Chapter 75

Ding Chunqiu, enraged by Tang Tang Tang Bohu's sneak attack, found himself mid-air as Jiang Sishui charged; he flicked his sleeve, releasing a cloud of poisonous powder.

Jiang Sishui roared, his Northern Dark True Qi surging wildly within him, expanding his protective aura until not even a feather could settle nor a fly alight upon him.

In an instant, the poisonous powder was repelled.

Ordinary True Qi fears poison, but the Northern Dark True Qi does not!

"Falling Sword Style!"

Jiang Sishui slashed diagonally downward, his True Qi clinging to the blade, cleaving Ding Chunqiu from his right shoulder straight to his waist, splitting the man in two!

"Ah—"

A piercing scream nearly burst the eardrums of the assembled heroes; Ding Chunqiu hung in mid-air while his internal organs and intestines gushed wildly from the severed wound, crashing onto the ground.

The sky seemed to rain buckets of blood; the scene was cruel and bloody, causing many women to avert their eyes in terror.

Ding Chunqiu crashed to the ground, yet with his head intact and the formidable vitality of a Grandmaster, he could not die immediately, writhing on the earth in endless, agonizing wails.

Seeing his upper half struggling on the brink of death, a chill shot from the tailbones of the assembled heroes up their spines to their brains, making their scalps tingle and their limbs turn ice-cold.

Shen Lang and Chu Chu Liuxiang watched, both shaking their heads.

In their view, Jiang Sishui's strike was excessively brutal, clearly intended to torture.

After splitting Ding Chunqiu in two, Jiang Sishui did not glance at him again, but immediately reversed his sword to block!

Almost simultaneously, several fallen leaves struck the blade.

Though light, the leaves carried such tremendous force that they sent Jiang Sishui, who had no leverage, flying twenty zhang away!

"Plucking Flower Finger!"

Someone knowledgeable identified this supreme Shaolin technique.

This finger art specializes in plucking strength; though classified as soft, its cultivation requires harmonizing both internal and external practices of softness and hardness.

Once mastered, plucking with three fingers can crush even the hardest stones and injure opponents invisibly, making it extraordinarily formidable.

This was already the third supreme Shaolin technique employed by Kumara!

Instantly, many people instinctively turned to look at Wuhua and Hearing Xu Zhu.

Unfortunately, neither man showed the slightest intention of pursuing the matter, greatly disappointing the crowd of heroes who thrived on chaos.

Seeing that his strike had failed to save Ding Chunqiu or even harm Jiang Sishui, Kumara hesitated not a moment, turning to flee immediately.

Duan Duan Yanqing was no fool; seeing the situation turn dire and knowing he could not stand alone, he immediately forced Zhao Zhao Tianhao back with his staff and drifted away gracefully.

Ye Ye Mengse, the South Sea Crocodile God, and the numerous Star Host Sect disciples watching from afar, already terrified out of their wits, rushed down the mountain in a swarm.

Jiang Sishui, however, refused to let them go, shouting harshly, "Stop them! Kill them all!"

Before his voice had faded, Jiang Sishui activated the "Wave-Treading Micro-Step," taking the lead in pursuit.

Kumara, one of the "Four Greats of Tianlong," possessed high martial arts, diverse techniques, and rich combat experience; he was not easy to kill, and once he fled, he was gone.

Today's grievance would have to be settled another day.

But the others had to stay!

Jiang Sishui intended to establish the prestige of the Xiaoyao Sect in this single battle!

Upon hearing this, Suxinghe and the "Eight Friends of Hangu" rushed forward to intercept.

Zhao Zhao Tianhao also entangled Duan Duan Yanqing.

Jiang Sishui charged straight through, his sword flashing continuously; wherever he passed, Star Host Sect disciples instantly suffered bloody gashes across vital points like their necks or hearts.

Blood sprayed everywhere, creating an extremely gruesome scene.

Jiang Sishui weaved through the crowd, yet not a drop of blood stained his clothes.

This was because he had already moved far away before the blood could even fall upon him.

His movement was light, ethereal, elegant, and refined, while his swordsmanship was sharp yet unrestrained, filling onlookers with a sense of refreshment and joy.

As he maneuvered, he resembled a butterfly dancing among flowers within the crowd, perfectly embodying the very essence of "Xiaoyao" (Carefree).

Vast and indistinct, he seemed like a being from among the immortals.

Yet although his posture was as ethereal as an immortal, his methods were as cruel as an asura; he cut through enemies like melons and vegetables, showing no mercy.

It seemed as though those killed by his sword were not humans but pigs and dogs, a sight that made onlookers shudder with fear.

Amidst the wails of the crowd, Jiang Sishui headed straight for Ye Ye Mengse!

Realizing Jiang Sishui had targeted her and knowing escape was impossible, Ye Ye Mengse drew her thin blade and slashed directly at him.

Although she knew she was no match, expecting her to surrender willingly was impossible.

Jiang Sishui executed "Blade-Breaking Style," striking her wrist directly, then slicing diagonally to sever her hand tendons.

Ye Ye Mengse cried out in pain, her thin blade falling from her grasp.

Jiang Sishui spun his long sword again, actually slicing Ye Ye Mengse's right hand clean off at the wrist!

Before the agony could even reach her mind, her other hand flew off her body, tossed high into the air.

Immediately after, Jiang Sishui swept his sword horizontally across her lower body, severing both her legs.

In an instant, Ye Ye Mengse's four limbs were all severed; the stumps resembled four blood-spring vents, spurting scalding hot blood endlessly.

Not only that, but Jiang Sishui also remembered to stab her dantian sea of qi, rendering her completely crippled and unable to even end her own life by severing her heart meridian.

Thus, amidst the wails at the scene, another miserable female voice joined in, impossible for anyone to ignore.

Jiang Sishui cast a cold glance at Ye Ye Mengse, who could neither live nor die, ignored her, and turned to kill the remaining Star Host Sect disciples.

These people were nothing but scum and trash who only knew how to flatter and curry favor; each deserved death, and Jiang Sishui had no qualms about sending them underground to continue serving Ding Chunqiu.

"Eldest! Third! Kill me! Kill me quickly!"

Ye Ye Mengse screamed, hoping Duan Duan Yanqing and the South Sea Crocodile God would grant her a quick death.

However, neither man responded to her.

Duan Duan Yanqing was so entangled by Zhao Zhao Tianhao that he could not extricate himself, let alone attend to anything else.

The Crocodile God of the South Sea was stubborn; he went to clash head-on with Suxinghe and was struck off the cliff by a single palm.

Just as Ye Ye Mengse found herself unable to seek death, a pebble suddenly shot forth, piercing her brow center in an instant.

A hint of relief appeared in Ye Ye Mengse's eyes as she exhaled her final breath.

Jiang Sishui flew into a rage, leaping out from the crowd with his long sword pointing straight at Shen Lang, and said coldly, "Who asked you to meddle in others' affairs?"

Shen Lang had no intention of interfering in the private grudges between them; he simply could not bear the pitiful state of Ye Ye Mengse and acted to end her suffering.

Seeing Jiang Sishui approach to demand accountability, Shen Lang felt no fear; frowning, he said, "Killing someone is a matter of a nodded head, yet your methods are far too cruel."

"Cruel?"

Jiang Sishui laughed heartily, as if hearing a tremendous joke, and retorted, "Do you know who she is?"

"Ye Ye Mengse."

"Then do you know what her nickname is?"

"...Evil Without Limit."

"And do you know how she earned that nickname?"

Shen Lang fell silent.

Jiang Sishui smiled coldly: "Evil Without Limit Ye Ye Mengse has been active for over twenty years, during which she stole and tormented an infant from another family every single day, killing them once she was done playing."

"Three hundred and sixty-five days a year, for over twenty years, means seven or eight thousand infants died directly by her hand; besides that, how many families were ruined by her, how many mothers went mad or obsessed grieving for their children, even driving themselves to suicide?"

"Where were you at that time?"

"For all these years, Ye Ye Mengse roamed free and easy; now that I deal with her, you suddenly show the mercy of a Bodhisattva."

"Why don't you ask yourself what those mothers whose children were stolen would think? Do those dead infants resent you?"

Jiang Sishui's words were sharp and aggressive, leaving Shen Lang speechless.

When he acted earlier, he indeed had not thought so deeply; now, mocked by Jiang Sishui, he found himself with no argument to offer.

Seeing the situation turning unfavorable, Tang Tang Tang Bohu hurried forward to smooth things over: "Ah, a misunderstanding, all a misunderstanding! Brother Shen was merely impulsive in the moment and did not consider matters thoroughly; I hope Brother Jiang, with your magnanimity, will grant me this small favor, for which I shall be eternally grateful."

Jiang Sishui looked at Tang Tang Tang Bohu, recalling how he had previously assisted in blocking Ding Chunqiu, and said, "Very well, I will grant Brother Tang this favor."

Having spoken, he ignored Shen Lang, turned around, and rushed back into the battle.

His first glance fell upon Duan Duan Yanqing, who was swiftly darting down the mountainside.

It turned out that Duan Duan Yanqing, seeing the tide of battle clearly turning, had seized the moment while Jiang Sishui was questioning Shen Lang; he willingly exchanged injuries with Zhao Zhao Tianhao to temporarily break free from his entanglement.

However, Duan Duan Yanqing had led a group to besiege Zhao Zhao Zhao Qiying, and that debt of vengeance remained unpaid; how could Jiang Sishui possibly let him go?

He immediately activated the "Wave-Treading Subtle Steps" and gave chase.

Duan Duan Yanqing was already disabled, and now burdened with fresh injuries; seeing escape was impossible, the fierce gaze sweeping around him suddenly hardened.

In the next moment, he ran to the edge of the cliff where the Crocodile God of the South Sea had previously fallen and leaped down.