Chapter 42: Volume One: Mountain Ghost Rumor - Chapter 42: Wangqing River Old Flood Dragon

Volume One: Mountain Ghost Rumor - Chapter 42: Wangqing River Old Flood Dragon

The Old Flood Dragon's eyes instantly turned fierce, and dragon roars sounded one after another, meeting the blade Qi that was smashing down on its head.

Even if Kong Yanxing swallowed the "Anger Origin Spirit Ascension Pill," so what?

As long as he wasn't in the Destiny Knowing Realm, he wasn't its opponent.

The Old Flood Dragon was very confident.

It was from the Wangqing River Flood Dragon Clan, with strong natural talent. Their clan had produced seven Water Gods, one of whom was even the Pang Tuo He Water God, with a noble status. Even the local Demon Slayer Division of the Wangqing River treated them harmoniously. Why would a mere Hundred-Household official of Yang County dare to fight it to the death?

Wasn't he afraid of offending the Wangqing River?

Zhao Chan climbed onto the high cliff. He saw Kong Yanxing stepping on a narrow little boat, which floated in mid-air, supporting Kong Yanxing's body. The Old Flood Dragon swam toward the waterfall-like blade Qi as if in a river.

The blade Qi slashed onto the Old Flood Dragon's physique, and the scales on its body scattered and flew everywhere, leaving it bloody and mangled.

The Old Flood Dragon, which had been trying to be fierce, instantly wailed miserably.

The Old Flood Dragon gave Zhao Chan a feeling of "drawing a tiger by imitating a cat." It clearly wasn't a true dragon, yet it acted like a true dragon in every way.

"Hundred-Household Kong! Let's talk! Let's talk!"

Under one strike, the Old Flood Dragon hurriedly retreated.

Kong Yanxing didn't intend to spare it. As it retreated, he stepped on the little boat and followed closely.

The Dragon-Head Broadsword swung down again.

The blade Qi was blinding, whipping up a great wind.

Zhao Chan blocked his eyes with his hands, watching the battle he couldn't believe through the gaps in his fingers.

This strike cut off a section of the Old Flood Dragon's tail.

Kong Yanxing reached out, grabbed the dragon tail, and threw it beside Zhao Chan.

When it landed, the dragon tail still jumped a few times as if it had cramps.

Just as he swung the third blade, the Old Flood Dragon timidly hid behind a cliff.

The blade Qi shattered the cliff.

The fourth blade.

The Old Flood Dragon fled in panic and hid behind a hillside. The blade Qi kicked up countless dust and broken trees.

The fifth blade.

The Old Flood Dragon found another cliff to hide behind, shivering and shouting: "I have a precious granddaughter still in her boudoir, as beautiful as a peach blossom, and a hundred charms and a thousand beauties. I am willing to offer her to marry into the Yang County Demon Slayer Division! At that time, the Yang County Demon Slayer Division will have the help of the Wangqing River Flood Dragon Clan. Your strength will greatly increase, and... and you will be able to have fewer Demon Slayers die."

Kong Yanxing stopped the little boat.

His face was abnormally red, his eyes were covered with bloodshot veins, and his hair was falling out one by one. Although his right hand was holding the Dragon-Head Broadsword steadily, his left hand and legs were trembling, as if he were bearing immeasurable pressure.

"Who?" he asked hoarsely.

The Old Flood Dragon's face twisted in pain. It turned its head to look at its severed tail, then cautiously poked its head out from the side of the cliff, staring fixedly at Kong Yanxing, whose state was extremely abnormal. Its eyeballs rolled, and it looked at the young man who was bare-chested but had a peach branch inserted diagonally at his waist: "That young man should be a Demon Slayer? I see he is elegant and handsome; he must be a loving husband with my precious granddaughter."

"Zhao Chan..." Kong Yanxing's physique swayed more and more. The "Anger Origin Spirit Ascension Pill" brought him the power to kill enemies across realms, but also brought endless pain.

This was originally a method of killing a thousand enemies and losing eight hundred.

If not for the fact that the Old Flood Dragon was in the Middle-grade Destiny Knowing Realm and seemed to be the source of the demon infestation in Youju Town, and had abruptly broken into the territory under Yang County's jurisdiction and threatened to have a full meal, he would never have easily used the "Anger Origin Spirit Ascension Pill."

A Wangqing River Destiny Knowing Realm Old Flood Dragon, wherever it was placed, was a demon that Demon Slayers had to be on high alert for.

After all, it had the attainments of the Middle-grade Destiny Knowing Realm. Even if he had eaten the "Anger Origin Spirit Ascension Pill" to forcibly raise his True Qi to the same realm as the Old Flood Dragon, the Old Flood Dragon relied on the mountains to dodge and hide. By the time the medicinal effect disappeared, if he still hadn't killed the Old Flood Dragon, the outcome for him and Zhao Chan would be unpredictable.

Kong Yanxing knew the Old Flood Dragon was stalling for time, so he feigned a struggle to lure it out from behind the stone cliff.

As for the Mountain Ghost Zhao Chan mentioned... Although the Mountain Ghost could spit out Mountain Ghost Flower Money and was a "coin minting furnace" for Mountain Sects, it naturally had a realm limit. Kong Yanxing had once seen a Mountain Ghost with the highest realm in the Lancang Prefecture Demon Slayer Division, which was only in the Middle-grade Foundation Establishment Realm.

If the Mountain Ghost advanced to a Mountain God, its realm would break accordingly.

Moreover, Zhao Chan had also mentioned the sisters Bai Yuqing and Bai Youjun. He had never heard of Bai Youjun, but Bai Yuqing's name was like thunder to his ears.

He didn't know why she hadn't killed the Old Flood Dragon hiding in the mountain stream, but it didn't matter; he would kill it himself.

Kong Yanxing turned his head and asked: "Kid, are... are you willing to be the son-in-law of the Wangqing River?"

The pain in his body made his face gradually twist. Even if he wanted to signal Zhao Chan to agree first, he was afraid he couldn't make the corresponding expression.

Zhao Chan suddenly bowed and smiled: "The Wangqing River is noble beyond words. If I could become the son-in-law of the Wangqing River, it would be a great honor for three lifetimes!"

"Good!" Kong Yanxing shouted to the Old Flood Dragon: "Did you hear that?"

"I heard, I heard!" It retracted its head and continued to hide behind the stone cliff. "Hundred-Household Kong and my grandson-in-law go ahead. I will tidy up my clothes and then come to see you to discuss the betrothal gifts."

"You may." Kong Yanxing nodded.

Stepping on the little boat, he indeed changed direction.

"Big Brother Kong, be careful! Old Flood Dragon..."

Before Zhao Chan's words fell, Kong Yanxing had already turned around again, urged the little boat, and flew to the Old Flood Dragon at lightning speed.

Strike the snake at its seven inches.

Although the Flood Dragon had the word "dragon" in its name, it also had the weakness of a "flood snake."

Blinding blade Qi erupted.

The Old Flood Dragon seemed prepared, opening its mouth to swallow the ink-colored flames.

The ink flames had no temperature, but they entangled with Kong Yanxing's blade Qi, neither side gaining the upper hand.

And the Old Flood Dragon lunged to Kong Yanxing's right, its fangs like daggers, tearing at him.

Kong Yanxing sneered and formed a hand seal, and a golden talisman floated out from his bosom.

A golden-bodied deity wearing armor and holding a spear suddenly appeared in the world.

The Old Flood Dragon, which was ambushing Kong Yanxing, exclaimed from the bottom of its heart: "'Summoning the Jianbing Divine Monarch Talisman'?"

Kong Yanxing dealt with the ink flames while grinning: "Thousand-Household Yan gave it to me. I originally wanted to kill other demons with it. Since you, this Old Flood Dragon, took the initiative to deliver yourself to my door, then go to hell."

"'Anger Origin Spirit Ascension Pill' is a 'blindfold,' and the real killing move is the 'Summoning the Jianbing Divine Monarch Talisman'?"

"You understand too late."

The golden-bodied deity wearing armor and a helmet was blurry and indistinct; one could only vaguely see its overall appearance.

It was enough to kill an Old Flood Dragon in the Middle-grade Destiny Knowing Realm.

The golden-bodied deity gently waved the spear, and the Old Flood Dragon, unable to dodge, had its demon blood spray out.

That pile of ink flames, without the support of the Old Flood Dragon's True Qi, also slowly dissipated.

A wisp of ink flames that was about to go out fell into the forest, and in an instant, thick black smoke rose from the forest.

Zhao Chan only saw black smoke, not firelight.

The golden-bodied deity that easily killed the Old Flood Dragon disintegrated inch by inch after one strike, turning into gorgeous golden light and merging into the great mountain.

Kong Yanxing picked up the lifeless Old Flood Dragon and threw it beside Zhao Chan. He stepped on the little boat and landed on the stone cliff to sit cross-legged and rest: "The 'Summoning the Jianbing Divine Monarch Talisman' is a talisman that only a Thousand-Household can use. It can kill ordinary Upper Grade Destiny Knowing Realm demons. For demons with stronger physiques, it is greatly discounted. It's not that the Jianbing Divine Monarch is not powerful, but the summoning talismans of the Lower Four Realms are too inferior..."

"Big Brother Kong, are you alright?"

"It's nothing. The 'Anger Origin Spirit Ascension Pill' can give me the True Qi of the Middle-grade Destiny Knowing Realm within half an incense stick of time, but the aftereffects are also great. Rest assured, even if that Mountain Ghost is in the Foundation Establishment Realm, I can kill it now. Heh, my precious..."

Before the word "precious" could be uttered, Kong Yanxing vomited several mouthfuls of blood in succession.

The time of half an incense stick had passed.

He instantly became listless, and his complexion became extremely poor.

"My Dharma Treasures are enough to kill another Foundation Establishment Realm demon. However, if there is a good opportunity, I... I want to capture the Mountain Ghost back to the Yang County Demon Slayer Division. The Mountain Ghost can spit out Mountain Ghost Flower Money, which is of great use not only to us Demon Slayers but also to the common people."

Zhao Chan looked at him worriedly. "I know Mountain Ghost Flower Money has the miraculous use of protecting the body."

"Hmm. Ouch, it hurts me to death. The aftereffects of the 'Anger Origin Spirit Ascension Pill' are too strong. Take the other white porcelain bottle from my bosom; it contains the 'Grass Returning Pill,' which can help me heal."

"Good."

Zhao Chan was about to move when he caught a glimpse of the Old Flood Dragon, whose seven inches had been almost completely severed by the armored deity waving the spear. His eyes moved.

"What's wrong?"

Zhao Chan drew the Green Snake Sword.

Kong Yanxing was instantly vigilant. Did this kid want to kill him while he was seriously injured?

The third style of the "Shake God Sword," "Sword Mark," slashed toward the Old Flood Dragon, which appeared lifeless.

The Old Flood Dragon raised its head with a bang.

The sword slashed at its lower jaw.

As the Old Flood Dragon bit down, the long sword, which had been added with True Qi by Hundred-Household Zheng, snapped in response.

At the critical moment, Kong Yanxing wanted to pick up the Dragon-Head Broadsword beside him, but his whole body was numb and in great pain, especially his right arm, which felt like countless ants gnawing in the bone gaps. With his violence when killing demons, he tried several times but couldn't lift the blade, let alone kill the dying Old Flood Dragon.

He regretted it beyond measure. He shouldn't have trusted the "Summoning the Jianbing Divine Monarch Talisman" to have successfully killed the Old Flood Dragon. If he had thrown the Old Flood Dragon further away, it could only wait for death, rather than deliberately feigning death and then launching a sudden attack.

"It's over!"

Kong Yanxing sighed faintly.

Zhao Chan retreated to the front of the sitting Kong Yanxing and gripped the peach branch inserted diagonally at his waist, still using the "Sword Mark" style.

The peach branch very easily slashed through the Old Flood Dragon's head, and it was slashed right into the center. The fishy stench immediately rushed to his face. Zhao Chan endured the discomfort, let the demon blood pour onto his upper body, and gripped the peach branch until he slashed past the seven inches before stopping.

Kong Yanxing was dumbfounded.

Zhao Chan returned and stood beside him. Only then did he come back to his senses, his gaze sweeping over the peach branch gripped in Zhao Chan's right hand, and he said in a low voice: "The Old Flood Dragon was killed by the 'Summoning the Jianbing Divine Monarch Talisman,' and it has nothing to do with you. I will take this matter upon myself..."

"Big Brother Kong is overthinking it." Zhao Chan inserted the peach branch back into the sweat towel tied at his waist and said: "Along the way, I have come to believe in Big Brother Kong's character."

Saying that, the young man's gaze couldn't help but cautiously observe Kong Yanxing's expression.

"After you go to the Yang County Demon Slayer Division to take up your post, I will choose a good sword for you."

"Thank you, Big Brother Kong."

His implication was still to use the peach branch less, so as to avoid people with ulterior motives "seeing treasure and becoming different."

This Wangqing River Old Flood Dragon had the cultivation of the Middle-grade Destiny Knowing Realm, with thick skin and flesh. Even Kong Yanxing, who had taken the "Anger Origin Spirit Ascension Pill" to forcibly raise his True Qi, couldn't cut through the Old Flood Dragon's physique, yet the peach branch, which looked like it would break at a touch, easily split the Old Flood Dragon's head in two.

The miraculousness and sharpness of the peach branch were even slightly inferior to the "Summoning the Jianbing Divine Monarch Talisman."

"Sit beside me and rest for a while." Kong Yanxing exhaled a rough breath. The Old Flood Dragon had feigned death; if Zhao Chan hadn't detected it in advance and decisively dealt with it, both of them would have died.

Of course, having witnessed this scene, there was no need for Kong Yanxing to go and check the demons and cultivators Zhao Chan had killed.

The young man's solid Upper Grade Body Refining Realm cultivation, courage, and means were all top-notch, especially his Body Refining Realm cultivation. The two sword strikes made Kong Yanxing particularly shocked.

If it were an ordinary Upper Grade Body Refining Realm Demon Slayer, let alone holding a peach branch to kill an Old Flood Dragon, just the deterrence of the Middle-grade Destiny Knowing Realm would be enough to make them terrified.

"I believe all the demons and cultivators you killed." He laughed.

"Big Brother Kong had better confirm it according to the rules of the Demon Slayer Division."

"Oh? Why?"

"Rules are rules."

"Haha..." Kong Yanxing laughed loudly. Before the laughter was halfway through, it involved his injuries, and with no part of his body not hurting, he instantly grimaced again: "You kid really know how to talk, just a bit stupid."

He said: "Even secular commoners will be hypocritical, let alone us cultivators? Now I am seriously injured, you can kill me at any time, pretending to be low and playing along, and when I recover my cultivation, I don't even need to catch you off guard. A small Body Refining Realm cultivator, I can kill you and snatch the peach branch at will."

Zhao Chan said calmly: "Just now Big Brother Kong mentioned the Mountain Ghost, saying that even if you were injured, you had Dharma Treasures to deal with it."

"Indeed."

"Actually, Big Brother Kong could have returned to Yang County directly based on the merit of killing the Old Flood Dragon."

"Interesting, truly interesting. You mean I should have used those unused Dharma Treasures to kill you, snatch the peach branch, and return to Yang County?"

"Hmm."

Kong Yanxing shook his head: "Wrong. Even if I killed you, I could still continue to Youju Town to deal with the demon infestation. In that way, not only would I have obtained the peach branch, but I would also have two more merits.

Heh, why say these things?

Oh! I understand, you kid... are full of tricks!"

Kong Yanxing endured his serious injuries and pointed at Zhao Chan with a trembling finger: "You are tempting me. If I make even the slightest move, you will immediately kill me with the peach branch! To eliminate future trouble!"

His thoughts were exposed, but Zhao Chan's expression remained calm: "Big Brother Kong didn't have these thoughts, so I dared to say it."

"What if I had such dirty thoughts?"

"I see that Big Brother Kong can barely move a finger right now..."

Kong Yanxing continued the young man's words: "Yes, even with Dharma Treasures, I can't use them now. It seems I am bound to die. Zhao Chan, kill me."

Zhao Chan sat steadily beside him and asked: "What is the origin of the 'Summoning the Jianbing Divine Monarch Talisman'?"

"The Jianbing Divine Monarch belongs to the Dou Department. The full name is the Western White Tiger Jianbing Divine Monarch. There are also the Eastern Azure Dragon Mengzhang Divine Monarch, the Southern Vermilion Bird Lingguang Divine Monarch, and the Northern Black Tortoise Destiny Knowing Divine Monarch.

Although the Four Divine Monarchs cannot be counted as high-level deities of the Dou Department, they each have their own divine abilities.

Our Demon Slayer Division has a category of summoning talismans, and the deities summoned are all sorts of things."

"The Dou Department... what is that?" Zhao Chan asked in confusion.

Just now, a wisp of ink flames fell into the forest, and only black smoke was seen, not firelight. When the black smoke dissipated, that piece of forest had disappeared, leaving only the bare ground.

Kong Yanxing looked at that place: "The Dou Department... I don't know either."

"What are the ink flames spat out by the Flood Dragon?"

"The trump card of the Wangqing River Flood Dragon Clan, called 'Ink Flood Scorching Flames'."

After a while.

Kong Yanxing asked with a smile: "Are you going to kill me or not?"

"Big Brother Kong, please stop joking."

"Haha... Rest assured, with this Old Flood Dragon gone, the situation of the demon infestation in Youju Town has greatly improved. Help me up."

The two went down the stone cliff.

Zhao Chan helped Kong Yanxing onto the horse, and he held the reins.

Passing the place where the four itinerant merchants were killed, Zhao Chan recounted one by one how he had killed them.

"They were in the Qi Gathering Realm. You kid truly has ability." ===== CHAPTER 43 =====