Chapter 427: Chapter 145: Killing with Laughter
The closer one got to the center of Nether City, the more one escaped from the barbaric and rough wilderness.
Hundreds of houses were distributed around, with a bluestone-paved avenue rising in tiers along the mountain slopes. At the highest point stood a tall building from which one could overlook Nether City.
At this moment, on the top floor of this tall building, a banquet was in progress.
Several dancers, clad in thin skirts, gracefully moved to the rhythm while the seated guests watched on. Among them was a hulking figure resembling a giant who, even while sitting, was taller than the average person, draped in stone-like armor with large blue face and chisel-like sharp teeth poking out.
Another wore a long robe, with a head like a dog’s and hands like sharp claws, exhibiting an aggressive demeanor.
These two were none other than Da Feng and Zaochi, who had taken action outside Jiangyang City that day.
Sitting in the place of honor was a handsome young man in a brocade robe and a golden crown with a pair of dragon horns growing from his forehead.
"Brother Da Feng, do you think Li Qinglian will accept the invitation and come?" the young man asked casually as he watched the dancing girls.
"Whether he comes or not, it won’t affect your ill intentions towards him, hehehe," Da Feng gave a strange, sinister laugh, "Your Huai Water Dragon Palace has been calling the wind and summoning the rain in the south, living in carefree joy. Yet now, you’re suddenly sent to the north. If you say there isn’t a purpose behind it, I wouldn’t believe it even if you killed me."
The young man was the Eldest Prince of Huai Water Dragon Palace, also the eldest son of Huai River True God Wuzhiqi. He was known as "River Flipping Flood Dragon," and was one of the Nineteen Demons, ranked alongside people like Da Feng and Zaochi, and referred to as "Flood Dragon’s Crown Prince."
Hearing what Da Feng said, Flood Dragon’s Crown Prince revealed a restrained smile, "The Great Venerable wishes to act against Taiping Sect, and as part of the Divine Sect, Huai Water Dragon Palace naturally has to contribute. There are no ulterior motives."
"Loyal? The intentions of your father are known to all; isn’t it just to carve out a territory for yourself?" Da Feng said disdainfully, "If you’re not coveting the Cosmic Dao Formation in Li Qinglian’s possession, not desiring the Great Venerable’s Magic Door, I would believe in your loyalty."
"Why would I covet it? I’m just thinking of helping out, to prevent Li Qinglian from being ambushed by others and losing the Great Venerable’s bestowed magic," Flood Dragon’s Crown Prince said with a smile, "Although Li Qinglian is the incarnate of Taibai True Monarch, Taibai True Monarch’s name doesn’t carry much weight within the Divine Sect. There are many bold and audacious people there."
"Such as you, Flood Dragon’s Crown Prince, right?" Da Feng sneered.
Indeed, there were no shortage of bold and audacious people within the Divine Sect, but those bold enough to openly covet the magic bestowed by the Great Venerable were few and far between.
Huai River True God Wuzhiqi was one of them.
This figure, who dominated the Huai River, was among the top rankers within the fourth grade of combat power and had alliances with the Overseas Dragon Palace, with no lack of third grade support. Although openly clashing with the Great Venerable was something the forces of Huai Water Dragon Palace dared not do, employing small tactics from time to time was feasible.
This time in extending an invitation to Li Qinglian, whether the other party accepted it or not, Flood Dragon’s Crown Prince had follow-up plans.
Although the potential of Lawless Freedom Li Qinglian was extraordinary, there was no such thing as a tradition of nurturing the next generation in the Desolate God Sect. It was a mix of fish and dragons, where becoming a power in itself relied entirely on the Great Venerable above. The expectation of unity, like in normal sects, was pure fantasy.
Then, Zaochi spoke up, "Flood Dragon’s Crown Prince, you’ve been in the south for too long, and your ways have become less decisive. If you covet the magic door, just go and seize it directly. If you’re no match, even the Great Venerable, upon hearing that you’ve snatched something, can hardly blame you. Yet you insist on playing these unnecessary tricks."
"If I can press others with my power, why bother entering the fray myself," Flood Dragon’s Crown Prince remained indifferent, "Beyond the Divine Sect, everywhere in this world requires the use of brains and tactics. Relying only on brute force, one would be a brute for life and never achieve anything great."
...
While Flood Dragon’s Crown Prince awaited news, Jiang Li looked at a group of people clad in light blue armor, oozing with a strong aura of water, who stood out from the crowd. The leader, with a mustache shaped like the number eight, and two golden gourd hammers at his waist, gestured an invitation to him.
"Please, the Eldest Prince is waiting for you."
At that moment, everyone around them halted, clearly intimidated by the Huai Water Dragon Palace. Only the Rashamon, Holy Infant King, and Qu Lingyan managed to remain calm.
As for Jiang Li, the information about Huai Water Dragon Palace flashed through his mind, and he responded with a smile.
"Thank you," Jiang Li spoke.
The sudden thanks startled the other party, who then let out a muffled grunt.
He looked down at his chest to find a streak of Sword Light passing through his heart, protruding from his back, bisecting his heart, with all his blood beginning to surge chaotically.
"Thank you for coming to relieve me," Jiang Li said with a light smile.
The locust god dropped a bombshell, hoisting "Li Qinglian" into the limelight, and Jiang Li didn’t know what he was playing at. Perhaps it was a desire to witness the so-called Cosmic Dao Formation, take a glimpse at the Great Venerable’s magic, or maybe it was to test the relationship between "Li Qinglian" and the Great Venerable.
Too many possibilities.
If it were elsewhere, Jiang Li might have had to respond to moves and probe back and forth, trying to discern the other’s purpose before striking accordingly.
But in the Devil God Sect, none of that was necessary, or rather, not the key point.
Anyone who bore malice toward him, whether it was the locust god or the person from the Huai River Dragon Palace who had come to fetch him, just had to be killed.
The law of the jungle, the winner takes all, was the unspoken rule of the Devil God Sect.
Charging straight in was the best tactic under these circumstances.
After all, the murderer was beyond the law, was Li Qinglian, and had nothing to do with me, Jiang Li.
"You..."
The mustached commander had more to say, but Jiang Li had already reached for the Sword Light, and a sword, deep as an abyss and with a dragon-like shape materializing on its body, appeared in his palm, it was the Great Circle Sword, modeled after the Qixing Dragon Abyss.
With one swift motion, he drew the long sword, stopping the other’s pointless chatter, and with a flick of the Sword Light, it swept across the neck, sending a head soaring skyward.
Jiang Li caught the head by the hair and turned to the armored soldiers who had come with the commander asking, "Where is your Crown Prince now?"
What answered him was a surge of water Qi, like the tide.
Six people, all clad in light blue armor, with five of them thrusting long spears rapidly, their light blue True Qi crashing like waves, while the sixth turned to run toward the center of the city at full speed.
"It seems there’s no need to ask."
Jiang Li said, heading straight for the currents, with his Sword Light flashing in an instant. Without seeing the Great Circle Sword move, Sword Qi suddenly burst forth.
With the "Moluo Sword Manual," as soon as he willed it, his thoughts determined where the Sword Light struck, and in that split second, the five Sword Qi pierced through the heads of the five armored soldiers.
The waves of True Qi instantly dissipated, and the five figures stood still like statues, letting Jiang Li walk past.
It was only after he had walked a considerable distance that a mixture of red and white fluid sprayed from the sword wounds, tracing a chilling arc through the air.
Upon seeing this, Qu Lingyan immediately gave chase.
The other demons, ghosts, and monsters, although surprised by the sudden killing, showed no fear, and followed suit, eager to see the commotion and perhaps to pick up something for themselves.
"Wow, it looks like Senior Li is adapting quite quickly." The Rakshasa woman said with a smile, flinging her horsetail whisk, "He makes killing seem like casual conversation; one would think he’s an old-timer from the Divine Sect."
Speaking of which, she turned to the Holy Infant King, imply something with her words, "Ashuren has already gone to inform the others, aren’t you going?"
The Holy Infant King frowned, a spark flaring from his nose, and snorted, "Do you doubt me?"
"Otherwise? Senior Li is someone you brought here. You Mountain Lord believes you sought strong support to ensure your say, but why Li Qinglian?"
The Rakshasa woman said with a light laugh, "Why must it be him? Is it because he’s the most suitable, or do you have a way to gain his trust? I guess you’re from the Mystic Sect, likely from the Three Pure Ones Sect."
"Nonsense! If someone from the Mystic Sect really infiltrated here, you’d be the most likely candidate."
The Holy Infant King scoffed, "Your title, Rakshasa woman, sounds like you belong to the ghostly Rashamon, but the Holy Infant King has long checked – indeed, there are Rashamon Fruits in this world, yet their Category doesn’t belong to demon, ghost, and monster, but to Immortal. You, a follower of the Immortal Path, sneaking into the Divine Sect – do you think the Holy Infant King believes you are clean?"
"No one stipulates that someone called ’Rakshasa woman’ must possess the Rashamon Fruit, right?" The Rakshasa woman’s face remained calm, her smile unchanged, "I deliberately chose this name just to bait people like you. The Rashamon Fruit has never appeared in the world; it’s not easy to know its Category."
She swayed her body, moving neither quickly nor slowly, "Now, I’m even more convinced that you are from the Mystic Sect."
The Holy Infant King watched as the Rakshasa woman walked elegantly away, his fingers unconsciously twitched, as if considering a sneak attack from behind, yet he forcefully stopped himself when the urge to kill almost manifested.
’Rakshasa woman, who are you really?’
With doubt hidden within his small stature, the Holy Infant King eventually suppressed the impulse to strike.
"One day, I will make you pay."
He sneered, and with a single step into midair, flames burst forth, propelling him forward.