飘零影音

Chapter 69 - Arc 6: Pinglan County Wang Family | Chapter 69: Yun Lie Kills Xuangang Giant Ape

Translator: Lynn

Bloodthirsty Demon Vine’s mind was as straightforward and easy to comprehend as Xu Ziqing had anticipated, changing swiftly like that of a child. When Xu Ziqing told Bloodthirsty Demon Vine not to call him “mother,” the Vine felt deeply wronged. However, when asked if it wanted a name, it became filled with anticipation and displayed an adorable demeanor.

Xu Ziqing couldn’t help but laugh. “What name do you want?”

The meaning was somewhat complex, and the consciousness emanating from the Bloodthirsty Demon Vine was so erratic that it was difficult to discern.

After pondering for a while, Xu Ziqing glanced at the man in white and said with a smile, “Brother Yun, I need a name for the advanced demon vine. I’ve tried to think of one myself, but I’m struggling. Could you lend me a hand?”

Yun Lie contemplated for a moment and responded, “The Bloodthirsty Demon Vine is highly hostile, so the name should exert significant pressure… You can call it ‘Rongjin’.”

“Rong” conveys leniency, while “Jin” means beautiful jade. The former expresses hope for the Bloodthirsty Demon Vine, while the latter praises its appearance, comparing it to beautiful jade.

Xu Ziqing secretly pondered over the suggestion and found it quite fitting. He smiled and shared the name with Bloodthirsty Demon Vine.

The demon vine grew increasingly joyful. “Thank you… mother!”

The words were short but spoken without hesitation.

Xu Ziqing wore a puzzled expression and suddenly turned to his friend. “Brother Yun, I…”

Yun Lie interrupted, “You can speak freely.”

Xu Ziqing cleared his throat. “The Bloodthirsty Demon Vine keeps calling me… ‘mother.’ I’ve tried teaching it otherwise, but it doesn’t listen. It’s just…”

Yun Lie paused upon hearing this, leaving Xu Ziqing feeling embarrassed.

Yun Lie explained, “The Bloodthirsty Demon Vine is a seed. Since you brought it into your dantian, it possesses the ‘Ten Thousand Woods Great Heart Planting Technique.’ It can express itself but lacks understanding.”

Xu Ziqing rubbed his forehead, feeling somewhat helpless.

In other words, the current demon vine is like a baby that struggles to comprehend the meaning of “mother” and can only express it simply. If one truly wants it to understand… it simply can’t. Furthermore, if Xu Ziqing wants to change the name, he’ll have to wait until the vine advances again and grasps the meaning.

However, advancing the Bloodthirsty Demon Vine so easily is uncertain. It remains unclear when it will occur.

Regardless, the matter had reached this point, and Xu Ziqing wasn’t one to stubbornly dwell on titles. It was merely a form of address, and if he didn’t bring it up, only Brother Yun would know. Given Brother Yun’s temperament, he wouldn’t mock Xu Ziqing for it.

Currently, the Xuangang Ape’s whereabouts were unknown, and Xu Ziqing suppressed all distracting thoughts, assuming a cross-legged position and immersing himself in cultivation.

Having recently reached the ninth level of Qi Refining, he needed to consolidate his progress.

He spent another two hours in deep meditation.

Throughout this period, Xu Ziqing remained motionless, and Yun Lie never returned to the storage ring. Having a friend by his side made Xu Ziqing feel much more at ease during his meditation.

In the afternoon, while both Xu Ziqing and Yun Lie were sitting with closed eyes, Yun Lie suddenly opened his eyes.

Simultaneously, Xu Ziqing seemed to sense it and opened his eyes, gazing at Yun Lie.

He could perceive the changes in the surrounding aura and the powerful aura emanating from his friend, which now filled the entire cave.

“Brother Yun?” Xu Ziqing was perplexed.

But Yun Lie stood up. “The Xuangang Ape is approaching.”

Xu Ziqing instantly snapped back to alertness, his heart filled with a multitude of alarms. He also stood up.

Yun Lie remained motionless and took a step forward. “Follow me.”

Xu Ziqing made up his mind. “Yes.”

As the two took a few steps forward, they encountered the restraint set by Xu Ziqing.

Xu Ziqing was about to remove the restraint, but upon witnessing a gleam of golden light, Yun Lie effortlessly passed through without being obstructed. It turned out that the restriction had been shattered by a silent and remarkable sword energy.

After taking a few more steps, they reached the cave’s exterior.

Yun Lie cautioned, “Don’t speak too much.”

Xu Ziqing replied, “Yes.” He had some understanding in his heart, yet hesitated. Eventually, his trust in Yun Lie prevailed, and he refrained from saying too much.

In less than a breath’s time, a fierce gust of wind blew, and a black streak shot swiftly from a distance. Accompanied by tremendous coercion, an immensely tall giant ape emerged above the whirling black wind, radiating a golden glow and an imposing aura.

It was the fourth-level Xuangang Giant Ape, comparable to a Foundation Establishment period monk!

Xu Ziqing struggled against the powerful wind, staggering backward until he firmly grasped the mountain wall for support.

Concerned, he turned his gaze to Yun Lie.

Yun Lie’s figure seemed to be there, yet amidst the raging wind, he stood as steady as a mountain, his hair not even slightly disturbed. No matter how fierce the harsh wind blew, it failed to sway him in the slightest.

In the next moment, the Xuangang Ape exhaled a ball of air and charged forward!

Yun Lie raised his gaze, and over a dozen sword energies emanated from his body, transforming into white streaks that swiftly dispersed with a “squeak” sound. The air ball collided with the sword’s energy and was instantly split apart, dissolving into nothingness.

Furious, the Xuangang Ape pounded its chest in mid-air and spat out several successive air balls, resembling firecrackers. However, the energy had scattered earlier, while the sword energy remained, effortlessly shattering all the air balls upon impact, bursting them like bubbles without a sound.

Afterward, countless sword qi condensed around Yun Lie’s body, swirling in layers like a colossal cocoon and a raging hurricane.

Amidst the sword-filled gale, Yun Lie turned his head, and two clusters of golden light burst forth from his eyes, resembling massive swords, radiating sharpness. The sword’s pressure was astonishing, enveloping the sky and earth, rendering one breathless.

“Watch closely,” he said.

Xu Ziqing widened his eyes.

He witnessed the sword wind dispersing and transforming into a golden longsword in mid-air. The longsword sliced through the atmosphere and pierced through the Xuangang Ape before it could react, reducing it to fragments!

So powerful!

Xu Ziqing stared blankly, unable to divert his gaze for a long time.

The seemingly ethereal figure in white now appeared sharp and mighty, as weighty as a mountain!

Dazzled, Xu Ziqing couldn’t discern whether he was astonished by the immense pressure of the sword or bewildered by its lightning-fast and thunderous nature… For a moment, he felt as though a deep chasm had opened up between him and his friend—it was clear to him that this was the disparity in strength, the disparity in cultivation!

Recalling how the Xuangang Ape had pursued him relentlessly, and how he had desperately escaped to save his own life, Xu Ziqing felt as if he had traveled through life and death.

The Xuangang Giant Ape, on par with a Foundation Establishment period cultivator, appeared utterly feeble in Yun Lie’s hands!

Xu Ziqing remained dazed.

If only he possessed the same level of cultivation as Brother Yun…

Yun Lie dissipated his momentum, causing the surrounding sword energy to vanish. He then turned around and walked calmly.

“Xu Ziqing,” he said, “Retrieve the beast core.”

Xu Ziqing regained his composure, once again observing Yun Lie standing before him with solemnity, reassured that it was still his brother Yun. He smiled faintly, “Yes, Brother Yun.”

As he stepped outside the cave, Xu Ziqing noticed a golden bead rolling on the ground, about the size of a baby’s fist, round and brimming with an otherworldly aura.

This beast core differed from the beast cores he had encountered previously. It’s flawless color and unique texture set it apart. Compared to first and second-level animal pills, it was like comparing pearls to fish eyes—truly dazzling.

After placing the beast core into his storage ring, Xu Ziqing looked around once more, rendered speechless.

Even with his enhanced vision, he couldn’t find a trace of the Xuangang Xuangang Ape’s corpse. It was evident that the power of that sword had been so immense that it had completely annihilated the creature.

At this point, Xu Ziqing began to grasp Yun Lie’s intention in having him witness the scene of the Xuangang Ape’s demise.

Yun Lie was showing him the vast power of the larger world, far beyond what he had experienced in the small world. This was a lesson to emphasize that if Xu Ziqing truly desired control over his own life, he needed unwavering determination and a sense of urgency. There would always be greater challenges to face, and Xu Ziqing had to expand his horizons and open his mind, rather than being confined by trivial matters. Otherwise, he would become an obstacle in the path of others.

Xu Ziqing engraved these lessons deep in his heart.

Yun Lie’s actions had planted a seed within him, allowing him to comprehend the truth that the journey towards immortality was endless, and the pursuit of power was boundless.

From picking up the demon pill to walking back slowly, and finally standing in front of Yun Lie again, Xu Ziqing’s demeanor had undergone a transformation. He still possessed his handsome and amiable appearance, but there was something more in his eyes. He had changed from shapeless duckweed to a tree firmly rooted in the ground.

Although he had not yet grown into a towering giant tree, his roots were strong, unyielding to wind and frost.

Yun Lie nodded slightly at him, and in the next moment, he vanished into the storage ring.

Changing his course, Xu Ziqing walked briskly.

The Xuangang Ape was dead, but Chonghua was nowhere to be found. Chonghua’s right wing had been injured, and Xu Ziqing couldn’t help but worry about its condition.

Following the path he had taken, Xu Ziqing scattered some plant ash while carefully tracing Chonghua’s connected blood energy to determine its whereabouts.

Fortunately, Chonghua had long been his animal companion, so as long as it was alive, it wouldn’t simply vanish. Nevertheless, Xu Ziqing couldn’t help but breathe a sigh of relief when he realized that their bond was still intact.

Thankfully, Chonghua was safe and sound…

With his injuries being relatively minor, Xu Ziqing swiftly moved, his figure flickering as he covered several kilometers in the blink of an eye. This time, without the burden of the Wood Escape Technique, he moved with ease.

After a few breaths, he halted beneath a thousand-year-old giant tree. The tree was incredibly ancient, with a massive trunk that would require several people to encircle it.

Looking up, Xu Ziqing found the tree towering so high that its top couldn’t be seen, and its canopy resembled a dense cloud, casting a wide shadow over an area of several feet.

Suddenly, an eagle’s cry echoed through the air, filled with joy but also hinting at its labored breath. Xu Ziqing could tell that Chonghua was severely injured, unable to even fly down from the tree.

His worry intensified, and Xu Ziqing disregarded everything else. Even if he had to employ the Wind Control Technique, he would ascend.

Circling the tree, he soon discovered several thick branches extending in all directions, forming a branching pattern. The branches were covered with dense foliage, and the sound of rustling leaves and howling winds could be heard from within.

Xu Ziqing pushed aside the branches and leaves with his hand, revealing a branch spacious enough for him to lie down on. And there, he saw the nearly lifeless eagle.

“Chonghua!” he called out loudly, immediately landing beside it and examining Chonghua’s injuries.

Chonghua lay prone on the branch, its right-wing pierced by the flying sword, resulting in a sizable wound. Blood had flowed and dried up around it. Many of its muscles were torn, and its ability to fly here was likely due to sheer force.

In addition to the injury on its right wing, numerous feathers were missing, and its talons and beak were also wounded. Bloodstains marred its body, leaving it battered and bruised.

Chonghua’s weakened breath grew fainter and fainter as if it was on the verge of giving up…

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