Chapter 139
Chapter 139: Killing With Poison
After Fifth Brother Hanba escaped, the poltergeist ghosts turned limp and did not struggle anymore. As the Kunlun disciples were concerned about the injuries of the enlightened person Tian Shu and the seventy-two esteemed sword seniors’ injuries, after they attempted to kill a few of them, confirming that the poltergeist ghosts had turned back into corpses, they dispersed off, leaving a few disciples behind to continue to monitor the corpses.
No one would have expected that these poltergeist ghosts had the ability to feign their deaths. The ghosts seized the opportunity when the disciples were unaware and suddenly rise up again. The Kunlun disciples suffered great losses all of a sudden!
Not only were the poltergeist ghosts resurrected, their strength and speed were vastly enhanced. Even though both parties still perished together in the end, in the past, a flying sword of the Kunlun disciple could easily chop off a poltergeist ghost’s head; at that moment, the poltergeist ghosts seemed to have skin akin to bronze and bones akin to iron. The ghosts could also grab onto the flying sword as swift as the wind. Baring its teeth and within the sound of a ‘pop’, its jaw snapped the flying sword into two!
Wen Leyang realized that the few sharp howls let out by Hanba before he left was the incantation of the Art of Ghost. The poltergeist ghosts had been difficult to deal with since the beginning. With the vastly increased power and the seventy-two esteemed sword seniors of the Kunlun Sect severely injured, he understood completely now…that setting aside the enlightened person Tian Shu, the remaining Kunlun disciples were incapable of resisting the ghosts’ ruthless and reckless attacks.
Hanba lured Cone Nail away, leaving the poltergeist ghosts behind to completely annihilate the Kunlun Sect!
Even though the poltergeist ghost’s actual power was vastly enhanced and when it was killed it would still return all the damage it suffered to the person who inflicted it, fortunately, when its body and head were crushed and its poltergeist soul was shattered, the poltergeist ghost would truly be destroyed.
After Wen Leyang managed to repulse two to three poltergeist ghosts, he was also suffering from the countercharge of the Faulty Punch’s power, almost vomiting blood. Previously, when he was repulsing the monsters, he almost did not need to exert all his strength and he could withstand the strength that was reflected back to him. However, as the poltergeist ghosts turned strong and powerful, he could not repulse the ghost if he did not exert all his strength. Wen Leyang’s Poison of Life and Death’s power was on par with the supernatural power of life vitality possessed by the master cultivators of the Five Blessings below their supreme leaders. He could no longer sustain the effort as he could not withstand his own attack.
In a flash, there were already dozens of Kunlun disciples killed while only seven poltergeist ghosts were killed.
The poltergeist ghost no longer dashed in disarray but squeezed into a ball. They completely disregarded the severely injured esteemed sword seniors but dashed ferociously towards the enlightened person Tian Shu.
The enlightened person Tian Shu did not budge at all during the crucial moment of his recuperation. The little supreme leader Liu Zheng instructed his Kunlun disciples loudly to combine their formation so they could guard Tian Shu.
Over three hundred uninjured Kunlun disciples were taking care of those esteemed sword seniors in groups of twos and threes. Their formation was not arranged in an orderly manner since the beginning, there were only less than ten people that were guarding next to the supreme leader. However, even though they were gathered around, they could not break the poltergeist ghosts’ formation. They could only layer themselves and block in between the enlightened person Tian Shu and the poltergeist ghosts, using their flesh to forge a human barricade, risking their lives to resist the poltergeist ghosts’ attacks. All the Kunlun Taoist priests’ eyes were almost cracking in rage. They chanted the Taoist conjuration spell at the top of their voices, guiding their flying swords madly. They could no longer care about the harm caused by the reflection of the Art of Ghost. The ability to perish together with the poltergeist ghosts became their biggest wish!
Fresh blood was splattering everywhere, accompanied by agonizing screams. The Kunlun disciples fell down one after another, there were only a few Taoist priests with profound cultivation base that was still gambling for a life with own life, exchanging their lives to kill the poltergeist ghosts.
As Wen Leyang was beaten by ‘himself’, he became ghastly pale. Blood was seeping out of the corner of his mouth. Suddenly he felt the back of his body tightened, he was pushed by a gush of vigorous strength. He raised his head and saw that Liu Zheng was looking at him smilingly, “Wen Leyang, we have a rather pleasant relationship, don’t we?”
Wen Leyang wished that he could give Liu Zheng’s face a punch. He lowered his head as he spat out a mouthful of bloody spit, “Why are you so full of nonsense? Get straight to the point!”
Liu Zheng’s expression was mischievous, yet his eyes were brimming with radiating vigor as he looked at Wen Leyang, “I have a favor to ask you. It is not a big favor.” Liu Zheng’s words were spoken in a manner that was not urgent or slow as if he was not bothered by the danger of being attacked from all sides. “It seems that our Kunlun disciples will not last any longer before we are all dead. Can I borrow that big-muzzled weapon on your back, I will exchange that with my flying sword?”
Before Xiaoyi left, she slung the loaded big-muzzled weapon on Wen Leyang’s back.
Wen Leyang’s heart fluttered for a moment but when he heard the second half of the sentence he was at a loss whether to laugh or to cry. He stretched out his hand and pulled out the big-muzzled weapon before handing it over to Liu Zheng, he spoke with slight hesitation, “Can you conveniently pick a Kunlun disciple to use it?”
He understood Liu Zheng’s plan. Even if the Thunder Heart Sand did not kill off all the poltergeist ghosts, it could at least destroy the majority of them, especially since the poltergeist ghosts were squeezed into a ball right now. However, the Art of Ghost would reflect the person who was supposed to fire the weapon. It was estimated that at the end, the person would not be left with a corpse or bones.
As Liu Zheng received the big-muzzled weapon, he shook his head while he chuckled, “Who made me the supreme leader … I am pondering that within this City God Temple, the person that was more suitable to fire the weapon than me was only you, why don’t you do it then?”
Wen Leyang laughed as he cursed, “Scram, how can you have the nerve to say that? Where is the flying sword? Give it to me!”
Liu Zheng toyed with the big-muzzled weapon. He was stunned for a moment, “So you really want the flying sword? There is no use for you to have it.”
Wen Leyang’s smile grew faint, “I want to keep it as memorabilia.”
The two youngsters conversed with one another in an extremely relaxing manner. No one could hear the conversation or see that these youngsters were actually bidding farewell, the farewell of life and death.
Liu Zheng sheathed his long sword and passed it to Wen Leyang, “If you still have any questions, ask my esteemed master. He may appear fierce, but he is actually exceedingly friendly.” The sword gave out a light hum in the sheath, sounding crisp and long.
This time it was Wen Leyang’s turn to be astonished, “How did you even know that I have questions to ask?”
Liu Zheng burst out laughing, “It is not that difficult to tell!” As he was saying that, he raised the big-muzzled weapon and aimed towards those poltergeist ghosts that were engaged in a fierce battle with the Kunlun disciples nearby, he shouted the instruction solemnly, “The disciples of Kunlun, spread out!”
Before his voice died away, Wen Leyang suddenly squalled once. His body moved diagonally as he kicked Liu Zheng ferociously towards the outside, “You are too close. Be careful that the countercharge might harm the enlightened person Tian Shu!”
If the Thunder Heart Sand’s ruthless and tyrannical power was reflected entirely by the poltergeist ghost’s Art of Ghost, even if the thunder light was not seen, Liu Zheng could still turn into an explosive package. He would certainly crush the enlightened person Tian Shu that was very close behind him. Of course, Wen Leyang could not escape as well.
Liu Zheng was still stunned when Wen Leyang pushed him forward. While the Kunlun disciples heard their supreme leader shouting, they understood that their supreme leader was about to launch an extremely strong supernatural power. They immediately freed their bodies and retreated. Almost a hundred poltergeist ghosts were akin to wild beasts that suddenly struggled free from their cages. The ghosts galloped and moaned as they pounced forward. Wen Leyang was the first to bear the brunt!
Liu Zheng was the disciple of the Sword Immortal. Even though his supernatural power was no match for the big and small demon rabbit, he was no less inferior than the rest of the few supreme leaders of the other sects from the Five Blessings. When Wen Leyang slammed into him, his self-defense life vitality immediately counter attacked Wen Leyang. Wen Leyang had already exhausted himself from his battles with the poltergeist ghosts earlier, when he was suddenly struck ferociously by Liu Zheng’s life vitality, the Poison of Life and Death circulating within his body slowed down involuntarily. Facing the swarm of poltergeist ghosts, even though he was attempting to run away, he was slowed by a fraction of a second.
Only by a fraction of a second, almost a hundred poltergeist ghosts that were howling ferociously pounced onto Wen Leyang. In the blink of an eye, he was about to be annihilated.
Liu Zheng did not expect that this would happen. It was truly his carelessness. He had not considered beforehand that when the Art of Ghost reflected the Thunder Heart Sand, the power of its countercharge would be immense. Ever since he decided that he would sacrifice himself to save his esteemed master and borrowed Wen Leyang’s big-muzzled weapon, Liu Zheng did not consider too much about other matters. He was afraid that any further consideration would cause his fear and his will to live to triumph over his desire to die. It was the same for everybody else. One was brave in the face of death for something that was more precious, but anyone would refuse to consider too much about how to face one’s death. The act of self-sacrificing was a form of impulsiveness. How many people would be willing to plan meticulously for this impulsiveness to sacrifice life?
Liu Zheng was a youth in his twenties. From his point of view, what he was about to do was to receive the big-muzzled weapon from Wen Leyang’s hands, aim the weapon towards the group of poltergeist ghosts and pull the trigger. No matter how calm his expression was, his heart was in a chaotic mess.
Liu Zheng staggered and fell onto the ground. The green veins on his forehead burst forth, the poltergeist ghosts were getting closer to the enlightened person. They were just a few meters away. With one hit of the Thunder Heart Sand, everybody would die. He wanted to sacrifice himself to save his esteemed master, yet he just brought danger to his esteemed master. Liu Zheng slung the big-muzzled weapon on his back, leaped up into the air akin to a raging eagle and surged towards the group of poltergeist ghosts ferociously.
A raging howl that was extremely angry was heard abruptly. The dark brass-colored Poison Stream surged frantically and bloomed into a gloomy yet oppressed gigantic wave in the mid-air and rolled outwards ferociously towards its surrounding. Liu Zheng cried in alarm as he changed his direction in mid-air. His hands flipped about swiftly. Seventeen talismans shuttled through the air akin to arrows. Following his movement, the talismans formed into a protective circle and guarded around the surroundings of the clay-like enlightened person Tian Shu.
Wen Leyang was surrounded by dozens of poltergeist ghost. There was no way he could escape at all. He could not tell how many ghost claws sank deep into his flesh and skin and grabbed onto his hands, legs, shoulders and hair. Wen Leyang could tell that it would only take a moment before they ripped him into a million pieces. You’ve Got Meululated and attempted to dash out, the stretch of thick Poison Stream’s undercurrent underneath his feet could no longer care about the countercharge of the Art of Ghost and surged up following his control, wrapping around the few poltergeist ghosts next to him!
The Poison Stream that was capable of corroding steel and granite into air, surged into every sweat pore on the poltergeist ghosts’ bodies in the blink of an eye. The ruthless and tyrannical toxicity immediately started destroying everything that was blocking it from the ghosts! At the same time, Wen Leyang’s body shook once ferociously under the reflection of the Art of Ghost. The same power of strong poison started wreaking havoc in his blood, flesh, muscles and tendons! While the water-like Poison of Life and Death within his body also surged, rolling in a carefree manner towards the Poison Stream that was invading his body from all directions.
The few poltergeist ghosts next to him squalled with voices that turned from sharp into hoarse and finally into the roaring sound of decaying. They did not last for a long period before they tumbled over. Wen Leyang leaped up. He was astonished but innocently, he realized that he was surprisingly still alive. He was stunned for a moment. Despite being surrounded by dozens of densely-dotted poltergeist ghosts, he shrieked and laughed out in extreme joy. He suddenly recalled an important matter. His expression was terrified as he squalled towards the outside, “Don’t fire the weapon…”
Liu Zheng was setting down the protective circle with his magic talismans, managing to shield some of the Poison Stream that almost struck the enlightened person Tian Shu, when he heard of Wen Leyang’s shouting. He was startled, “You are still alive?” He obviously heard the poltergeist ghosts’ shrill screams and he did not expect that Wen Leyang was still alive.
Wen Leyang’s laughter was accompanied by slight agony, “Still alive…not ready to die completely yet. You are not allowed to fire the weapon before I die!”
Before Fifth Brother Hanba escaped, he cast a ghost spell to erase the poltergeist ghosts’ yang’s soul in exchange for the vast enhancement of their powers. Nonetheless, the self-defense Art of Ghost capable of reflecting harm remained unchanged.
As the poltergeist ghost was extremely powerful and had skin like bronze and bones like iron, the most dangerous part was when the ghost was harmed, its injuries would be reflected. If one was to chop it once, it was the same as chopping oneself. Wen Leyang was at a loss of what to do for them. As the enlightened person Tian Shu was not Grand Elder Wen and the Kunlun disciples were not the young and old folks of Wen family, he was willing to help, but he refused to risk his life. Only until when he was surrounded by a group of poltergeist ghosts with no way to escape, Wen Leyang was compelled to launch his Poison Stream in an attempt to perish together with the enemies.
Even though the Poison Stream’s undercurrent was beyond ruthless and tyrannical, at the Gold-Consuming Lair, it was once rejected by Wen Leyang’s Poison of Life and Death, which only extracted the two Mo Ya bronze ants’ toxicity.
The pureness or intensity of the poison was not the crucial point. Any toxicity, which was badly mottled, after being assimilated by the Poison of Life and Death, it would also turn into a peculiar form of domineering poison. The crucial point was that an impure poison had no way of entering Wen Leyang’s body. However, at this moment, due to the Art of Ghost’s reflection, the poison power was forcefully stuffed into his body, the Poison of Life and Death’s turbulent current was activated.
The Metal Poison Stream was reflected by the Art of Ghost into his body and was rapidly bound by the Poison of Life and Death. Both poisons assimilated, merged into the Poison of Life and Death’s mighty torrent and flowed joyously along Wen Leyang’s limbs…
After Wen Leyang tasted the sweetness, he immediately guided the Poison of Life and Death to spread the poison apart. He surrounded the dozens of poltergeist ghosts in layers. The thin Poison Stream could not manage to rapidly kill these poltergeist ghosts but Wen Leyang was afraid that the ghosts would continue to harm others everywhere. Hence, he could only stubbornly spread out his poison as much as possible. Only the three to four poltergeist ghosts that were closest to him were bound heavily in layers of thick Poison Stream.
The recently scattered Kunlun disciples returned to the enlightened person Tian Shu’s side again. Occasionally, a few poltergeist ghosts would struggle free from the shackles of the Poison Stream and dashed into the human crowd. The Kunlun disciples ferociously lifted the ghosts. Firstly, there were only two to three poltergeist ghosts, there were too little of the ghosts to cause too much trouble. Secondly, the poltergeist ghosts’ power was greatly reduced under the influence of the Poison Stream. They were no longer as strong as before.
Wen Leyang shouted loudly towards the Kunlun disciples in the midst of the pressing affairs, “Don’t kill them, don’t kill them, leave them for me!” Wen Leyang found that the more the poisonous stream reflects, the merrier it was. He was afraid that once the Taoist priests killed the poltergeist ghosts, he would lose a portion of his poison power.
Liu Zheng roared with laughter as he answered, “There is no need for you to remind us!”
More and more poltergeist ghosts were slaughtered by the Poison Stream, more and more poison power of metal element entered Wen Leyang’s bloodstreams. Wen Leyang could slowly and gradually sense that when the Poison of Life and Death was flowing within him, it was gradually turning from its initial lightness into heaviness with solid-like sensation. However, it still remained carefree, flowing rapidly following to his control.
Liu Zheng was utterly incredulous at the scene that was taking place before his eyes. At first, the dozens of poltergeist ghosts surrounded Wen Leyang savagely and recklessly. Soon, the Poison Stream’s undercurrent surged loud and strong. After a while, the poltergeist ghosts started screaming in agony and sorrow. The ghosts were trapped within the dark brass-colored poisonous current and could not free themselves. The poltergeists were ferocious ghosts but because the Art of Ghost protected them, they had no fear and were incapable of running away. In contrary, they wanted the enemies to harm them…
The Poison Stream was incapable of being corroded or destroyed unless a vigorous blow as strong as the Thunder Heart Sand’s divine thunder struck it, it would then vanish into thin air. After it poisoned and killed the enemies, corroded through the corpses, it would merge into the poisonous current and attack its next target. Logically speaking, as long as one was patient and had ample of time, one drop of Poison of Stream was capable of poisoning all the living creatures in the entire world.
After a long while, the last poltergeist ghost finally fell over unwillingly. It was corroded into ashes in a flash, leaving behind only a stretch of dark brass-colored Poison Stream. Under the sunlight, it reflected a deathly radiance.
The enlightened person Tian Shu was already awakened. The time it took for three joss sticks to completely burn off had passed, his charming and handsome face revealed a complicated expression that made one confused.
The poltergeist ghosts were not simple beings. Killing one of the ghosts with poison required copious amount of poison power, there was only the Poison Stream that had the strong poison, which could be used repeatedly, finally killing off all the ghosts. Even Wen Leyang was unaware how much strong poison did he manage to absorb this time. He could only feel that he was in high spirits, his body was surging with strength, he stared at the little supreme leader Liu Zheng, his eyes were burning with the eagerness to try out his ability.
Liu Zheng did not understand what happened but he knew that Wen Leyang had a happy encounter and that Wen Leyang’s entire person assumed a completely new look. He even understood Wen Leyang’s urgency to look for a ‘Sword-trial Stone’ right now. He hastily waved his hands as he fell back rapidly. He stretched out his hand and pointed towards ‘Year 221 Before Christ’, “Is this Hanba’s shop?”
Wen Leyang he nodded as he swayed his body and stepped into the shop. The first floor remained its prior appearance, but the second floor’s demon figurines completely disappeared, leaving behind empty shelves and the tourist guide Xiao Liu.
Xiao Liu had already awakened. He was trying to get up strenuously, but the moment he saw that Wen Leyang had returned, he hastily lied on the floor, pretending that he was still unconscious. Wen Leyang was slightly surprised. Hanba recently launched the white hair drought spirit that completely drowned the entire City God Temple. Wen Leyang was under the impression that the death of every tourist, shopkeeper or policeman was imminent as long as the drought spirit invaded them. He did not expect that they would only fell unconscious out of exhaustion, it seemed that Hanba still had a merciful heart.
Wen Leyang smiled as he shook his head. He did not expose Xiao Liu but circled around the room once. He did not discover any item that was useful when the sky suddenly erupted in thundering loud noises. Three helicopters were flying in from afar.
Liu Zheng immediately instructed the Kunlun disciples. They lifted up the bodies of the wounded and the deceased disciples of the same sect and left the City God Temple swiftly. The towering drought spirit at the edge of the City God Temple had already revealed the color of yellow, gradually appeared to be withering. The people of Kunlun Sect did not have to exert much strength before they broke the drought spirit spell. Liu Zheng and a few experienced Taoist priests were casting the camouflage spell repeatedly so that the large batch of Kunlun disciples could safely leave the City God Temple.
The moment the Kunlun Sect Taoist priests entered the city area they immediately transformed themselves into common folks. They took off their Taoist robes and changed into the commoner’s attires. They divided themselves into batches and departed from Shanghai on different dates. Wen Leyang informed Xiaoyi that he was safe and sound then, before following Liu Zheng, Tian Shu and a few other Kunlun seniors to their temporary lodging in an abandoned Taoist temple in the suburbs of Shanghai.
The enlightened person Tian Shu was the Sword Immortal that lived in solitary in another world that was the guardian of heaven and earth. He was severely injured, but since Cone Nail had already treated him and he cultivated his power to recuperate, his body was only weakened such that he could not launch his supernatural power. There was no risk of death. He was rather good spirited too. After his meditation, he gave Wen Leyang a smile, “Are you the descendant of the Pickle Jar?”
Wen Leyang heaved a sigh of relief from the bottom of his heart. He corrected cautiously, “The grand master’s given name is Tuo Xie.” Wen Leyang was not surprised. If the jade knife Guo Huan could tell that he was a descendant of the Grand Master Tuo Xie by his Faulty Punch’s approach, the enlightened person Tian Shu could naturally recognize him as well.
The enlightened person Tian Shu revealed in a sanguine smile, “He can be Tuo Xie, he can be Pickle Jar, anyhow he is the person! The demon cat caused an overwhelming great disaster, your grand master was the accessory to the tyrant’s crime. If we were to meet each other in the future, we must continue the battle that was started two thousand years ago until the end!”
Upon saying that, Tian Shu halted for a moment, before he continued, “There is no need for you to panic. It wasn’t you who crushed the Heaven’s Cone Nail two thousand years ago, feel free to help your master teacher in the future. If there is anything that you wish to ask now, feel free to ask. Once you are done asking, I have some questions to ask too.”
Wen Leyang was at a loss whether to laugh or cry as he wondered in his heart where was the need to be panic. His train of thoughts was arranged in a slightly ordered manner. He did not bother to speak courteously, as he directly questioned Tian Shu, “Xiang Liu the nine-headed monster, has he escaped the Black and White Island?”