Gu Beicheng stared at Wang Po, who had just walked out of the private room, and involuntarily tightened his grip on the longsword in his hand.
The Female Swordsman beside him said coldly, "Wang Qiluo, even though you are at the Late Stage of the first layer, you're over fifty years old and your Qi Blood is waning. You are no match for my brother. You'd better not get involved in this mess!"
Wang Po completely ignored the Female Swordsman.
She stared at Gu Beicheng with a face full of cold hostility.
Having roamed the Four Streets and Thirty Lanes for many years, she had never officially joined the Black Tiger Gang. However, this Xuu Zhongxiong was her carefully nurtured protege, in whom she had invested countless resources. As her talented godson Xuu Zhongxiong's fame grew, he became her solid support for the future. But now that someone had severed his arm, she naturally harbored deep resentment!
Gu Beixiong tightened his grip on the longsword, his face radiating fighting spirit. He stepped forward. "Wang Qiluo, if you want to fight, then let's fight!"
Wang Po glanced at him and sneered, "You severed my godson's arm; now repay with your head!"
After saying that, she reached into her sleeve, taking out a spherical bead the size of a red date and grasping it in her hand. Immediately, her entire body's Qi Blood surged, channeling into the bead.
Seeing this, Lin Xuankong, who was sitting in a corner, felt his gaze shift as he touched the walnut-sized Manluo Demon Pearl in his bosom.
The bead Wang Po brought out flickered with a dark light, and tiny vines seemed to float inside it. Although that Demon Pearl couldn't compare to the Manluo Demon Pearl given to him by the Young Lady, it still exuded intense Demon Qi, creating an obvious sense of oppression and danger.
She also possesses a Demon Pearl? Lin Xuankong's eyes flickered.
Witnessing this as well, Gu Beixiong's face changed dramatically. The fighting spirit on his face completely vanished, and he halted abruptly. "The Twin Vine Demon Pearl! The Twin Vine Demon Pearl from the Liang City auction, fought over by countless Martial Cultivators—it actually fell into your hands!"
Before he could finish speaking, he had already retreated violently, pulling his sister towards the entrance of Guangju Pavilion.
"A bit perceptive, but it's too late!"
Wang Po snorted coldly, her eyes fixed on the escaping Gu Beicheng.
Suddenly, black smoke rose from the ground in front of Gu Beicheng.
Two vines as thick as a child's arm burst through the marble floor of Guangju Pavilion, rapidly wrapping around the legs of Gu Beicheng and the Female Swordsman, swiftly tightening and spreading over their bodies.
The Female Swordsman cried out in alarm, her face filled with horror as she swung her sword to cut at the vines spreading over her body. Unfortunately, she was only at the Early Stage of the first layer of Transcendence and her power was too limited. A few strikes only left some sword marks on the black vines; she couldn't even sever them!
In the blink of an eye, coarse vines had wrapped all over the Female Swordsman's body, leaving only her terror-filled face exposed. The vines tightened around her, and continuous muffled sounds of breaking bones emanated from her body, followed by horrifying screams from her mouth.
His eyes looking as if they were about to crack, Gu Beicheng frantically mobilized his Qi Blood, slashing at the vines with his lightning-wreathed longsword. Unfortunately, although his continuous attacks managed to sever some vines, those emerging from the ground seemed endless. They wrapped tightly around his legs, leaving him unable to break free, let alone save his sister who was about to perish beside him!
Wang Po continued to channel her Qi Blood, gave the two a cold look, then shouted at the somewhat terrified and dumbfounded Black Tiger Gang members, "Kill Gu Beicheng!"
The dozen or so Black Tiger Gang members sensed the intimidating Demon Qi emanating from the two Demon Vines and hesitated to approach. But with Xuu Zhongxiong's godmother giving the order, how could they not comply? They nervously approached Gu Beicheng.
These Black Tiger Gang members, who had been practicing Martial Cultivation for years, were terrified facing the Demon Vines driven by the Demon Pearl. Naturally, the onlookers outside had wide eyes filled with horror.
"Is that the legendary invaluable Demon Pearl?"
"It's said even High Realm Martial Cultivators may not have one, and Aunt Wang actually possesses a Demon Pearl!"
"The power of the Demon Vines driven by the Demon Pearl is too strong. If they wrapped around an ordinary person, their intestines would probably be squeezed out!"
They glanced at the fearsome, writhing Demon Vines and then at the Demon Pearl in Wang Po's hand, feeling that tonight was truly an eye-opener, having actually witnessed the invaluable Demon Pearl firsthand!
I spent decades of savings to buy this Twin Vine Demon Pearl. If Zhongxiong weren't in danger and I wasn't outmatched by Gu Beicheng's Yin Talisman Thunder, I would never have used it! After this battle, now that the Twin Vine Demon Pearl has been exposed, how can I, someone at only the first layer of Transcendence, possibly keep it? After dealing with Gu Beicheng tonight, I'll have to immediately present the Twin Vine Demon Pearl to Hall Master Wu of the Black Tiger Gang to curry favor and save my own life! Wang Po thought, listening to the distant murmur of the crowd, her heart filled with hatred towards Gu Beicheng.
As Wang Po's thoughts raced, the Black Tiger Gang members had already closed in on Gu Beicheng. They shouted and swung their blades.
Gu Beicheng felt a tinge of despair. With so many Black Tiger Gang elites attacking at once, even if I weren't trapped, it would take considerable effort to escape. Now, trapped by the Demon Vines, unable to dodge or maneuver, I have no chance of survival!
Suddenly, SWISH SWISH SWISH SWISH SWISH!
A series of whooshing sounds broke the air as over a dozen hard Flying Locust Stones shot out, striking the Black Tiger Gang members who were wielding their knives. All of them were hit. One was struck on the forehead and immediately knocked unconscious. Another was hit in the throat, their throat bone shattering instantly. Yet another was hit in the lower back, their liver and kidneys rupturing, causing them to collapse. In the blink of an eye, all dozen or so Black Tiger Gang members were down. Seven or eight died instantly, four or five were unconscious, and the rest writhed on the ground in pain. Even the elite Gang Member at the first layer of Transcendence, who had previously defeated the Female Swordsman, was struck in the back of the head and killed instantly!
Lin Xuankong stood up while chewing on peanuts. He rescued Gu Beicheng not because he had promised to pay for the meal... Rescuing Gu Beicheng is partly to create a diversion, and partly because I understand a simple principle: the enemy of my enemy has the potential to become my friend! Since I've already started opposing the Black Tiger Gang, the Yin Talisman Sect, which frequently clashes with them, can definitely be of assistance!
At this moment, aside from the few Black Tiger Gang members moaning and writhing in pain, everyone else at the scene stared in surprise at Lin Xuankong, who had suddenly acted. It was only then that most people noticed a figure wearing a conical hat lurking in the shadowy corner of the bustling Guangju Pavilion! And this Conical Hat Guest took down over a dozen elite Black Tiger Gang members with just a flick of his hand?
"Trying to kill a disciple of our Yin Talisman Sect? It's not that easy!"
Lin Xuankong stood up, circulated his Qi Blood to his throat, and shouted in a raspy voice completely different from his own.
At this moment, Xuu Zhongxiong, who had just finished bandaging his left shoulder, saw the dozen of his capable subordinates falling to the ground in the blink of an eye. A deep look of apprehension appeared on his face.
His leopard eyes flickered a few times and he shouted, "You and Gu Beicheng killed so many brothers of my Black Tiger Gang. Are you trying to provoke a war between the Black Tiger Gang and the Yin Talisman Sect?"
Wang Po, who was infusing Qi Blood into the Demon Pearl, looked a bit pale due to the rapid consumption of Qi Blood. Hearing Xuu Zhongxiong's words, Wang Po glared at her godson. "The people are already dead. Why waste time talking to him? You go deal with Gu Beicheng, I'll handle this skulking coward!"
Xuu Zhongxiong nodded, a fierce look flashing in his eyes. He channeled all his Qi Blood and quickly charged towards Gu Beicheng, who was still struggling with the Demon Vines.
At that moment, urged by Wang Po, the vines entangling the Female Swordsman suddenly disappeared. Her body went limp and collapsed to the ground, her entire skeleton shattered, reduced to a bloody pulp. She was beyond dead!
At Lin Xuankong's feet, a large amount of black smoke rose instantly. The floor shattered with a boom, and thick vines entangled his legs at a horrifying speed!
At the same time, Xuu Zhongxiong, who had been charging towards Gu Beicheng, suddenly roared, spun around, and lunged at Lin Xuankong with his Black Tiger Shattering Golden Claw!
The pair coordinated seamlessly, understanding each other's intent with a mere glance. This feint was clearly aimed at first eliminating Lin Xuankong, who was remarkably skilled with concealed weapons!
At this moment, Xuu Zhongxiong roared and charged, while the Demon Vines on the ground grew and constricted. Seeing this, the distant onlookers couldn't help but shake their heads. This guy in the conical hat, despite his terrifyingly impressive Concealed Weapon Technique, is still doomed against the legendary and dreadful Demon Pearl!
The speed of these Demon Vines is indeed too fast to evade with my Late Stage first layer Transcendence strength. But I never intended to dodge anyway! Lin Xuankong thought, a slight raise of his eyebrow the only sign of his reaction to being entangled.
The Qi Blood of his Pine Crane Longevity Technique surged wildly as his left fingers jabbed repeatedly at the Demon Vines coiling towards his abdomen. Simultaneously, his right hand flicked rapidly, sending a barrage of shadowy projectiles whistling through the air towards the approaching Xuu Zhongxiong!
Seeing the concealed weapons looming everywhere, each aimed at his vitals, Xuu Zhongxiong's expression changed slightly. His attack hesitated as he twisted to evade, using the Black Tiger Shattering Golden Claw to constantly block.
「Inside Guangju Pavilion,」
CRACK! CRACK! CRACK! CRACK!
The sound of Flying Locust Stones shattering filled the air, far denser than New Year's firecrackers!
A breath later, the sound abruptly stopped.
Xuu Zhongxiong, who had just been overwhelmingly powerful, froze and fell backward. His eyes, Adam's apple, temples, chest, and knees were all shattered by Flying Locust Stones!
Xuu Zhongxiong—who once menaced the Four Streets and Thirty Lanes, whose strength was second only to Boss Zhang Wu, and who had fought Gu Beicheng, the genius of the Yin Talisman Sect, to a standstill for over a hundred rounds—had lasted only a single breath under the assault of the Heaven-Covering Flying Locusts...
The most terrifying part was that this Heaven-Covering Flying Locusts technique was executed single-handedly by Lin Xuankong!