save me, save me, Black Mountain Old Demon." Feeling the imminent scorching of the Samadhi True Fire, the tree demon suddenly sensed a life‑or‑death crisis and shouted for help.

"…" Zhou Shuo watched the toppled earth‑stone giant, gathered the Samadhi True Fire into a mass, and encircled the tree‑demon matron. The Black Mountain Old Demon wasn't dead, but for now he had to first destroy this damned tree demon.

Translation: "……" Zhou Shuo watched the toppled earth‑stone giant, gathered the Samadhi True Fire into a mass, encircling the tree‑demon granny; the Black Mountain Old Demon wasn't dead, but for now he had to first beat to death this damned tree demon.

We need to keep the ellipsis as "……". We'll output as "……". Good.

"Bang!" just as Zhou Shuo was about to unleash a concentrated burst, the gathered fire cloud exploded violently, fireballs spraying in all directions, and the spiritual light sphere was crushed by a tremendous force. Inside, the tree‑demon matron was seized by a mighty power and hurled swiftly toward the horizon.

Translation: "Bang!" Just as Zhou Shuo was about to muster his strength, the gathered fire‑cloud exploded violently, the fireball spraying outward in all directions, while the spirit‑light talisman ball was crushed by a huge force, the tree‑demon granny inside being wrapped and then hurled urgently toward the horizon.

translation: Bang!

"Don't run!" Zhou Shuo saw the tree‑demon matron shooting up into the sky, stamped his foot to transform into a streak of immortal light and gave chase, but the demon vanished almost instantly at the horizon, too fast to pursue.

Translation: "Don't run." Zhou Shuo saw the tree‑demon granny shooting up into the sky, stamped his foot to turn into a streak of immortal light and took off after her, but the demon vanished almost instantly at the horizon, too fast to chase.

Gazing at the tree demon disappearing over the horizon, Zhou Shuo flew halfway, then abruptly halted. The one who rescued the demon must be the Black Mountain Old Demon; that monster had taken four or five heavenly‑defying sword strikes yet suffered no injury, indicating his cultivation is surely high. It's therefore unwise to keep chasing, as for the tree demon…

Translation: Gazing at the tree demon disappearing at the horizon, Zhou Shuo flew halfway, then suddenly braked; the one who rescued the demon must be the Black Mountain Old Demon— that monster had taken four or five Heaven‑Defying Sword Qi and suffered no injury, its cultivation must be considerable, so it's unwise to pursue further; as for the tree demon……

We need to keep the ellipsis at end: "……". We'll keep.

"Hmph, you think running away means I can't do anything to you?" Zhou Shuo watched the demon vanish over the horizon and let out a cold snort. The Black Mountain Old Demon believed that snatching the tree demon would settle everything, but as the saying goes, you can make the monk flee, but you can't make the temple flee.

Translation: "Hmph, you think running away means I can't do anything to you?" Zhou Shuo looked at the tree demon vanishing at the horizon, let out a cold snort; the Black Mountain Old Demon thought that snatching the tree demon would settle things, but you can outrun the monk, not the temple.

Zhou Shuo rode his escape light back along the route, and upon reaching Lanruo Temple he dropped the light onto the rear hill—a dense thicket of trees. Ignoring the terrain, he headed straight from a high point to a solitary long stretch in the woods where an old banyan tree, surrounded by little vegetation, fell down.

Translation: Zhou Shuo rode the escape light back along the way; upon reaching Lanruo Temple he landed the escape light on the temple's rear hill, a dense thicket of trees, and without bothering with the terrain he simply spotted a lone long stretch in the woods from high up, and the old banyan trees with little undergrowth fell down.

translation: a lone long stretch

"I'll dig up your roots, just as you said." Zhou Shuo looked at the old banyan tree spreading like an umbrella canopy, curled the corners of his mouth into a smile, and stepped forward—but upon seeing various sized jars placed in the shade, he frowned.

Translation: "I'll dig up your roots if you say so." Zhou Shuo looked at the old banyan tree spreading like an umbrella canopy, curled the corner of his mouth into a smile, stepped forward—but seeing assorted jars and pots placed in the shade, he furrowed his brows.

translation: jars and pots

"The old monster is truly perverse." Zhou Shuo cursed. The old banyan tree was indeed the original form of the tree demon, and the jars beneath it contained nothing but ashes—used by the old demon to bind souls, which were either eaten outright or enslaved as servants, much like the beguiling ghosts that had previously lured the black‑shop lackeys.

Translation: "Old monster, you're truly perverse." Zhou Shuo cursed; this old banyan tree was indeed the original form of the tree demon, and the jars beneath it held nothing but ashes—containers the old demon used to bind souls, which were either eaten outright or enslaved as servants, just like the bevy of beautiful ghosts that had earlier lured the Black Store lackeys.

"If I didn't say that, I'd almost have forgotten." Zhou Shuo thought of the people he had used as bait, his eyebrows twitched, and he hurried to the old banyan tree.

Translation: "I almost forgot about that." Zhou Shuo thought of the people he'd used as bait, his eyebrows twitched, and he hurried to the old banyan tree.

The old banyan tree stood a hundred meters tall, with large gaps between its trunk and branches, packed full of vines and twigs. Zhou Shuo whipped open the vines with his divine whip, and inside the dense tangle he saw the black‑shop crew that the tree demon had previously swept away, now tightly confined—not a single one missing. They had survived because Zhou Shuo had marked them with talismans during the earlier chaos, preventing the demon from swallowing them whole.

Translation: That old banyan tree stood a hundred meters tall, its trunk and branches spaced with large gaps, packed with tangled vines; Zhou Shuo swung his Divine Ability Whip to part the vines, and within the dense thicket he saw the Black Store gang members whom the tree demon had earlier dragged away, now confined one by one—because Zhou Shuo had marked them with spirit‑talismans during the earlier chaos, the demon hadn't simply swallowed them whole.

translation: now confined one by one

Zhou Shuo used his divine whip to drag the black‑shop gang out of the tree hollow, then doused them with a sweet‑dew incantation. Instantly they felt a warm rush that made them scramble up, their expressions dazed as if dreaming. After a round of scolding, they finally came to their senses, wanted to kneel and beg for mercy, but Zhou Shuo sentenced them to labor, ordering them to move all the ash jars from beneath the old banyan tree.

Translation: Zhou Shuo seized his Divine Ability Whip, dragged the Black Store gang out of the tree hollow, then doused them with a Sweet Dew Spell; instantly they felt a warm rush that made them scramble up, their expressions dazed as if dreaming, after a round of scolding they finally woke, wanted to kneel and beg for mercy, but Zhou Shuo sentenced them to labor, ordering them to move all the ash‑urns from under the old banyan tree.

translation: doused them with a Sweet Dew Spell

"Move them, quick—dawn is coming. If you don't finish before sunrise, I'll reward each of you with a hundred lashes of the vine whip." Zhou Shuo, having indulged his inner tyrant, brandished his divine whip and threatened the black‑shop crew, demanding they relocate every ash jar to an open area before daybreak.

Translation: "Move them, quick—dawn's coming; if you don't finish before sunrise, I'll reward each of you with a hundred whip lashes." Zhou Shuo, having indulged his inner tyrannical boss, brandished his Divine Ability Whip and threatened the Black Store gang, demanding they relocate every ash‑urn to an open area before daybreak.

translation: having indulged his inner tyrannical boss

Faced with Zhou Shuo's threat, the black‑shop crew dared not show the slightest defiance; they honestly hauled every urn of ashes to the appointed spot. Only after daybreak, when everyone was drenched in sweat from exhaustion, did they finally complete the task.

"Look at you, all miserable like that, and you still dare to learn how to run a black‑shop." Zhou Shuo gazed at the crowd, panting like dogs from exhaustion, waved his hand and released the golden light from the Divine Communication Whip, digging a huge pit from the ground, causing everyone to stare wide‑eyed.

"What are you looking at? Now, move the stuff in, then cover it with dirt properly, set up a grave, and once this is done I'll temporarily drop the matter of you drugging me earlier." Zhou Shuo barked, urging them on, and issued an unrefusable order; the black‑shop gang wanted to cry but had no tears, yet they could only grit their teeth and accept the physical punishment, helping to bury all the ash jars.