Chapter 35 Part 2

“What’s going on?” a Zheng clan Daoist exclaimed in confusion.

The silent Qi Wugua spoke calmly at that moment: “Fellow Daoists, we had an agreement. Where exactly are you trying to go?”

The Zheng clan Daoist’s mind raced like lightning. He blurted out: “You! You conspired with the Wang family, making a feint attack, using the opportunity to trap us two in the Spirit Heart Sect, while sending someone to assault Xingyang City?!”

The Wang clan Daoists didn’t know what this conspiracy was, but upon hearing that Xingyang City was under attack, they immediately grew excited. Several clan elders exchanged glances. No words were needed; they instantly made their decision: keep the Zheng clan Daoists here! Once Xingyang City was destroyed, it could then be absorbed by the Wang clan. As for Qi Wugua, the Wang clan Daoists, having mobilized their full force, didn’t even take her seriously. After all, Qi Wugua had been defeated and fled at the very start; their current situation was entirely sustained by the bitter struggle of the Zheng clan Daoists.

The Wang clan Daoists were as vicious as jackals upon seeing flesh and blood, while the Zheng Daoists, faces ashen, were forced to fend off the Wang’s onslaught.

Qi Wugua merely smiled slightly. “Fellow Daoists misunderstand. The Wang clan is my enemy; how could I possibly conspire with them?”

But how could the Zheng clan believe her? While fending off the Wang clan’s sharp and merciless attacks, they fiercely denounced Qi Wugua and the Wang clansmen.

With two Golden Core Daoists trapped at the Spirit Heart Sect, Xingyang City was now in imminent danger. The Zheng Clan Patriarch had been at Golden Core 3rd Layer for a long time, but his cultivation method was not supreme. He could barely hold his own against Su Xuanjing. As for the Zheng clansmen in Xingyang City, they swarmed out en masse. Though they had a numerical advantage, in terms of cultivation, they couldn’t withstand the Chongyuan Sect members. After all, one of them was a Golden Core Alchemist. Saying they couldn’t fight was only relative to those at the same level. The alchemist’s pills, combined with Meng Bujue’s Dream-Weaving divine ability, pulled many into a dazed, dreamlike state. Not only were they unable to attack the Chongyuan Sect Daoists, but they were instead deluded by illusions and began to slaughter one another.

Wei Mingyi wasn’t idle either. Her eyes flashed, seizing this opportunity for “practical combat.” The gap between Meridian Opening 3rd Layer and Foundation Establishment 1st Layer could be bridged with superior cultivation methods and battle awareness. Compared to other Meridian Opening cultivators, a Daoist who had just reached Foundation Establishment was the most suitable opponent—not strong enough to swat her dead, but able to bring crisis and stimulate her potential.

The Heaven-Tier cultivation method Wei Mingyi practiced was grand and sweeping. If she couldn’t control her magical power, it would pour out like a river; if her Dao Seal couldn’t kill the enemy, then she could only await death. Fortunately, under Wu Chongyun’s guidance, Wei Mingyi, though not at the point of absolutely no energy leakage, could still mostly control herself. A golden Dao Seal slammed down, shattering rock and stone. Amidst a series of howling blasts, it fiercely smashed toward the Foundation Establishment Daoist ahead. That Foundation Establishment Daoist had originally greatly underestimated Wei Mingyi, a mere Meridian Opening cultivator. Before they could even assume a stance, the Dao Seal struck them in the chest, causing them to violently cough up a mouthful of blood.

The Zheng clan’s Foundation Establishment Daoist’s expression changed. He didn’t continue engaging Wei Mingyi but instead let out a resonant whistle, instantly summoning a helper of higher cultivation.

Wei Mingyi: “…” She pursed her lips. Relying on the unused Golden Body Talisman on her person, she channeled her magical power. Instantly, a wild gale roared, golden light danced across the sky, and Dao Seals of various speeds and sizes coalesced, smashing toward the newcomer. The newcomer merely let out a cold snort, shook their Dharma Robe, and formed a hand seal. Fiery dragons coiled around them, suddenly rushing out, their tails sweeping toward the Dao Seals. A continuous chain of booming explosions rang out. Wei Mingyi was forced a step back.

Dodging the blazing heat that washed over her face, Wei Mingyi refused to admit defeat. The Nine Characters Seal of the Daoist True Words was endlessly versatile. As her magical power rose, a golden light surged out like a canopy, blocking the fire dragon outside. The Daoist’s realm was higher than Wei Mingyi’s, but their magical power circulation hadn’t reached the point of perfect ease. As the fire surged and sparks flew wildly, their own movement hit a brief stagnation. Wei Mingyi seized that moment, slapping out a forceful Eight Trigrams Seal. The golden Dao Seal pressed against the Daoist’s chest, causing their ribs to cave in. Still, the Daoist didn’t die. Fixing a bone-chilling gaze on Wei Mingyi, they raised a hand, and a banner swirling with ghostly qi appeared in their palm.

The Daoist gripped the banner pole and shook it fiercely. Instantly, several sinister black gales rushed from above and below, carrying piercing, mournful wails, their evil aura extremely dense. As the black gales blew, the Dao Seals Wei Mingyi had launched were tainted by the corrupt qi, forcing her to divert magical power to expel the wicked influence.

This Zheng clan Daoist had done nothing good. Whether they had refined it personally or not, wielding a wicked item meant they were truly despicable.

Wei Mingyi’s thoughts spun rapidly. The yin wind could corrupt magical power, and her strength wasn’t enough to destroy the banner. As she pondered, a resonant, pure zither note rang out. Wei Mingyi only caught a lingering trail of qi in her peripheral vision before the banner split in two, the yin wind vanishing without a trace, and the Zheng Daoist was also cleaved in two by a zither blade too fast to clearly see.

Wei Mingyi turned.

Wu Chongyun flicked her sleeve, and the zither once more transformed into a whisk, draped nonchalantly over her wrist.

“After all, you haven’t established your foundation. Your magical power isn’t as perfect and complete as a Daoist of a higher realm; it’s easily tainted by corrupt qi.”

Wei Mingyi acknowledged and continued forward, clearing out enemies. When they’d handled Cangwu City before, she could only watch. But now, after a period of cultivation, she’d grown considerably and could contribute.

Turning to the Zheng Clan Patriarch, amidst the sky-filling, wildly swirling sword qi, he could no longer find an escape. A Zheng clan elder, only one step from Golden Core, came to assist, but it remained an insurmountable chasm. Forget holding Su Xuanjing back—at the first clash, the elder was slain by the golden light. The Zheng Clan Patriarch had originally wanted their help, but in the end, he had to shield them instead.

“It’s a trap! Spirit Heart Sect conspired with Chongyuan Sect to deceive us! The two brothers likely can’t return.”

“Should we let Third Mistress out?”

“Are you mad?! The first person Third Aunt will kill if she breaks free is us.”

“But she is still a member of our Zheng clan. Should we just watch our ancestral foundation be destroyed?”

The Zheng clan elders spoke one after another. The Zheng Clan Patriarch, barely resisting Su Xuanjing’s sword qi with his magical artifacts, had to seriously consider their proposal. His time was running out. Soon, Su Xuanjing would shatter his artifacts.

The Third Mistress, or Third Aunt, the Zheng clansmen spoke of was the Zheng Clan Patriarch’s paternal aunt. She was a Nascent Soul 1st Layer Daoist, yet this power couldn’t be used by the Zheng clan. She was the Zheng clan’s greatest secret. In the past, the grandfather of the current patriarch had inadvertently acquired a damaged Earth-Tier remnant of a technique called the Hundred Gu Classic. He had selected Third Mistress, the most talented among his descendants, to cultivate it. Third Mistress’s refusal was useless; she was directly thrown into a pit teeming with snakes and insects by the then-patriarch. To survive, she was forced to cultivate the Hundred Gu Classic.

That was an Earth-Tier technique! Even a remnant was far superior to the Yellow-Tier techniques the Zheng clan possessed. If she succeeded, not only could the Zheng clan rise to a 3rd-Rate clan, but it might even elevate them to a 2nd-Rate clan. The Zheng clan kept Third Mistress’s existence hidden, fearing the Feng clan or an even higher-ranked family would take her away.

The patriarch back then had thought brilliantly, believing he could control Third Mistress through blood ties and his own authority. Who could have known that, in the end, the patriarch himself would die at Third Mistress’s hands. As for loftier goals—pursuing them was unthinkable. The Zheng clan had expended numerous artifacts and efforts to bind her to a pillar. The current patriarch had only seen her once when he was very young, yet afterward, a heavy shadow was left in his heart.

If they didn’t release her, the Zheng clan might be completely annihilated. If they released her, their own fates were uncertain, but the Zheng clan’s descendants might still have a chance to survive. Then they could find the Golden Core elders and plot their great revenge! The Zheng Clan Patriarch’s mind raced. Finally, gritting his teeth, he said, “Release her!” The restriction controlling Third Mistress was in his hands.

After most of the Zheng clan Daoists had been dealt with, Wei Mingyi stopped fighting and instead urged her cheat item to quickly reclaim the land of Xingyang City. The still-living Zheng Clan Patriarch and elders were obstacles, true, but besides them, why was there another obstructive “red dot”? And that mass of energy—it seemed to be moving?

Wei Mingyi’s heart sank. A sharp look in her eyes, she sank her qi to her dantian, her voice imbued with magical power, extraordinarily resonant: “Careful! Enemy attack! The Zheng clan is still hiding someone!” Her voice traveled far. The Zheng Clan Patriarch, seeing his secret exposed, wore an expression of purest despair.

Wei Mingyi was on high alert. She hurried to stand before Wu Chongyun, slightly spreading her arms to protect her. She took out the Golden Body Talisman, ready to use it at the critical moment. The unknown entity moved incredibly fast; the energy trail displayed by the System made her eyes spin.

“Understood,” Su Xuanjing answered calmly, her posture composed. Every sword strike she unleashed took something away. When her sword pointed directly at the Zheng Clan Patriarch, a streak of purple-green light flashed. With a clang, her sword qi was dispersed by a burst of force. Su Xuanjing narrowed her eyes, looking toward the figure who had abruptly charged in.

On the other side, Wei Mingyi also stared at that strange person.

It was a woman of an exceptionally eerie and bewitching appearance. Her face was covered in purple insect-shaped patterns. Her eyes were golden, and a jade-green snake was coiled around her body, hissing and flicking its tongue. Although she had dispersed the Sect Leader’s sword qi, she didn’t continue attacking. Instead, she raised one hand, lifting the Zheng Clan Patriarch by the neck, hoisting his entire body up. Strange laughter echoed in the air, faintly mixed with a series of fine bone-cracking sounds. The Zheng Clan Patriarch seemed to want to say something, but clutched by the woman, he couldn’t force out a single word. His body trembled violently. Amidst a rustling sound, swarms of insects burrowed out from his skin. In a few breaths, his body had become a skeleton; only his face, still covered by human skin, remained.

Wei Mingyi let out an “Eek,” first covering her eyes. But soon, she was peeking through her fingers at the strange woman.

“Th-Third Mistress…” The remaining Zheng clan elders were scared out of their wits. Staring at the woman in absolute terror, they tremblingly uttered a few words.

The woman ignored the remaining Zheng elders. She, along with her snake, turned to face Su Xuanjing.

Su Xuanjing’s heart chilled. A sharp, resonant hum erupted from her sword.

“Xie… Xian… Qing,” the woman uttered three very muddled syllables, her gaze fixed on Su Xuanjing. She didn’t attack.

Su Xuanjing paused a moment before she realized the woman was speaking her own name. Whether she was of Zheng bloodline or not, throwing away the surname “Zheng” meant she didn’t care about the Zheng clan’s survival. “Chongyuan Sect, Su Xuanjing.” Su Xuanjing offered a Daoist bow to Xie Xianqing. Releasing her sword qi, she instantly decapitated several Zheng clansmen.

The woman remained utterly indifferent, not caring in the slightest.

Su Xuanjing’s mind settled slightly.

As for Wei Mingyi, the greatest obstacle to reclamation, as shown by the System, had vanished.

Not an enemy.

Wei Mingyi lowered her hands, stealing a few more glances at the woman.

Immediately after, a whisk swept across her face.

“Shizun?” Wei Mingyi turned toward Wu Chongyun, her gaze confused.

Wu Chongyun stared expressionlessly ahead, yet the whisk’s tassels seemed to hook around Wei Mingyi’s neck, intentionally or not.