Chapter 240

The dense red light pierced through clouds and mist, carrying a fierce, baleful aura that suggested nothing could not be killed.

Under Chen Hang's full-force strike, it arrived in an instant, like a meteor from beyond the heavens!

Xie Mou had fought with Chen Hang for so long that his true qi was already running low, and his mind was exhausted, unlike before.

Now, having just shaken off those few talisman artifacts, he was in a state where his old strength was spent and his new strength had yet to arise.

By the time he perceived the sword light, Xie Mou was unable to dodge in time; his pupils contracted violently, and subconsciously, his true qi surged, expanding his protective colored ring even further, yet he could only watch helplessly as the flying sword struck with lightning speed!

The Abi Sword emitted a sharp whistle, violently shattering the colored ring from the center and instantly sweeping past Xie Mou's neck!

And its remaining momentum did not diminish.

It shot forward for another mile before Chen Hang's control barely brought it to a halt!

At this moment.

Xie Mou's figure remained motionless, the luster in his eyes fading away.

A line of blood slowly appeared on his neck, and immediately, hot blood gushed out.

A head tumbled onto the ground first, rolling a few times, followed by the headless corpse falling as well, splashing up a cloud of dust!

From the moment Chen Hang exploded the red water to obscure his figure, to rising with his sword and severing Xie Mou's head, it had taken only a few breaths of time.

Yet, although this final confrontation was brief, it contained a dangerous struggle of wits within.

Had Xie Mou been more ruthless and decisive, using his trump card earlier, although he still would not have escaped a defeat and death, at least he would not have been so stifled as to lose his life in such an unclear manner without even using his trump card.

All his worldly possessions.

Were all left to Chen Hang.

And the reason Chen Hang's final sword strike was able to break Xie Mou's protective colored ring.

Was also because Xie Mou's true qi had already been depleted during the struggle, which allowed the strike to succeed.

"To hesitate when one should act is to let heaven's gift slip away; the ancients warned deeply of this... However, being able to save one cauldron of Thunder Marsh Stones makes my efforts worthwhile."

Chen Hang looked at the bloody corpse and shook his head slightly, thinking to himself.

At this moment, under his gaze, Xie Mou's head trembled imperceptibly, and then an object rushed out in a panic, flying toward the high sky.

Looking closely, it was actually a hazy little person, neither fully real nor fully illusory.

The little person's mouth, nose, eyebrows, and eyes were identical to Xie Mou's, with no discernible difference, and a clear yellow bead hovered above its head, its radiance spilling down like a curtain to protect the little person's entire body.

Chen Hang had anticipated this and, with a flick of his hand, threw the Mountain-Sinking Seal at the little person.

The Mountain-Sinking Seal grew in the wind, instantly becoming a giant object ten zhang in length.

This talisman artifact was a bestowal from the Yuchen Sect and had nothing particularly extraordinary about it, save that it was cast entirely from Mountain-Marsh Iron, making it extremely hard and heavy, and difficult to destroy. Once it crashed down, it was like a great mountain pressing over, making it very difficult to resist!

However, although the Mountain-Sinking Seal was good, its movement was not very swift. If a cultivator remained vigilant and employed an escape technique, most could dodge it, so it posed little threat and was merely for show.

For this reason, Chen Hang rarely used it during combat.

He only waited for the day when his cultivation was profound enough to deconstruct this Mountain-Sinking Seal and smelt it to extract the "Mountain-Marsh Iron" within.

After all, "Mountain-Marsh Iron" was a rare treasure material, ranked alongside Western Geng Gold, White Emperor True Sha, and Cloud-Fat Rock, making it very uncommon.

But for now, the hazy little person between reality and illusion was clearly Xie Mou's primordial spirit. Because it was protected by the precious bead, it had avoided the sword's strike, but because the primordial spirit could not employ any Daoist techniques, its escape speed was not fast.

At this moment.

The Mountain-Sinking Seal was perfectly suited to handle this situation!

As the wind tightened, the Mountain-Sinking Seal pressed down fiercely, instantly knocking Xie Mou's primordial spirit into the ground, causing it to tumble involuntarily.

The clear yellow bead above its head also dimmed instantly.

But Chen Hang did not let up, and like a craftsman driving a pile, he smashed it dozens of times in succession, with booming sounds!

Only when the precious bead above Xie Mou's head let out a mournful cry and exploded into dozens of crystalline fragments did he finally stop.

"If you kill me, I—"

Having lost the protection of the bead, Xie Mou was finally panicked. He shouted in a stern voice, wanting to say more.

Chen Hang, however, could not be bothered to respond. He simply raised his hand and pressed down, shattering his primordial spirit, ending both his body and soul.

After finishing all this, he slowly moved to the side of Xie Mou's corpse.

He picked up the sleeve pouch, wiped away the true qi imprint left by Xie Mou, and rummaged through it.

Most of the contents were cultivation resources: tens of thousands of talisman coins, nearly a thousand magic coins, and some wondrous pills and medicines with radiant magic light, as well as pearls and gemstones.

Bottles and jars were truly piled high.

A rough glance revealed a dazzling array that was almost blinding.

But Chen Hang only took a brief look and did not dwell on it.

Only when he pulled a small three-legged cauldron from Xie Mou's sleeve pouch did his expression suddenly turn solemn, and his gaze grew a bit more cautious.

The small cauldron was dark red all over. When held in the hand, a wave of heat immediately struck, scorching the surrounding air until it shimmered, while at the same time, faint thunderous sounds echoed and electric sparks flashed.

Upon lifting the lid to look, he saw only strange, dark red stones inside, each with a different shape and varying length, looking quite peculiar.

Chen Hang counted them carefully and saw that there were exactly two hundred stones in the small cauldron. He could not help but nod in satisfaction and smile to himself.

"This thing... could it be the Lei Zeshi?"

The Escape-Dun Dun Jiesuo floated out from Chen Hang's sleeve, and seeing this, it narrowed its old eyes.

After a long while, it asked hesitantly.

"Indeed, it is the Lei Zeshi."

Chen Hang nodded upon hearing this and said.

"To think it really is the Lei Zeshi. It has been a long time since I've seen this wondrous object. Looking at it this way, that Xie Mou had an extraordinary background; his elders were actually willing to spend the effort to refine such a treasure for his protection."

The Escape-Dun Dun Jiesuo was slightly surprised at first, then could not help but shake its head, sighing:

"It is just a pity that such a sharp weapon of slaughter fell into the hands of a mediocre man who didn't even use it before he died... Xie Mou was unwilling to part with his wealth, and in the end, he lost his own life along with it. It is quite laughable."

"It is also fortunate that his temperament was not firm; otherwise, how could I have obtained all two hundred Thunder Marsh Stones?"

Chen Hang smiled faintly.

Just as the Escape-Dun Dun Jiesuo said.

This Lei Zeshi is truly a very formidable weapon of slaughter.

One must first collect the essence of the Three Palaces' thunder, then absorb the Southern Sun's red qi, mix them together, seal them into lead, and then calcine them with yin and yang fires for seven years. Only when the thunder-fire radiance is released and shoots up over a zhang high can it be considered complete.

This Lei Zeshi is an extremely yang, extremely rigid object. If buried underground, it can prevent snow from falling in winter and grass from growing in summer. Within ten years, no matter how fertile the soil, it will turn into a patch of red earth.

And once triggered.

It will instantly explode with infinite thunder and fierce fire.

Its power is sufficient to destroy mountains, break cliffs, intercept rivers, and cut off currents; it is truly terrifying and awe-inspiring!

The number of Thunder Marsh Stones in this three-legged cauldron is not small. If detonated all at once, even a Golden Core True Person, if caught unprepared, would die instantly and be reduced to ashes!

"That is reasonable, but even if Xie Mou had a ruthless nature and unleashed these Thunder Marsh Stones, with me here, I could have moved you away; I would certainly have kept you safe!"

The Escape-Dun Dun Jiesuo laughed and said, then turned to Chen Hang and asked:

"But what are your plans next?"

"Naturally, I will continue to test my sword and hone its edge!"

Chen Hang smiled and said without hesitation.

During his seclusion, quite a few people from the noble clans wanted to find his tracks, and some even reached the vicinity of his cave.

With Chen Hang's hearing, even through layers of mountain belly, hearing their conversations was not difficult.

Regarding the ins and outs of this matter, although not very detailed, he had a general understanding.

Regardless of whether these people came for profit.

Or were forced by circumstances and had some unspeakable bitterness.

Since they chose to be his enemies.

Chen Hang would not harbor any compassion; there was no reason to go soft!

"I am not a person with a penchant for slaughter, and I did not want to cause trouble, but there are always those who do not wish to learn their lesson.

I cannot yet handle Cave-Mystic Refiners, but as for those Purple Palace High Merits..."

Chen Hang sighed, lightly flicked his sword light, and smiled:

"If they want to make a move, I will not begrudge spending some effort to send them on their way first!"

Although this voice carried a hint of a smile, it actually hid a murderous intent, surging with an irresistible force that filled the space between heaven and earth!

After speaking.

Chen Hang turned his gaze to the Escape-Dun Dun Jiesuo.

The old shuttle understood immediately and raised its magic power slightly.

With a flash of blue light, the two disappeared from the spot, vanishing in the blink of an eye.

Chaotic clouds piled up, strange peaks were staggered, and gullies crisscrossed.

Between the towering rock walls, at this moment, a beautiful female cultivator was stepping on a zhang-sized pink silk, her expression terrified, fleeing forward in a panic.

Dozens of zhang behind her, Chen Hang followed unhurriedly.

It was as if he were driving a wild beast, neither getting too close nor putting too much distance between himself and the female cultivator.

Occasionally, when he saw the female cultivator was exhausted and short of breath, he would slowly stop his escape light, and only after the female cultivator had panicked and adjusted her breathing for a while would he continue to pursue.

This cat-and-mouse behavior infuriated the female cultivator, making her both hateful and fearful.

Her originally pretty and pleasing face was twisted fiercely, veins popping, like a ghost from the netherworld!

She knew that since Chen Hang had pursued her to this point, Xie Mou and the other female cultivator must have already met a miserable end.

And Chen Hang clearly could easily strike her down with his sword, yet he delayed, just hanging back.

It was nothing more than learning the behavior of a mortal hunter driving beasts.

Letting her lead him to those noble clan companions, acting as a tiger's accomplice...

Yet, even though she knew Chen Hang's intentions were malicious, the female cultivator dared not stop and could only follow his wishes, fleeing toward the location of those noble clan companions to seek help.

Because the cold, pressing murderous intent behind her.

Truly made her whole body cold.

She could not muster the slightest thought of resistance!

This pursuit and flight had already lasted for a full half-hour, and the female cultivator had sent dozens of talisman messages, but Chen Hang just watched coldly and did not stop her.

During this period, two nearby companions clearly had arrived, but seeing this scene, they did not dare to approach to help, not even uttering a single harsh word.

They only told the female cultivator to hold on for a moment longer while they went to call more people to help, then hurried away, looking as if they had seen a ghost, their posture wretched.

Such words and actions.

Made the female cultivator furious.

Yet she was helpless...

Soon, another two quarters of an hour passed.

Ahead, there was still only the sight of clouds and smoke, the color of the stones pale, with not a single person in sight.

The female cultivator was exhausted in both body and soul, and finally, unable to endure any longer, she simply stopped her flight and turned to beg Chen Hang for mercy.

"This Senior Sister did not speak like this a few months ago."

Chen Hang smiled faintly and said: "When I was in seclusion, you and that Xiao Xiao Shixiong Xie Mou touched upon the vicinity of my residence, but unfortunately, your luck was a bit worse, and you failed to find my place of seclusion.

Because of this, my memory of you and that Xiao Xiao Shixiong Xie Mou is truly deep and unforgettable."

The female cultivator was horrified upon hearing this, her face instantly turning pale.

It was no wonder Chen Hang and Xie Mou had never met, yet he could call Xie Mou by name. At the time, the female cultivator hadn't thought much of it, assuming Chen Hang had heard of him by chance.

Now it seemed.

Without knowing it, they had approached Chen Hang's place of seclusion, and the words they spoke at the time probably hadn't escaped Chen Hang's ears.

"Who are you doing this for? For yourself, or for that cheap maid Xiao Qiao?!"

The female cultivator laughed miserably and said unwillingly:

"While Qiao Yan and the others haven't arrived yet, if you leave now, you still have a way to live; otherwise, just wait to be with that cheap—"

Before she could finish speaking.

Chen Hang flicked his finger.

The female cultivator felt a blur before her eyes, and one of her arms had already been severed at the root, causing her to scream in pain and immediately vomit a mouthful of blood.

"Since this Senior Sister has rested enough, let us continue."

Chen Hang said coldly: "Being able to survive for a while is still good after all. Who knows, when reinforcements arrive, your companions might be able to save you?"

"..."

The female cultivator was anxious and hateful, but she dared not say more, hurriedly urging her escape light to continue fleeing forward.

And this time, they had only traveled a few miles.

Looking into the distance, light surged like a tide, and more than a dozen cultivators driving talisman artifacts like magic boats were rushing toward this place.

A flash of light appeared in the female cultivator's phoenix eyes, and she could not help but show a look of joy on her face.

When she sent the talisman messages, she had informed not only those under Xiao Xiujing's command but also those who had received orders from their clans to eliminate Chen Hang.

Seeing that there were more than a dozen people arriving, their momentum was vast, carrying the sound of wind and thunder, and they were very fierce!

While the female cultivator was secretly happy, she looked back at Chen Hang, and a hidden look of resentment shot from her eyes.

"They finally arrived."

Chen Hang sighed in his heart, waved his sleeve, and raised a red sword light, immediately severing the female cultivator in front, without saying another word.

This sword strike came very swiftly and suddenly, like lightning and flint.

Those arriving cultivators had just seen the joyful look on the female cultivator's face.

The next instant, her head was split in two, and even her primordial spirit had no time to escape.

This scene shocked them all, and at the same time, they felt anger at Chen Hang's disregard for everyone else.

"We are all Purple Palace High Merits, with superior Daoist arts and profound techniques to rely on; why fear this fierce criminal? Drag him down together! Several Cave-Mystic Senior Brothers are rushing from the underground palace; do not fear!"

A man with a short beard rolled his eyes and shouted:

"The opportunity for merit is right before us. Even if Chen Hang has sword talisman means, how many can he kill? And how dare he use them? Once he exhausts them, his death date will have arrived!"

As soon as these words were spoken, the cultivators responded and each employed their means to strike at Chen Hang.

For a time, colored light covered the sky, the wind became sudden and sharp, stirring up atmospheric gales that sent mountain stones flying and broke countless grasses and trees!

"To kill a chicken, why use a butcher's knife? To deal with you lot, what need is there for sword talismans?"

Chen Hang smiled, a murderous glint flashing in his eyes:

"I alone am enough to handle you!"

He held his magic seal and unleashed the Innate Great Sun Divine Light. Following a loud sound like a hundred rivers spraying snow, a golden-red light curtain dozens of zhang high instantly rose from behind his head, clouds and mist rising for ten miles, wind and thunder starting in an instant!

The hazy, sandy, and dim state it created was like the rising of the golden sun, causing the clouds and sky to tremble, its sound comparable to ghosts and gods. In the blink of an eye, the divine light swept forward with the momentum of a bursting heavenly river, terrifying for several miles and swallowing all their offensive means!

Looking from afar.

All colors in this place disappeared.

Only the roaring flames and the soaring fiery light could be seen...

And half a quarter of an hour later.

When Qiao Yan brought people rushing over again and saw the scene before him clearly.

He felt a chilling coldness shoot from the soles of his feet straight to his neck, piercing his skin and bones, as if he were being held down by some netherworld ghost.

He was so shocked that his heart trembled, and he almost wanted to disregard everything and turn to flee.

(End of chapter)