Chapter 550: The Purple-Clad Boss and the Twelve Devils of Heaven Pool

Wushuang City.

Wushuang Mansion.

Ever since the Fear-Inducing Ranking appeared in the world, countless experts have been secretly investigating Wushuang Mansion; among them are many who are unknown in the Edo, yet possess shockingly high martial arts. Jia Dugu was both startled and terrified, deeply realizing that the waters of this Edo were deeper than he had imagined.

Fortunately, Wushuang City has the Sword Saint presiding over it, whose Holy Spirit Sword Art is almost invincible under heaven; otherwise, I fear Wushuang City would have long been turned upside down by various factions.

But even so, undercurrents still surge within Wushuang City, and no one knows how many spies from various factions have been planted here.

In the study, Jia Dugu frowned deeply, continuously flipping through the records of the Dugu Family, while his mind recalled a conversation he had with the Sword Saint Dugu Jian several days ago.

"Second Brother, rest assured, Wushuang City will never be easily overturned by anyone."

"I know, with you as the eldest brother, naturally no one can overturn Wushuang City, not even Yu Liancheng."

"No, actually I want to tell you a secret, a secret I recalled when I saw the 'Fear-Inducing Ranking'."

"Please speak, Eldest Brother."

"Wushuang City has always had a secret that only the heads of each generation know; when I passed Wushuang City to you last time, I forgot to tell you. It is rumored that if Wushuang City truly falls into danger, at that time, a mysterious extraordinary person will appear to save Wushuang City from fire and water. And that person has a title close to mine, called—the Martial Saint!"

"Martial Saint? From ancient times to the present, there has only been one Martial Saint, and that is Guan Yu, Guan Yunzhang. Could it be that Guan Gong can still travel through time from the Three Kingdoms era?"

"I cannot be certain whether this Martial Saint is Guan Gong or someone else, only that rumors say the 'Martial Saint' will be the final savior of Wushuang City, and absolutely no one is his match. Because only he knows how to use a move that was once the most invincible and stunning in the long river of history—the Love of the City."

"The Love of the City? Isn't this the peerless ultimate move recorded on the Fear-Inducing Ranking?"

"Correct, it was precisely because I saw the Fear-Inducing Ranking that I remembered this legend."

The Martial Saint, the Love of the City, Wushuang City... there is indeed an inextricable connection between these three.

In the entire Wushuang City, only the heads of each generation understand this information, and when the Sword Saint ceded the position of City Lord to the original Dugu Yifang, he did not mention this matter, otherwise this Jia Dugu would have been exposed.

With such a secret, how did that guy come to know it?

For these past few days, Dugu Yifang has almost never stopped flipping through the records.

He believes that among these records of the Dugu Family's historical secrets, he can find clues. Not just clues about Yu Liancheng, but also clues about the "Love of the City".

I do not know how much time passed, but Jia Dugu flipped to a yellowed ancient book and his eyes lit up; as he read line by line, his eyes grew brighter and brighter.

After a long while.

Dugu Yifang let out a long breath: "So that's how it is, so there was such a hidden story. Perhaps, I have already understood that person's identity."

"If I can obtain this ancient and absolute wonder of a move, the Love of the City, who else in the world can be my match!? Hahaha."

In the study, Dugu Yifang's wild laughter rang out.

He was already very old.

Although his physique was still as burly and tall as it was in his youth, his beard and hair were gray, his face was full of bitter wrinkles, and his pair of turbid eyes were filled with the vicissitudes of time, as if telling everyone who saw this face that he must be at least eighty years old. Furthermore, he was missing an arm, and his empty sleeve fluttered in the wind, appearing exceptionally desolate.

Yet an old man like this, instead of enjoying his twilight years with children and grandchildren around his knees, was guarding a wonton stall by the roadside; although there was no business, he was still barely holding on.

"Old man, bring me a bowl of wontons."

A figure strode over, dressed in black as thick as ink.

"Coming, customer!" Although the old man was elderly and missing an arm, his movements were nimble, and the wontons soon floated in the boiling water.

The young man in black said casually: "Old man, it's so late, you should be enjoying your old age, why not rest?"

Perhaps because he had not had anyone to confide in for a long time, the old man was prompted to speak, and after serving the wontons to Yu Liancheng, he spoke incessantly.

The old man said that when he was young, he was also a prominent figure, and he had roamed the Edo with six brothers, riding freely and happily, which was truly satisfying.

But during an act of chivalry, he offended a powerful person; all six brothers died, and he barely escaped with his life, becoming disheartened from then on.

The seven brothers had set out to eliminate demons and defend the Dao, yet they ended up with such a fate.

After returning home, he carefully taught his son. His son actually turned out to be successful and built a foundation. Speaking of this, the old man revealed a smile, seemingly proud of his son.

It is a pity that as he grew older, he became less and less useful to his son, and his son even guarded against him for the sake of his own career, which made him very sad.

The old man was also a proud person, so he simply left his son and opened a wonton stall to make a living on his own. However, because he worried about his son's career, he lived frugally every month and entrusted all the money he saved to others to send to his son.

To be a parent, every action is for the sake of one's children; it is truly moving.

Yu Liancheng sat on the stool, eating the steaming wontons while smiling and comforting the old man. Children have their own fortunes, so why worry too much?

As for the seven brothers roaming the Edo and the son building a foundation that the old man spoke of, listening to it was enough.

"Looking at you, little brother, you are not a local either. Leave quickly after eating; this place is not peaceful at night."

"Understood, thank you for your concern, old man."

Yu Liancheng chuckled, ate two bowls of wontons, threw down some silver, and was about to leave. Unexpectedly, the old man chased after him: "Too much, too much."

As he spoke, he fished out copper coins and some loose silver from his pocket and handed them to Yu Liancheng; looking at his stubborn appearance, I fear that if he did not accept this money, the old man would not be able to sleep peacefully at night.

When the old man returned the loose silver and copper coins to Yu Liancheng, he inevitably had to touch the latter's hand.

The moment that withered hand touched Yu Liancheng's hand, the five fingers suddenly grabbed, and Yu Liancheng's wrist felt as if an iron hoop had been added to it.

The old man immediately revealed a ferocious grin; if someone with keen insight saw this grab, they would inevitably be greatly shocked. This seemingly simple grab contained three types of martial arts.

The first is the "Thousand-Sticky Ten-Thousand-Adhesive Hand"; this martial art has a peculiar suction force, so once hooked, one cannot break free. The second is the "Broken Pulse True Qi", which seals the opponent's meridians, making it difficult for them to mobilize all their True Qi for a time.

As for the last one, it is the notorious—Returning Origin Blood Hand.

"Kid, no matter what kind of 'Fear-Inducing' you are, today I will teach you to die at the hands of this old man."

The old man grinned ferociously; he was none other than Xiongba's father, the leader of the "Seven Heroes Pursuing Demons" who once had a great reputation in the Edo, the Purple-Clad Boss.

Because he offended Bu Baisuzhen and her subordinate Black Child, six of the seven brothers died tragically, and he had an arm crippled, so he retired from the Edo. In reality, he secretly hid in the World Association to assist his son Xiongba in vying for the Edo.

And the Returning Origin Blood Hand used by the Purple-Clad Boss was a peerless demonic art improved by his ancestors from the Star-Absorbing Great Skill several hundred years ago, which could drain a person's cultivation in an instant.

In his early years, the Purple-Clad Boss roamed the Edo, upholding justice under the name of the "Seven Heroes Pursuing Demons", and never wanted to practice this path, lest it hinder his reputation.

But more than fifty years ago, after he was defeated by a single strand of Bu Baisuzhen's hair and had an arm crippled, he began to change his mind, and has now practiced the "Returning Origin Blood Hand" for nearly fifty years.

This is not a short period of time.

An ordinary martial artist, if they could accumulate nearly fifty years of deep and vigorous internal energy, would be enough to dominate a region.

Moreover, in these nearly fifty-plus years, the Purple-Clad Leader has continuously handled experts from various sects for Xiongba, absorbing their Internal Force, his cultivation growing like a rolling snowball.

Now, the Purple-Clad Leader's Internal Force has reached an unimaginable level.

Setting aside that unfathomably deep Internal Force, the "Returning Origin Blood Hand" is the Purple-Clad Leader's true killing move.

There is no lack of unique arts in the Edo for absorbing cultivation, but none can compare to the Returning Origin Blood Hand.

The Returning Origin Blood Hand can not only instantly absorb a master's True Qi until empty, but it can also "use the weak to overcome the strong"; even those with deeper Internal Force cultivation than him, once struck by the Returning Origin Blood Hand, have no other fate but to be sucked dry.

In the original timeline, the Purple-Clad Leader even used the "Returning Origin Blood Hand" to absorb the Immeasurable Maha.

This time, facing Yu Liancheng's unfathomable and terrifying power, the Purple-Clad Leader did not hesitate to bring out his trump card technique. In an instant, his entire person seemed to transform into an unfathomable black hole, generating a devouring and pulling force, intending to swallow Yu Liancheng whole.

But soon, the Purple-Clad Leader's expression changed.

Because the energy he used to drive the "Returning Origin Blood Hand" hit Yu Liancheng, it was like striking an eternal, immovable mountain, unable to shake it by even a fraction.

In reality, there are quite a few martial arts that can counter the "Returning Origin Blood Hand," such as the Wedding Dress Divine Skill, which can fuse one's True Qi with the body, making it unshakeable by external objects. Or, for instance, the Diamond Indestructible Divine Skill, which can similarly make True Qi as one...

It just so happens that Yu Liancheng possesses several martial arts that can restrain the "Returning Origin Blood Hand," so it would be strange if he could be absorbed.

The Purple-Clad Leader is also a veteran of a hundred battles; he made a prompt decision and prepared to flash backward.

But just at this moment, a suction force similar to the "Returning Origin Blood Hand" actually came from Yu Liancheng's palm, leaving him unable to break free for a moment.

"Good, since you want to absorb, I will let you absorb enough."

A cold sneer appeared at the corner of Yu Liancheng's mouth as streaks of Sword Qi surged out, pouring into the Purple-Clad Leader's body.

"Ah!"

The Purple-Clad Leader let out a miserable howl instantly. As the Sword Qi entered his body, he felt countless streaks of Sword Qi roaming within his flesh and blood, every inch of bone and muscle being continuously sliced, as if being carved by a thousand knives—a fate worse than death.

The Purple-Clad Leader was quite decisive; a fierce look flashed in his eyes, his arm turned, and amidst a surge of violent energy, he severed his own hand at the wrist.

"Tianchi Twelve Killers, are you still not going to strike!?" The Purple-Clad Leader retreated more than ten zhang, blood spilling, his face pale, cold sweat pouring down like rain.

Amidst his shrill cry, twelve figures flashed out from both sides.

These were a group of strange people, some tall and some short, some fat and some thin, some male and some female; their physiques were bizarre and their clothing varied. But each person carried a thick aura of baleful energy, clearly people who killed without blinking.

"Old thing, you're already injured to this extent, yet you're still bossing us around."

Among the twelve, a person riding a wooden horse with the stature of a child took the lead: "We, the Tianchi Twelve Killers, only have a cooperative relationship with Xiongba, not his subordinates; don't get that mixed up."

The Tianchi Killers were originally composed of one hundred and eight people, acting without any principles and owing countless blood debts, which made them feared by Edo figures, who jointly petitioned the Sword Saint Dugu Jian to eliminate the scourge for the Wulin.

The Sword Saint accepted the invitation and drew his sword, killing ninety-six Tianchi Killers with a single person and a single sword, leaving only the Tianchi Twelve Killers led by the "Child Emperor" to flee in panic. At that time, the World Association was in the midst of development, and Xiongba took them in, hiding their tracks for them. Over these years, the Tianchi Twelve Killers, like the Purple-Clad Leader, have secretly cleared obstacles for Xiongba.

These twelve people are Child Emperor, Iron Broom Immortal, Food-for-Immortal, Paper Scout, Dog King, Ghost Shadow, Play Treasure, Fu Chang, Fu Sui, Shou Wu, Zu Dao, and the Matchmaker.

This time, to deal with the great enemy Yu Liancheng, Xiongba invited the Tianchi Twelve Killers to assist the Purple-Clad Leader in the task.

The originally formulated plan was for the Purple-Clad Leader to immobilize Yu Liancheng with poison and the Returning Origin Blood Hand, and then for the Tianchi Twelve Killers to deliver a fatal blow.

That's right, the earlier wontons had been poisoned.

But unfortunately, whether it was the Returning Origin Blood Hand or the poison, both were completely ineffective.

Instead, the Purple-Clad Leader was heavily wounded.

"Hmph, since you have already defected to my master, you should serve him." The Purple-Clad Leader had already sealed the wound on his wrist with True Qi, his complexion already deathly pale.

"Old thing, you are already injured; even if we slaughtered you now, Xiongba wouldn't know." Child Emperor sneered.

"You dare!?"

The two sides appeared to have turned against each other, but the group of Tianchi Killers quietly closed in on Yu Liancheng, secretly channeling their True Qi to the limit.

"Alright, no need to argue, all of you go to hell." Yu Liancheng clearly had no mood to watch them act; he flicked his arm, and a glowing long whip appeared in his palm.

—Divine Stone.

Whoosh.

As Yu Liancheng flicked his wrist, the long whip straightened like a sharp sword and shot out, tearing through the sky with a hiss, directly piercing and shattering the head of the nearest Paper Scout.

The others were terrified in their hearts. Child Emperor shouted coldly: "What are you still waiting for? Attack together and behead this person." As he spoke, Child Emperor's eyes emitted a strange light, deep and hazy, as if to drag people into a boundless dream.

This was precisely the "Child Heart True Scripture" that Child Emperor practiced.

This martial art is extremely mysterious; it can create false, hallucinatory realms and weave nightmares, causing the opponent's mind to collapse until death. Besides this, it even has the effect of making the practitioner return to their youth.

At the same time, the remaining ten Tianchi Killers each displayed their unique skills, the blade light and sword shadows enveloping Yu Liancheng like a net of heaven and earth.

Yu Liancheng let out a cold snort, and Child Emperor immediately spat out blood, as if struck by lightning.

Then, with a turn of his wrist, the Soft Whip flew through the air, and under the drive of his energy, it was truly unpredictable. At times it was like a Long Rainbow Piercing Sun, sharp and unstoppable. At times it was like a Flood Dragon overturning the sea, striking with the momentum of wind and thunder, vast and mighty. At times it was like a thunderbolt, and every flick emitted a whip sound that shook the soul. In an instant, the net woven by the Tianchi Killers was torn apart by the long whip.

This battle ended faster than imagined.

Every time Yu Liancheng swept the whip out, it would inevitably harvest a life, and the miserable howls were incessant.

Child Emperor watched in terror and turned to flee, but just as he dashed out a few zhang, his chest was pierced by the glowing long whip.

He turned his head with difficulty to look; Yu Liancheng was still standing there motionless, but this long whip had already extended several times over, killing him alive.

"This... could this be... the Divine Stone?"

This was Child Emperor's last thought, and he had already fallen.

In just a moment's time, the Tianchi Twelve Killers lay dead all over the ground, leaving only the shivering Purple-Clad Leader.

"Spare... spare my life..." The Purple-Clad Leader was definitely not a person who feared not death, otherwise he would not have hidden in the World Association for decades.

"Rest assured, your life will naturally be taken by someone."

Yu Liancheng's tone was calm, and in the blink of an eye, he appeared before the Purple-Clad Leader: "However, since Xiongba dared to strike at me, then don't blame me for being impolite."

Suddenly, the Purple-Clad Leader let out a miserable scream, as Yu Liancheng had triggered all the residual Sword Qi within his body.

In an instant, countless sword marks split open on the Purple-Clad Leader's skin, blood splattered out, and his whole person became a blood gourd. Yet these blood droplets did not fall to the ground, but floated in mid-air.

As Yu Liancheng's mind moved, the blood condensed into a small blood-colored sword.

"Xiongba, you have great Luck protecting you, so now is not the time to kill you. But if I use the blood of your closest kin to slash your Luck, I wonder how many years of your ten-year great Luck will remain!?"

"Go!"

Whoosh!

The small blood-colored sword flew toward the direction of the Heaven Alliance.