Chapter 13: Lord Shuwu Shenwu Shuhua Daoist Discusses the Emperor Taishi Emperor Taishi Yuanzhen Sutra

With a single arm's shake, he passed three horses.

Drawing the bow with such terrifying force, even if a massive green rock stood in his way, the arrow would pierce through it, shattering it into dust.

Every Innate Breath cultivator proficient in archery was akin to a mobile, leaping city-breaking crossbow; once an arrow was loosed, the struck victim not only died, but their remains were rarely left intact or dignified, often reduced to a rotten mush with burst bellies and pierced intestines.

The yellow-clad men whom Chen Heng had killed one by one were the best testament to this.

Yet down below by the waterside pavilion, the youth clutching his stomach and screaming miserably, though slightly pale, appeared to be in no immediate danger of losing his life.

"It is a defensive talismanic artifact; congratulations, Chen Chen Shidi."

On another white horse, Xu Zhi narrowed his eyes slightly, fixing his gaze on the five-colored pendant swirling with brilliant light at the youth's waist, and smiled as he said:

"With this object in hand, Chen Chen Shidi's journey into the Earth Abyss becomes several degrees more secure. I observe that person's qi fluctuation is unstable and restless; he must have only recently broken through to his realm. Chen Chen Shidi need only keep firing arrows to deplete his Innate Breath; under no circumstances should you engage him in close combat. If so, within half a cup of tea's time at most, you can take his head."

The youth, who had been clutching his stomach, wailing, and rolling on the ground, suddenly stiffened.

He had originally intended to feign weakness, lure Chen Heng closer, and then seize the opportunity to unleash another talismanic artifact, flaying him directly into a blood corpse.

But if the situation truly turned into continuous arrow fire from a distance...

He reckoned that even if he wasn't shot to death, he would be exhausted to death...

"Chen Heng, are you mad! Your mistress Yan Zhen is already dead; where did you get such audacious gall to provoke me?"

The youth scrambled up from the ground in a sorry state, gurgling:

"Do you know who my father is? My father has six sworn brothers, all my good uncles; I come and go freely even in the Rong Emperor's rear court. If you dare harm a single hair on my head, you—"

Before his words could finish.

Another arrow shot him down onto his back.

By the time he climbed up from the ground again, his face iron-green, in Chen Heng's eyes looking down from above, the luster of that five-colored pendant was no longer as bright as before.

"How many more times is your Innate Breath sufficient to activate a talismanic artifact?"

Chen Heng's gaze was deep; he simply drew the six-stone bow into a full circle once more, exerted force violently, and the arrow flew off like lightning!

The sound of breaking the air tore like silk and roared like thunder.

Chen Heng fired dozens of bows in one breath; under the continuous volley of arrows sounding like heavy rain beating against banana leaves, the color of the youth's five-colored pendant grew increasingly erratic, until finally, amidst a miserable cry from him, it completely extinguished, falling silent forever.

"Hum!"

This arrow encountered no further obstruction, piercing directly through his left shoulder; had it not been for the spiritual awareness of his Innate Breath warning him at the last moment, causing him to subconsciously tilt his head, what lay on the ground would already have been a corpse!

"Aaaaaah!!!"

Intense pain made tears and snot stream down the youth's face, his eyes bloodshot.

But while he was wailing, another arrow exploded like thunder, piercing through his left knee.

"The next arrow will hit your right shoulder."

Chen Heng flipped off his horse, removed the quiver from the woman in the fox-fur white cloak, and ignoring her face which was red as if about to drip blood, he casually tied the quiver to his waist.

"Wait, I have—"

Whoosh!

The youth screamed skyward in agony, carried flying backward by an arrow and pinned dead against the vermilion great pillar of the waterside pavilion.

"Listen to me first—"

Whoosh!

Another arrow.

Accompanied by a mournful cry, his right knee shattered directly, bloody bone fragments spraying far into the pond water, rippling out a circle of blood-colored waves.

"Brother Heng, Brother Heng, it's me, Wang Wang Duanbao, sobbing."

The youth burst into loud sobs, saying, "For the sake of our deep childhood bond, spare my life; I am truly in great pain and will never dare again..."

Fifty paces away.

A hint of ferocity flashed in Chen Heng's eyes.

He leisurely picked up a feathered arrow; amidst a grating vibration that made one's teeth ache, he drew the bow and nocked the arrow, slowly bending the bowstring into a full moon. When performed by him, this movement was pleasing to the eye, flowing like drifting clouds and running water, possessing a cruel beauty.

At this moment, Wang Wang Duanbao's eyes were already blurred by tears, sobbing so hard he couldn't catch his breath, naturally unable to witness this scene sufficient to shatter his liver and gallbladder.

"My father doesn't care for me at all; last year he even snatched away my properly wedded wife. Brother Heng, spare my life, and I will help you deal with that old bastard."

He sniffled and sobbed, saying, "I know that bastard has many treasures; you—"

He happened to open his eyes at that precise moment.

All that entered his vision was an arrow feather swift as flying lightning.

"..."

Wang Wang Duanbao stood stunned, speechless.

He watched helplessly as that arrow, carrying a mournful wind sound from fifty paces away, pierced through layers of air waves, heading straight for his brow.

Death!

I will die!

This arrow cannot be blocked! Certain death!

Wang Wang Duanbao trembled with terror; an unprecedented, immense horror filled his heart, and he bitterly regretted why, immediately after forming his Innate Breath, he had to recklessly descend the mountain and provoke this killer.

He had not expected that even after this person went up the mountain to become a male consort, his archery skills had not diminished from past years, but had become even more sharp and deadly!

Years ago, upon catching a fleeting glimpse of him, he had mistaken this person for a woman dressed in men's clothing, so he had asked a scholar in the city to send him a love letter; at that time, this person had chased him overnight on horseback across the wilds, drawn a bow, and shot three arrows at him, every single one aimed at his head, directly shooting him off a cliff ridge.

By the time Wang Wang Duanbao had narrowly escaped death and climbed back up, Chen Heng had already been taken by Yan Zhen to Xiao Ganshan, and since then, his mind, which was often not quite right, had become even more muddled.

"I shouldn't have used the Five-Colored Pendant to hard-block his arrows; yes, I should have used that Six-Yin Heavenly Ghost Banner instead."

At the instant the arrow feather reached his body, Wang Wang Duanbao suddenly had a thought flash through his mind:

"Yes, Xiao Yu taught me before the wedding: defense is inferior to offense; I forgot..."

But at this moment, realization came too late.

Wang Wang Duanbao watched helplessly as the arrow feathers drew nearer and nearer; life and death stretched out in that instant, and one final thought flashed through his mind:

"If I die here... when Xiao Yu and Father are sleeping together, will they still think of me?"

Bang!

The arrow feathers struck squarely the crown binding his hair, shaking the entire waterside pavilion so that it trembled slightly and dust fell; Wang Wang Duanbao's body shuddered belatedly, and the front of his trousers grew wet.

At the mansion gate.

Xu Zhi also flipped off his horse, puzzled: "Why did Chen Chen Shidi spare his life? Do you truly intend to use him as an inside agent, even killing his father along with him?"

"Mount Yang is indeed a treasure land, rich in spiritual energy; it would be a pity to leave it to that old Daoist. Besides, the enmity has long been sealed; there is only being a thief for a day, never guarding against thieves for a thousand days."

Chen Heng calmly lowered his bow: "Wang Wang Duanbao, so many years have passed; what is your father's cultivation level now?"

"You just shot dead one of his sons; to expect the remaining son to serve you will likely be difficult." Xu Zhi shook his head: "Still, his father's cultivation probably isn't high, right?"

"Immortal Master, Immortal Master, the bearded man that Brother Heng shot earlier was a nephew, not a son, not a son."

Wang Wang Duanbao, having narrowly escaped death, his lips trembling: "I am the son, I am the son; he always wanted to devour Xiao Yu; the relationship between son and nephew is not good!"

"We are asking about your father's cultivation; where does this 'Xiao Yu' come from? Speak the truth quickly!" Xu Zhi glared.

"Qi Refining sixth layer, Qi Refining sixth layer."

Chen Heng and Xu Zhi exchanged a glance; the latter hesitated for a moment, then finally gritted his teeth with determination and gave a slight nod.

"Thank you, Xiao Xiao Shixiong." Chen Heng bowed deeply until his hands touched the ground.

"Between you and me... no thanks are needed, but we must agree on this..."

Xu Zhi made a bitter face: "If we truly cannot win, I will flee with you; you must not force a hard fight. Rest assured, your Xiao Xiao Shixiong has practiced the Earthly Divine Movement Technique for many years; let alone one at Qi Refining fifth layer, even those at seventh or eighth layer could not catch up!"

While they were speaking.

The hereditary servants and guards of the Chen mansion, whom Wang Wang Duanbao had previously poisoned, now clutched their heads, groaning as they struggled to their feet, hurriedly donning sabers and swords as they rushed over.

Inside the hall.

Blood had seeped across the floor; the remaining clan elders supported each other as they approached Chen Heng, their gazes complex and indescribable.

"Heng'er..."

"Uncle."

Chen Heng smiled faintly: "And also, Clan Leader and honored elders, it has been long since we last met."

"Heng'er, you..."

"Just now, I wondered what relics my late father left behind?"

Clan Leader Chen Kuang, whose arms were shattered, was just about to offer gentle words of comfort when Chen Heng calmly interrupted him; meeting those deep, dark, unruffled eyes, Chen Kuang's heart gave a sudden leap, every hair on his body stood on end, frightening him so much he nearly stepped back several paces.

"Give it to me."

Chen Heng extended one hand, plain and unadorned.

Several days later, inside a quiet chamber.

Chen Heng frowned as he closed the yellowed pages, his eyes flashing with light.

It was an old, ancient book.

On its worm-eaten cover were several large characters bearing the title:

"Divine Dwelling Pivot Hua Daojun Speaks on the Tai Shi Yuan Zhen Sutra"