Che Hongzi felt his domain, directed at Lan Xiaobu, being torn apart by the newcomer. The terrifying killing principles sweeping in were no weaker than his own. At that moment, Lan Xiaobu’s Longevity Halberd surged with overwhelming killing intent.
Facing an attack from two sides, Che Hongzi made the same choice as Jie Chuanqi, his body radiating dao charm as he frantically retreated.
“Pfft!” The Longevity Halberd grazed his shoulder, drawing a spray of blood mist. But for Che Hongzi, this was barely a scratch, not even a minor injury.
The same choice, yet different outcomes: Jie Chuanqi lost his life, while Che Hongzi emerged unscathed. Had Che Hongzi not retreated, he would have been caught in their combined assault. Without aid, he might have followed Jie’s fate.
Jie died because he retreated while gravely wounded, his dao charm depleted, leaving him no capacity to escape. Che Hongzi, however, had the strength to retreat, paying only the price of a minor injury.
After escaping the killing domain, Che Hongzi didn’t continue retreating. He calmly stared at his assailant and said, “Curse Great Path, so it’s you, Fang Zhiqian. Back then, Emperor Ku beat you into hiding underground. Now you dare show yourself, relying on reaching the Seventh Step?”
Fang Zhiqian landed beside Lan Xiaobu, scoffing, “Tower Master Che, you can flaunt your Seventh Step airs before others, but in front of me, you’re far from qualified.”
Turning to Lan Xiaobu with a grin, he added, “Lord Bu, how was my killing principle strike? This guy thinks he’s untouchable just because he runs a tower. I’ve long wanted to teach him a lesson.”
“Not bad, perfectly timed,” Lan Xiaobu nodded.
In truth, even without Fang Zhiqian, Che Hongzi couldn’t have overpowered him. Lan Xiaobu had tested Che’s abilities, finding him an ordinary Seventh Step cultivator. In a real fight, the outcome was uncertain. If Lan Xiaobu had been determined to take Che down, at some cost, Che wouldn’t have escaped with just a minor injury, he might have lost his life.
The onlookers stared at Fang Zhiqian in shock. Lan Xiaobu already had Ceku Huisheng’s support, which was daunting enough. Now, another Seventh Step powerhouse, Fang Zhiqian of the Curse Great Path, had joined him.
Add to that Pei Qionghu, who was friendly to Lan Xiaobu, and the enigmatic Shi Changxing. Unless a Dao Ancestor intervened, no one in Jinluo Tower could touch Lan Xiaobu now.
Ku Yichi’s face darkened. Fang Zhiqian was a pawn he’d kept, but not only had Fang reached his level, the soul-binding mark Ku placed on him was gone. Seeing Fang’s attitude toward Lan Xiaobu, it was clear he’d switched sides, leaving Ku Yichi feeling he’d paved the way for another. Fang’s Curse Great Path could have been invaluable to him.
In the distance, Guan Chong and Chong Ying glared at Fang Zhiqian. They’d been hunting him, with his wanted poster still at the city gates. But did they dare confront him now? If it were just Fang Zhiqian, they might risk it. The real threat wasn’t Fang but Lan Xiaobu beside him.
Che Hongzi’s expression was equally grim. He’d hoped Ku Yichi would speak for him, but Ku showed no intention of opening his mouth, leaving Che to fend for himself.
If he could win, he’d have taken Lan Xiaobu already, but he knew he couldn’t.
“Master Lan, you destroyed my Jinluo Tower. I asked for compensation, yet you ganged up on me. Do you think you can do whatever you want in Central World’s Heavenly Court?”
After Che Hongzi spoke, some onlookers inwardly scoffed. Resorting to reason now? When he arrived, he hadn’t talked but acted directly. Now, unable to win, he wanted to reason, even dragging Ku Yichi into it, clearly afraid.
When others wanted to reason, he played tough. When others played tough, he wanted to reason.
And was this about being outnumbered? Fang Zhiqian was a Seventh Step, and Lan Xiaobu’s strength was likely close to it. Against these two, even a thousand or ten thousand from Jinluo Tower would be meaningless unless another Seventh Step intervened.
“Old Fang, he says I wrecked his Jinluo Tower and can’t afford to pay. In that case, why not take him out too, so he doesn’t keep whining about compensation,” Lan Xiaobu called out, his killing intent surging. The Longevity Halberd swept out again, instantly transforming the space’s atmosphere, as if deep autumn had arrived, bringing an irrepressible sense of loneliness.
Fang Zhiqian didn’t hesitate, stepping forward to block Che Hongzi’s escape while unleashing a long curse rope.
The space, already steeped in autumn’s chill, was slowly permeated by strands of curse principles, amplifying Lan Xiaobu’s Feather Sound Killing Technique.
Che Hongzi shuddered. Was Lan Xiaobu really trying to kill him? Did he dare?
Then he was certain, Lan Xiaobu was serious and unafraid. Having just killed Poxu Holy Path’s Third Path Master Jie Chuanqi without hesitation, killing Che Hongzi wouldn’t faze him either.
“Master Lan, do you really intend to make an enemy of Central Heavenly Court?” Ku Yichi stepped forward, landing in the autumnal domain, which began to unravel.
Without a signal from Lan Xiaobu to continue, Fang Zhiqian held back his curse rope.
If Ku Yichi hadn’t spoken, Lan Xiaobu might have teamed up with Fang Zhiqian to kill Che Hongzi. But with Ku stepping in, he couldn’t act.
Though not truly Moru Heavenly Court’s Master, everyone believed he was. If he acted now, it would mean opposing the Great Universe’s order under Moru’s name.
Seeing Lan Xiaobu pause, Ceku Huisheng breathed a sigh of relief. If Lan had pressed on, Ceku would’ve had to join in, then immediately resign as Moru’s Heavenly Emperor to survive.
Che Hongzi was even more relieved. Lan Xiaobu was fearless, and without Ku’s intervention, Lan might have killed him. He could probably escape, but with Lan Xiaobu’s many tricks and a record of killing Seventh Steps, Che wasn’t certain he could.
Lan Xiaobu said calmly, “Emperor Ku, me, an enemy of Central Heavenly Court? Are you sure? When Poxu Holy Path sealed Moru Heavenly Court’s stronghold, why didn’t you say they were Central’s enemy? Why did no one speak for Moru? And Che Hongzi, this Jinluo Tower is your domain, right? When Moru’s stronghold was sealed on your turf, why didn’t you step up? Since it’s your domain, you’re in charge. If you don’t act, am I not allowed to break the seal? I just used a bit too much force and broke a few bricks. Then you come saying I can’t afford to pay.
Come on, name a price. Let’s see if I, Lan Xiaobu, can afford it. If I really can’t, I’ll just break the jar entirely.”
What a lunatic, Che Hongzi thought, fuming inwardly. When Poxu Holy Path sealed your stronghold, didn’t you also break Zhenyanshengdao’s Holy Master Chong Jiu’s cave restrictions, and I didn’t make trouble for you, did I? Now you’ve destroyed my Jinluo Tower.
Though he thought this, Che didn’t dare say it. He knew Lan Xiaobu was a reckless madman who acted without regard for consequences.
Che Hongzi frowned, feigning confusion, and asked someone nearby, “Did Poxu Holy Path really seal Moru Heavenly Court’s stronghold?”
The person, a Jinluo Tower deacon, was quick to catch on and replied, “Yes, Tower Master, I hadn’t had the chance to inform you before Master Lan and Emperor Moru returned. It’s my fault.”
The crowd sneered inwardly at Che Hongzi’s pathetic excuse, selling even his dignity. Poxu Holy Path sealing Moru’s stronghold, and you didn’t know? Who’d believe that?
Lan Xiaobu, however, grew wary. Che Hongzi’s righteous, sage-like facade hid a complete lack of principles, making him dangerous. Others saw his words as a loss of dignity, but Lan Xiaobu knew such people cared nothing for it. The less principled, the lower their limits. He had to watch this man, as Che Hongzi wouldn’t let this go.
“Heh, so many excuses for destroying Jinluo Tower. By the way, didn’t Fang Zhiqian once sneak into Zhenyanshengdao and abduct Holy Maiden Guan Yuxue? Fang Zhiqian, since you’re here, where’s Guan Yuxue?” A snickering voice broke the tense calm.
It was Emperor Chen of Fanhe Heavenly Court.
Guan Chong and Chong Ying clenched their fists, itching to kick Chen. Stirring up trouble like this was like poking at an already foul mess.
If it were just Lan Xiaobu with a pre-Seventh Step Fang Zhiqian, they’d welcome Chen raising this. But now, with Fang at the Seventh Step, Lan Xiaobu nearly equivalent, Ceku Huisheng also at the Seventh Step, and Pei Qionghu ready to back Lan Xiaobu, raising this issue was a deathblow to Zhenyanshengdao.
