Chapter 659: Sword Formation's Might
The latest addition to the Everlasting Feast Hall's project on fostering new powerhouses consisted of four aspects: magical arts, body enhancement, imperial swords, and a sword formation array. Since Gu Yan'er had woken up from her comatose state, though the number of treasures in her interspatial ring was not much and neither did she have flying swords, she still took her time to refine dozens of flying swords herself in order to foster powerhouses belonging to the Everlasting Feast Hall. The dozens of flying words were then given to dozens of the most qualified experts among them.
As for the sword formation array, it was taught by Ji Chimei, who developed four types of joint sword formation arrays: the Duo Sword Formation, the Four Phenomena Sword Formation, the Eight Apparatus Sword Formation, and the Infinite Heavenly Revolution Sword Formation.
Because Tang Xiu needed a group of experts to accompany him, Gu Yan'er personally ordered that all the ten experts who practiced the Infinite Heavenly Revolution Sword Formation be sent over.
The moment Western Nefarious Sangha saw that Mo Awu's group of eleven had released their flying swords, his eyes instantly lit up. However, just as he pushed Miao Wentang and Shao Mingzhen back, not only did he not take the initiative to launch an attack, he also did not rush to attack Mo Awu's group, but poured a pile of ashes and then turned and flew to the distance.
"He's running away?"
Miao Wentang and Shao Mingzhen exchanged dismayed looks. When they turned around and saw the flying swords held by Mo Awu's group of eleven they slightly furrowed their brows, because they were sure that they were not carrying longswords before. Could it be that they possessed the so-called legendary interspatial ring?
Eleven flying swords—it was something that they dare not imagine at all. After all, they were perfectly aware of the situation revolving around the cultivator community in these modern times. Not only were they down and out and waning, cultivators were also few in number. Who would be able to give eleven flying swords to his men at the same time?
"Mr. Miao, shall we pursue him or not?" Mo Awu moved toward the two men and asked.
Miao Wentang hesitated for a moment before shaking his head and saying, "Let it be! Western Nefarious Sangha is too strong and has countless means he has yet to use. Those two Bloodthirsty Chiropterans have yet to appear either. I'm afraid we are still not his match even if I join hands with Brother Shao. Let us find Tang Xiu. That Golden Armored Zombie has a dreadful aura and I'm afraid that Tang Xiu won't be a match for him."
A few minutes later.
Western Nefarious Sangha had run away for dozens of miles. After discovering that no one was pursuing him, he rushed to a certain spot in the forested mountain. His figure then stopped under a towering tree, his old face painted with a cloudy and uncertain expression. He was not afraid of Miao Wentang since Grandma Shipo had told him everything about him already.
He also had no fear towards the middle-aged man joining Miao Wentang to fight him, because that man's strength was pretty much the same as Miao Wentang's. He would definitely be able to kill them if he used his trump cards.
However… the appearance of those eleven flying swords was like a thunderclap that blasted inside his heart, even shocked him to the point of dread. It was eleven flying swords! And yet, those eleven cultivators who used them had just barely broken through to the Foundation Establishment Stage. What this implied? This meant that the young man who just pursued Golden Armored Zombie was definitely someone terrifying, he probably had a very terrifying influence behind him.
The unknown was the most frightening!
He thought that he already knew about all the cultivator circles, and yet, he suddenly discovered that there was an influence that had many flying swords—a fact that raised fear inside him. He was born cunning in nature, low-key and cautious, and always scheming whenever he was tempted to go into action. Of course, it was also suitable to describe him as being timid and coward.
"These people… what are their origins?"
In his mind, Tang Xiu's face appeared once again. Those eleven cultivators who released flying swords were all obeying his orders, meaning that his status was definitely very high.
"Investigating the details of these people is a must. Knowing oneself and the others, only then will I be able to measure the degree of danger before going into action."
"I must get those flying swords, but I need to find the right time. Killing and robbing treasures must be wonderfully done in a clean manner so as to not leave trouble for the future."
"I just hope… Golden Armored Zombie can escape."
Western Nefarious Sangha grabbed a string of Buddhist beads, pinched them with his thumbs and chanting a prayer in silence. Golden Armored Zombie was a powerful figure who came out from an ancient tomb in a Demonic Yin land of a certain place in the Western Region. Although they had been fighting for nearly a hundred years, they had always joined hands whenever they had to confront their enemies. Many times they had collaborated to fight their enemies, thus creating a particular attachment to one another.
High up in the air, above a certain place of Longquan Bay where most of the area was wetlands, Tang Xiu held the Bloodguzzler Dagger backhandedly. Each time he brandished it, a blade light was released and hit Golden Armored Zombie's body hard, yet even if his body was hacked by the blade light, it was only able to leave a white mark and sparks that flew to all directions. Only the parts of Golden Armored Zombie's body that was sprinkled by the Body Dissolving Liquid did the blade light inflict some damage.
"You can never escape, Golden Armored Zombie. Your only choice is to be obedient and let yourself be caught without putting up a fight." Tang Xiu was in a high spirits to fight, whereas Golden Armored Zombie was constantly dodging and avoiding his slashes.
Golden Armored Zombie's eyes were bloodshot and full of hatred as he tried to avoid with difficulty. He occasionally seized the opportunity to counterattack once or twice. His speed was fast, yet Tang Xiu was not much slower than him either. The most notable thing of all was that Tang Xiu's combat experience was very rich, and he was as though able to predict the trajectory of each of his attacks in advance.
"WHO THE HELL ARE YOU?" Roared Golden Armored Zombie furiously.
"There's no need for you to care who I am." Tang Xiu sneered. "What I can tell you is that, as long as you choose to surrender, not only will I not kill you, I'll also bestow you a huge opportunity. However, I want your Aerolite Essence."
Golden Armored Zombie felt so chagrined. His speed was a bit faster than Tang Xiu's, yet what depressed him the most was that his sharp claws that swept Tang Xiu's body did not even leave any trace of injury on him. He even suspected that Tang Xiu was not really human. Why was his body so strong to such a frightening state otherwise?
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
A group of shadows came dashing like a whooshing gale. Golden Armored Zombie felt a bad premonition after seeing those shadows. According to reason, even if Western Nefarious Sangha was not able to kill all those people, he would not be killed by them either, would he? But still, how come he had yet to catch up with him until now?
"Blood Ocean!"
Golden Armored Zombie finally released his trump card. His sharp claws tore open his forehead and a dazzling drop of golden blood instantly shot out. In just one-plus seconds, the golden blood burst out and formed a billowing blood-red tide that surged forward.
Tang Xiu could keenly feel the terrifying energy contained in the blood tide, yet he did not look panicked in the face of death and sneered instead, "Golden Armored Zombie, you chose not to accept defeat until the end, eh? Fine! Watch how I break you killing move!"
Imperial Thunderblast!
He pointed the Bloodguzzler Dagger straight at the sky, and instantly, a terrifying aura came down along with the sound of a Dao mantra spell being chanted. Just as Golden Armored Zombie's expression changed greatly, a lightning blitzed down into the blood tide. At the same time, Tang Xiu waved his arm to conjure his True Fire Art and layers of flames of tens of meters high True Fire blazed out of thin air and shrouded the entirety of the blood tide.
"Lightning and True Fire spells?"
The complexion of Golden Armor Zombie changed so drastically that he looked tragic. Fear arose inside his heart in an instant. He was an ancient corpse, and what he feared the most was exactly Lightning and True Fire. What he was powerful at was not his magical power but his physical strength, to begin with.
"I'll give it to you! I'll give the Aerolite Essence to you!"
Tang Xiu's expression was joyful as he instantly caught the Aerolite Essence thrown by Golden Armored Zombie and straightly stored it into his interspatial ring after checking it. As he looked at the blood tide, the tide rolled back and contracted before turning into a golden liquid in the blink of an eye and shooting into Golden Armored Zombie's forehead. Only then did Tang Xiu retract his technique.
"You will be thankful for this decision."
After Tang Xiu snorted coldly, he quickly took out a piece of jade and made it into a jade slip. Then, he recorded a type of cultivation technique into it, after which his finger pointed and released it as it turned into a stream of light that went toward Golden Armored Zombie, "This is the primary cultivation technique of the Corpse Smelting Lineage. Take this and cultivate it well, and then you'll be able to reach the Nascent Corpse Stage. If you want the following content of this cultivation technique, you can go to Shanghai to look for me."
The primary cultivation technique of the Corpse Smelting Lineage that could reach the Nascent Corpse Stage?
Golden Armored Zombie released his spiritual sense into the jade slip in his hand. After reading the entire chapter of cultivation technique inside it, his stocky figure trembled violently and his heart was shaken out of ecstasy. He was an ancient zombie with sentience and intelligence and had been fumbling about for two hundred plus years. It was only decades ago that he finally found himself a cultivation technique which drove him to go all out to absorb nefarious Yin energy and seek an ancient tomb to absorb corpse energy until he possessed the strength he currently had.
This cultivation technique was simply tailored for himself. He could not imagine how formidable his strength would be in the future if he was to cultivate according to this cultivation technique.
"Thank you very much, Immortal Master."
Golden Armored Zombie knelt on one knee and spoke to Tang Xiu with a grateful expression.
"I'm giving you this cultivation technique in exchange for the Aerolite Essence you gave me," said Tang Xiu indifferently. "But remember, regardless of how powerful you are in the future, you must never bring calamity to ordinary humans, neither are you allowed to do evil things, else I'll send someone to exterminate you even if your cultivation has reached the Peak of Nascent Soul Stage."
"It will never happen!" said Golden Armored Zombie hurriedly.
"Tang Xiu!"
"Brother Tang!"
Miao Wentang and Shao Mingzhen flew over and shouted in a deep voice as they looked at Golden Armored Zombie with hostility.
Tang Xiu lightly smiled to them and said, "What about Western Nefarious Sangha?"
"He ran away," said Shao Mingzhen with a regretful expression. "I don't know what was the reason, but after Mo Awu and the rest used the sword formation array, he just glanced at them and immediately fled."
Tang Xiu's expression turned fierce and quickly looked at Mo Awu and the rest. His face changed greatly when he saw the flying swords in their hands. He took a deep breath and immediately looked at Golden Armored Zombie, and then spoke in a heavy tone, "I want to know the identity and background of this Western Nefarious Sangha, along with all the methods he possesses. Also, I must know where his nest is!"
Upon hearing the question, Golden Armored Zombie immediately poured out everything he knew about Western Nefarious Sangha and finally said, "The distance from here to Longquan Swamp is only several tens of kilometers, and his Immortal Abode is there."
"Golden Armored Zombie, I want Western Nefarious Sangha's life. What do you think about this?" Asked Tang Xiu coldly.
Hesitating for a while, Golden Armored Zombie then glanced at the jade slip in his hand before looking at Tang Xiu and finally saying, "I'll turn a blind eye and a deaf ear. This is all I can do."
Chapter 660: Reinforcement
Miao Wentang and Shao Mingzhen looked at each other in dismay. Never once had they ever thought that Tang Xiu could have such a queer cultivation technique. This Golden Armored Zombie's current strength was already very terrifying. If he was to practice that cultivation technique, how powerful would he be in the future?
Wasn't this akin to raising a tiger only to court a disaster upon yourself in the future?
Though they were very concerned about it inwardly; however, they did not have any courage to object at all. They could only exchange looks with forced, bitter smiles in silence.
When they landed on the ground, Tang Xiu straightly said, "Golden Armored Zombie, you also know that the Western Nefarious Sangha is very strong, thus I request that you to stay with us for the time being so that you can see him be killed by our hands."
"This… alright." Golden Armored Zombie hesitated for a moment before complying. Though he had gained sentience and wisdom many years ago, his ability in scheming and trickery was always inferior to the humans'. He could not see through Tang Xiu's true intentions at all.
Tang Xiu requested for him to stay with them, on the one hand, was because he was afraid that he would secretly notify Western Nefarious Sangha that he planned to kill him. On the other hand, he wanted to display a show of force, to make the Golden Armored Zombie see how much power he had. On the way back to Longquan Village, Tang Xiu phoned Gu Xiaoxue and told her that he wanted Light and Dark to come over as fast as possible.
Tang Xiu didn't plan to bring Miao Wentang and Shao Mingzhen to kill the Western Nefarious Sangha, because he could judge from their words and behavior that they had yet to recognize that the swords in the hands of Mo Awu's group were flying swords. He had inquired Mo awu about this matter in secret and learned that when Mo Awu and the rest released their flying swords, Miao Wentang and Shao Mingzhen were in an intense combat with Western Nefarious Sangha, and the subordinates of the two men should have not noticed their actions when they released their flying swords.
In the courtyard.
Tang Xiu could see Miao Wentang's and Shao Mingzhen's faces, wanting to speak but hesitating. After pondering about it, he could understand what they had in mind and slightly smiled, "Two Brothers, I know what's making you concerned and worried. Western Nefarious Sangha is someone who stops nothing in doing all sorts of evil, and he has probably been a disaster for the ordinary people as well. Even if there was no incident this time, I would still try to exterminate him. However, our present strength is not enough, and our chance of killing him is very slim even if we are to join forces."
"Then, what's your plan?" Asked Miao Wentang quickly.
"I'm looking for people to help us," answered Tang Xiu.
"Who?" Asked Miao Wentang, looking confused.
"I know that you two are curious, Brothers." Tang Xiu smiled. "But it's not yet the time to tell you. We must kill Western Nefarious Sangha, but you two cannot participate in this. The people I invited have a very strange temper, they don't want to communicate with any strangers. Just wait for a couple of days, and then I promise to show you the result a few days later."
Upon hearing this, Miao Wentang and Shao Mingzhen had no choice but suppress their curiosity and no longer asked about this matter. Tang Xiu was very thorough and methodical in doing things, something they were perfectly aware of, thus it made them feel reassured. Although they aware that Tang Xiu said that "Western Nefarious Sangha was someone who had done all sorts of evil things" as a kind of excuse, yet they did not say much about it.
Two days later.
Tang Xiu left Longquan Village with Golden Armored Zombie. Just as he drove the car out of the village, two figures silently appeared.
"Brother Miao, seems like what we know about Brother Tang is still too little, sigh!" Sighed Shao Mingzhen with a forced smile.
"I already thought that he was very mysterious back when we first met him in the Everlasting Feast Hall." Miao Wentang nodded. "Though I've always been wanting to unveil all his secrets, he kinda gives me a feeling that I won't be able to do so. Needless to say about that though, speaking about his strength, isn't now only more than half a year from then? Yet his cultivation progressed so rapidly that he now has unexpectedly surpassed us. This is simply unfathomable!"
Shao Mingzhen nodded and said, "Yeah! The methods he showcased when he combated Golden Armored Zombie, especially those two spells—it's like the forbidden art we used… No, it's wrong. We're probably unable to unleash such a might even if we use our forbidden arts."
Miao Wentang was silent for a while. He then patted Shao Mingzhen's shoulder and firmly said, "Everyone has secrets, and since Tang Xiu is unwilling to tell, let us not inquire deeper into it. Shortly put, we must get closer to him in the future, then I'm sure we can get many benefits from him too."
"Copy that!" Shao Mingzhen firmly nodded.
About a dozen kilometers from Longquan Village, an off-road car was parked on a dirt road. Mo Awu stayed on the driver seat and did not get off the car, whereas Light and Dark were standing in front.
"Grand Master!" Light and Dark cupped their fists and reverentially called out.
Tang Xiu nodded with a happy expression and glanced at Golden Armored Zombie nearby, whose stance was on guard against enemies, and faintly said, "They are my juniors, so you don't have to show such an appearance. Though you have been cultivating the cultivation technique from Corpse Smelting Lineage over these two days and the small result you obtained faintly improved your strength, these two can easily kill you if they join forces."
Golden Armored Zombie nodded with a cautious expression and said, "They are indeed very strong. I can feel a terrifying force hidden inside their bodies."
"Anyways, let's go! To look for Western Nefarious Sangha," said Tang Xiu with a slight smile.
"Can you really not spare him?" Golden Armored Zombie looked hesitant. "Immortal Master, you don't see me as a zombie yet you can do that to me, but why can't you give him a chance to forsake his evil ways and return to the right path? I'm sure that if he faces the choice between death or submitting, he will definitely choose the latter."
Tang Xiu squinted his eyes and said with indifference, "Judging from Wester Nefarious Sangha's character, I'm afraid that it won't be so easy to make him submit. Even if he does choose to submit, it would be nothing but a temporarily retreat, and it will be highly like that he will betray me in the future. Thus, the best choice I can think of is to weed out the roots and stamp out the source of trouble."
"Immortal Master, Western Nefarious Sangha actually has small courage. Though he often does shameless things, if you show him absolute strength or methods to destroy his trump cars, I'm sure he won't dare to betray you."
"He's a timid man?" Tang Xiu's face was strange as he looked at Golden Armored Zombie in surprise. He could tell that this zombie did not seem to be lying to him.
"We'll see!" Replied Tang Xiu lightly and went straight back to the car.
The two SUVs then quickly drove toward the Western Nefarious Sangha's nest. From here to the destination was still a dozen miles away, and because there was no road ahead, Mo Awu stayed behind to guard the cars while Tang Xiu led Light and Dark flying toward the destination with Golden Armored Zombie.
Longquan Swamp. It was a quiet place in the deep valley surrounded by mountains on the four sides. The lowest elevation of the four peaks was about 500 to 600 meters high, whereas the highest mountain peak was nearly a kilometer, and Western Nefarious Sangha's Immortal Abode was located exactly on the mountain pathway halfway to the highest peak. When the four people landed on the flat ground in front of the entrance of his Immortal Abode, Tang Xiu sighed, "This is really a good place to seclude yourself from the world. There's also a spiritual vein here that's simply a blessed land for cultivators."
Golden Armored Zombie then whispered, "I have never been inside. Western Nefarious Sangha is a very cautious man, and he usually meets me here outside. He once told me that he has set up layers of traps in his Immortal Abode, and said that my chance to survive would be not more than 30% if I were to rashly intrude inside."
Tang Xiu pricked his brows up. He flicked his arms and released the Bloodguzzler Dagger and bombarded it onto the leafy wooden door. As the sawdust splashed and scattered around, he had already stepped into the cave's door.
"Destroy!"
Tang Xiu took two Lightning Symbols and two Raging Flame Symbols at the same time and the spell flashed through the passage in front. Inside the 100-meters-long passage, all sorts of traps were completely ruined and an extremely simple defensive array was shattered, creating a loud noise.
"Who are you?"
At the depths of the hundreds of meters cave, there was a space at the size of a regular football field with various carved stones and statues standing erect. Under the illumination of various lights, the place was so imaginary and illusory that it felt like a dream. A small stream ran through the space of the cave and flowed through it, unknown where its destination was.
"Interesting! He's even using generators to generate electricity here."
Tang Xiu cast a glance toward the inside of Western Nefarious Sangha's cave. And his eyes then moved to the scenery illuminated by the lanterns inside the cave. When he saw the ground about ten meters deep below, he actually found twelve beautifully carved stone statues, making his eyes instantly squint.
"Using these stone statues to lay out an array, and the method used is much more profound than the defensive array outside. The might it possesses seems to be much bigger as well. Well, this Western Nefarious Sangha does have some abilities, eh?" Tang Xiu secretly thought to himself.
Western Nefarious Sangha took the lying magic wand and bolted toward Tang Xiu and the others like a sharp sword. After he clearly saw them, his face drastically changed. He glared at Golden Armored Zombie and shouted, "Did you bring them here? Are you betraying me?"
"You should have heard the saying that one must bow their heads under the eaves, right, Western Nefarious Sangha?" Tang Xiu smiled. "Golden Armored Zombie didn't want to die, so he told me everything I wanted to know. Of course, he also paid a price, like that Aerolite Essence he gave me."
"WHO THE HELL ARE YOU?" Growled Western Nefarious Sangha.
"Who I am is not important. But the fact that you have discovered some of my secrets is what is important. So, you must die," said Tang Xiu.
When Western Nefarious Sangha thought better about it, he then realized as to what secrets Tang Xiu was mentioning. Tang Xiu's personal strength was very strong, and it seemed that Light who followed behind him was not weak either. They were able to defeat Golden Armored Zombie, thus they were highly likely to be able to do the same to him. Though he had a deadly trump card, yet it was hard to say who would live or die.
"I'll give you the Aerolite Essence and I'll swear to keep your secrets in the dark, but all the grievances between us will be written off. How about it?"
"It seems that Golden Armored Zombie was right. You're timid and cowardly." Tang Xiu shook his head. "However, you're the Western Nefarious Sangha, who would believe your vow or words, huh? In my eyes, only dead men tell no tales, then no secrets would be revealed for eternity."
Just as Tang Xiu's voice faded away, Light, donned in a white attire, had appeared in front of Western Nefarious Sangha in an instant, and his flying sword was instantly brandished, as layers of sword images emerged out of thin air and enveloped the bald monk from every direction. Each of these sword images was full of a swift and sharp aura.
"BREAK!"
Western Nefarious Sangha waved the magic wand in his hand down, and the wand's shadows created layers of black mist to billow out and strangle the sword images. At the same time, his other hand patted the sackcloth on his waist and suddenly, two balls of flames blazed out and then transformed into two Bloodthirsty Chiropterans the size of a Northern Goshawk.
Whoosh. Whoosh…
Two Bloodthirsty Chiropterans swayed their wings as a sea of flames boiled the air.