Chapter 258: The Might of the Locust Sword, A Joint Attack
A chilling wind blew, carrying a sense of impending doom.
The two sides stood a dozen meters apart, the air between them thick with tension.
“You said… you’ve come to kill us?”
A middle-aged man with a weathered face, dressed in black, sneered, his eyes flashing. “A mere woman… uttering such arrogant words.”
“A little girl with limited experience and narrow vision is naturally so reckless and adorable.”
The old woman beside him chuckled, her cloudy eyes appraising Mao Ruoyu. “Such a youthful appearance and vibrant aura, yet possessing Yin energy comparable to an Evil Spirit at such a young age… such arrogance is not surprising for a ghost practitioner.”
“Her talent is indeed remarkable.”
The man snorted, a deep, blood-red Yin energy swirling in his palm. “But if she dares to obstruct us, she’ll die here.”
Mao Ruoyu’s expression remained calm and impassive, her long hair swaying in the wind as she gently placed her hand on the hilt of her sword.
“Wait!”
The old woman smiled, raising her hand. “Why not ask this spirited young lady why she’s blocking our path? Upon closer inspection, she possesses quite a remarkable physique, a hidden talent. It would be a shame for her to die here.”
Her eyes twinkled, a knowing smile on her face. “With proper guidance, she could become a rare and valuable… vessel.”
BOOM—!!
A deafening explosion echoed in the distance, shaking the very ground.
The old woman’s smile vanished, her expression turning cold.
After a moment of silence, she chuckled sinisterly. “Interesting. Wei Yanshan released the True Dragon before even reaching Changling. It seems he’s encountered a formidable opponent.”
“Someone capable of threatening both Wei Yanshan and Tang Qianmen in this county… it must be the legendary Lin Tianlu.”
The man’s expression turned serious as he looked at the dark clouds gathering in the sky. “It seems the rumors are true. That scholar truly possesses extraordinary power. To force two Savage Realm demons to resort to their trump card…”
“Then we can’t afford to waste any more time.”
The old woman’s gaze shifted to Mao Ruoyu, a cruel smile twisting her lips. “I was hoping for a… pleasant chat with this young lady, but under the circumstances…”
“Enough talk.” The man interrupted her, his expression grim. “I know how… cruel you can be to beautiful young women. Deal with her quickly. Do as you please, just don’t leave any loose ends or delay our mission.”
With that, he ignored Mao Ruoyu, who was blocking their path, and continued towards the city.
In his eyes, her Evil Spirit level cultivation was insignificant.
She wasn’t even worth killing, a mere insect to be crushed underfoot. If she weren’t so beautiful, he wouldn’t even bother looking at her.
He had his own plans for Changling.
“Very well.”
The old woman chuckled, sharp needles emerging from her wooden staff. “Give me fifteen minutes, and I’ll have this disobedient little slave begging for mercy… This unexpected bonus is quite delightful.”
“—Are those your last words?”
Mao Ruoyu’s cold, calm voice echoed through the night.
She gripped the hilt of her wooden sword, her gaze unwavering.
Seeing her composure, the old woman narrowed her eyes, about to mock her, when Mao Ruoyu slowly drew her sword.
“Such a childish toy… is that what you’re relying on, little girl?”
Clang!!
A sharp, clear clang resonated as a bright light sliced through the darkness.
With a flick of her wrist, Mao Ruoyu unleashed a blindingly fast attack, the blade of the locust sword aimed at the departing man!
“Hmm?!”
The man’s eyes widened in shock as he turned around, instinctively raising his arms, channeling his Yin energy to create a defensive barrier.
Then, the sword cleaved him in two!
The undiminished blade continued its trajectory, tearing through trees and earth, leaving a deep gash in the landscape.
“…”
The man froze, stuck in a defensive stance, his robes falling away as the wind died down.
The old woman, who had been sneering, also froze, her eyes wide with disbelief.
“H-How…”
The man trembled, looking down at his chest in disbelief.
A deep gash ran from his shoulder to his waist, Yin energy dissipating from the wound.
There was no blood, no gore, just a searing pain, as if his body and soul had been severed.
“A mere Evil Spirit… How… How could she…?”
His face paled, and he stumbled back, clutching the wound, his eyes filled with terror.
Mao Ruoyu glanced at him coldly, her sleeve swaying in the wind, revealing her delicate hand. She wasn’t even holding the sword, just pointing with her fingers.
—The sword had attacked on its own.
“This is the Locust Sword, forged by heavenly lightning, imbued with the power of Yang thunder. To demons and ghosts like you… it’s the ultimate weapon.”
Mao Ruoyu lowered her arm, her voice indifferent. “Even a Savage Realm demon like you can’t withstand its power. One strike… and you die.”
“A-Argh?!”
The man’s eyes bulged, bloodshot, his face contorted in agony as he struggled.
A blinding light erupted from the wound on his chest, like lightning and fire, black cracks spreading outwards, a searing pain consuming his body and soul.
“N-No! I can’t be killed by such a… a childish trick… I have other techniques… my Soul Origin Heart Realm… my grand plan…!”
He roared incoherently, collapsing to his knees, reaching towards the sky as if grasping for something.
“I’ve cultivated for centuries, defied heaven, fought against ghosts… I can’t be killed by… this sword… I’m not… ready…!”
His desperate cries couldn’t stop the power of the heavenly thunder within the blade.
The powerful demon, his name unknown, didn’t even have a chance to unleash his full power, his terror and ferocity as a Savage Realm being unshown, as his body and soul were consumed by the thunder, his eyes turning hollow as he collapsed.
His dissipating Yin energy was instantly annihilated by the thunder, leaving no trace.
“…”
A deathly silence descended upon the forest.
The old woman stared at the scene in disbelief, her eyes wide with shock.
This ferocious demon, who had terrorized the demon and ghost world for centuries, had been killed by a single strike from a seemingly weak woman.
Such a pathetic, laughable death?
Although his cultivation had only recently reached the Savage Realm and wasn’t fully stabilized, the gap between Savage Realm and Evil Spirit was vast… How could…
“—Now… it’s your turn.”
Mao Ruoyu’s cold voice echoed through the night.
But her alluring voice now sounded like the call of death, the judgment of the King of Hell.
The old woman’s heart lurched, and she saw the white-haired woman as a celestial being, wielding unimaginable power.
In a daze, she even saw a faint halo around Mao Ruoyu, an ethereal glow, a terrifying presence that filled her with dread. She stumbled back, turning to flee!
Even though she had heard rumors about the terrifying Lin Tianlu in Changling and had prepared herself, she hadn’t heard anything about this white-haired woman!
Where had this terrifying figure come from?!
“Hmm?”
But as she turned to run, she paused, a glint in her eyes.
She looked back at Mao Ruoyu’s movements, a suspicion forming in her mind.
—Something wasn’t right.
If this woman truly possessed such power, why hesitate? Why not attack immediately?
Although her earlier strike had been swift and decisive, leaving them no chance to react, now…
Even as she was about to flee, Mao Ruoyu hadn’t moved, hadn’t even raised her sword.
And although her expression remained calm, she had inadvertently revealed a flicker of… anxiety.
The old woman’s eyes narrowed, and she stopped, turning back with a sinister grin. “I see… Your Locust Sword is indeed powerful, even capable of attacking on its own. But you can’t control it twice in such a short time!”
A flicker of unease appeared in Mao Ruoyu’s calm eyes, and she bit her lip, taking a step back, clutching her sword tighter.
Seeing her hesitation, the old woman didn’t hesitate. She thrust her staff forward, distorting the very space around them, countless needles materializing in the air.
A single, deadly strike!
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh—!
A barrage of needles engulfed Mao Ruoyu.
The beautiful woman’s face was filled with terror as she raised her arms to defend herself, but it was futile. She was pierced by countless needles, her body torn to shreds, the Locust Sword clattering to the ground, shattered into pieces.
The old woman’s expression was grim as she continued her attack, blasting the remains of Mao Ruoyu’s body repeatedly, checking for any lingering aura or remnants of the sword’s power.
She couldn’t afford to be careless.
The slightest oversight could cost her life.
However…
“Is she… truly dead?”
The old woman lowered her hand, murmuring in disbelief. “No aura… her soul is completely shattered. Even if she could recover from such injuries, she would be… beyond this world.”
After a final check, she relaxed slightly, her anxiety subsiding.
“I didn’t expect such a turn of events… No wonder Wei Yanshan released the True Dragon early. He must have encountered a similar situation.”
Glancing at the middle-aged man’s corpse, she sneered. “You died such a pathetic death. But at least you served a purpose… Wait!”
Her eyes widened in surprise as she stared at the corpse.
“That’s not right. My technique should have destroyed his body as well. Without a soul or Yin energy, it should be just an empty shell, easily destroyed. Why is it still intact?!”
Something was wrong!
The old woman’s heart lurched, and her vision blurred, the ravaged landscape around them seemingly reverting to its original state.
And the white-haired woman… was standing there, unharmed!
“Y-You, how—”
Slash!
A sword and an axe struck her shoulders simultaneously, the sound of tearing flesh echoing through the night as sword intent and Yin energy surged outwards. Cheng Yishi and Hua Shuya’s shouts accompanied the attack, forcing the stunned old woman to her knees!
The old woman snapped back to reality, roaring in rage and shock, “You dare—!?”
“Don’t move.”
A cold, emotionless voice echoed from the distance.
Yun Yue, her face slightly pale, pointed a finger, and a dream-inducing technique, woven from Lunar Breath, enveloped the old woman, her expression turning dazed and confused.
Then…
Mao Ruoyu stepped forward gracefully, her fingers tracing the hilt of the Locust Sword, which unsheathed itself once more.
With a blinding flash of light, a sword strike that could cleave the very night, the Yin energy in the area was completely annihilated.
The old woman, who had been struggling to break free from the illusion, gasped, her eyes filled with terror, and collapsed, lifeless.
