Chapter 376: A Desperate Gamble, Jade Dragon’s Creation
The corpse crumbled into dust and scattered.
But Lin Tianlu’s expression remained calm and indifferent as he glanced sideways.
Then, Bai Shiyi’s figure rematerialized in the distance.
“Master Lin is even more ruthless and decisive than I imagined. If I hadn’t been prepared, I might have truly died.”
He dusted off his clothes, a relaxed smile appearing on his face.
“And your methods are also quite astonishing, to be able to casually remove the deadly techniques embedded within these mortals, truly unbelievable.”
He had anticipated this and made preparations beforehand, this escape method was naturally no exception.
But despite his casual tone, his gaze was incredibly serious.
—This man’s strength was truly terrifying.
During his brief observation in Fengtai County, he had already glimpsed Lin Tianlu’s earth-shattering cultivation, that heaven-splitting sword strike shocking all the demons and ghosts present.
Such power was far beyond his ability to confront directly.
After all, that clone, possessing forty percent of his cultivation, hadn’t even lasted a moment.
The gap between them was like an insurmountable chasm!
If he had any sense, he shouldn’t have provoked such a terrifying opponent, coming here now was practically suicide.
“—Heh!”
But a sinister and twisted grin suddenly appeared on Bai Shiyi’s face.
The incident in Fengtai County, Lin Tianlu’s unexpected actions, had completely ruined his carefully laid plans, even leading him to be deceived and pitted against the ancient realm, incurring the wrath of several Venerables…
He couldn’t swallow this!
And he couldn’t let this “mortal enemy” escape and cause more trouble for the Luo Xing. As a Soultaker, he had to redeem himself!
Even if their strength was vastly different, this reckless fool, with his brute force but no cunning, wouldn’t expect the deadly trap he had prepared!
“Attack!!”
With a shout, several sinister ghostly figures emerged from the surroundings, their pre-prepared Yin techniques unleashed simultaneously, transforming into countless black chains swirling in the air.
Lin Tianlu raised his hands to counterattack, but a gust of wind suddenly came from behind him.
Whoosh!
A sharp dagger, almost grazing his cheek, thrust out from behind.
“Hmm?”
He glanced sideways and saw that the previously terrified villagers, now with sinister grins on their faces, were charging towards him, wielding weapons.
Swish, swish, swish!
Lin Tianlu dodged swiftly, his arms shaking, shattering the swirling black chains.
“Hahaha!”
Bai Shiyi, in the distance, laughed loudly: “Master Lin! Think carefully before you act! These aren’t assassins I’ve planted, but real mortals!
Although you’re clever enough to remove the deadly Yin techniques within them, you don’t know that I’ve already controlled their minds. In their eyes, you’re the source of all their suffering, they will attack you relentlessly! And you… do you dare to fight back and kill these innocent people?!”
Lin Tianlu’s thoughts stirred, and he was about to knock the villagers unconscious when Bai Shiyi sneered again: “If you try to incapacitate them, they’ll immediately sever their own meridians, bite their tongues, and bash their heads against the ground. They will all die because of you!”
He opened his folding fan casually and chuckled: “And there’s no need for any other tricks, I still have nearly a hundred children. If you dare to move, my men will take their heads instantly.”
Lin Tianlu’s steps faltered, and dozens of daggers suddenly stopped around him, a clear threat.
The swirling chains also froze in mid-air, transforming into a profound formation, trapping Lin Tianlu within.
“Excellent, you’re truly cooperative, Master Lin.”
Bai Shiyi cupped his hands from afar with a mocking smile: “Such compassion is truly touching.”
Then, he leaped and landed beside the carriage, bowing theatrically: “Ladies inside the carriage, would you kindly show yourselves?”
After a moment, Mao Ruoyu lifted the curtain and stepped out, her expression cold and indifferent.
Bai Shiyi looked at her and said with feigned emotion: “Madam Mao is as beautiful as ever, but such a cold expression is a pity. Why don’t you smile and let everyone see?”
“…”
Mao Ruoyu glanced at him coldly.
But Bai Shiyi just grinned: “Madam Mao, you should understand the situation. Your kind-hearted husband doesn’t want to harm innocent people, and as his wife, you wouldn’t want to shame him… Or do you want to see these people die?”
Mao Ruoyu parted her lips slightly and said with disdain: “You villains are truly disgusting.”
“Heh! You’re mistaken, Madam, those are just empty words.”
Bai Shiyi smiled and raised a finger: “The moment you responded, you’ve already fallen into my trap.”
Hum—
The next moment, the outline of a Yin technique formation appeared around the carriage, a sinister aura emanating from it, like a cage.
“Madam Mao, and the other ladies inside the carriage, you can’t attack, and you can’t resist.” Bai Shiyi explained slowly and deliberately: “If you dare to move, we will kill these hostages, and as for what will happen to Master Lin, trapped in that formation, we can’t guarantee anything.”
He looked towards the formation and laughed loudly: “And you, Master Lin, if you want to resist, think about your beautiful wives first. Once inside my formation, their bodies and souls are at my mercy, a single thought is enough to shatter their minds, turning them into mindless puppets!”
At the same time, numerous demons, ghosts, and practitioners emerged from the dark village, a formidable force.
Cheng Yishi also stepped out of the carriage, her expression cold as she looked around: “You’ve truly made thorough preparations.”
“Naturally, Madam Cheng.”
Bai Shiyi chuckled and snapped his fingers: “I suffered quite a bit at your hands last time, I have to be prepared.”
Then, several formations appeared around the mountain, and giant black hands emerged, completely enveloping the formation trapping Lin Tianlu.
“And in order to successfully eliminate… no, seal Master Lin, I’ve gone through a lot of trouble, mobilized countless men, and sacrificed many precious treasures to achieve this.”
He grinned ferociously, a hint of madness in his eyes, and crushed a pearl in his hand.
A massive black shadow, several zhang tall, suddenly appeared, roaring and slamming its palms downwards.
“A thousand-year-old demonic soul, although it might not be able to harm Master Lin, it’s enough to trap him for half a day!”
Looking at the swirling dust and smoke, Cheng Yishi’s eyes flickered, and she sneered: “Do you think we’ll surrender so easily? Just you, a defeated opponent, and these insignificant pawns?”
“Your strong will is indeed admirable, ladies.”
Bai Shiyi grinned ferociously and closed his folding fan: “That’s why I came here personally this time, with my full cultivation, more than enough to crush you all, you won’t escape.”
Saying this, his fury erupted as he waved his hand: “You dared to disrespect me last time, now kneel down and beg for mercy!”
Boom!
An earth-shattering explosion suddenly erupted behind them, its power almost illuminating the entire village.
Bai Shiyi’s pupils constricted, and he was about to turn around when Meixia, the horse standing quietly beside the carriage, suddenly raised her leg, a green pattern swirling around her powerful hind leg, and kicked him fiercely!
“A mere beast dares to— Gah?!”
His casually raised left arm was instantly broken by the kick, his hastily erected defenses shattered.
Bai Shiyi was sent flying pathetically, rolling for more than ten zhang before managing to stand up again.
But now, he had no time for anger or shouting.
Because the layers of seals he had painstakingly set up had been instantly shattered, torn apart by a surging vortex of energy!
A single figure stood amidst the unstoppable torrent, like a descending god or immortal, a single glance enough to inspire uncontrollable fear and awe.
He stared blankly at this unbelievable scene, his eyes wide.
Then, snapping out of his daze, he roared in shock and anger: “Lin Tianlu! If you dare to move again—”
Pfft!
In the next moment, countless emerald green spiritual chains pierced through the foreheads of the surrounding women and children.
“Ah…”
Their eyes widening, their faces blank, they didn’t even have time to react before their bodies went limp, as if they had become lifeless corpses, unable to move.
Bai Shiyi’s pupils constricted into pinpricks as he stumbled backward, stunned and speechless.
—Lin Tianlu, had he gone mad?
He had actually… killed these mortals?!
Wasn’t this person supposed to be a saint, a benevolent scholar?! How could he commit such a massacre for such a petty humiliation, without any hesitation?!
N-No!
This was impossible!
Could it be that this scholar’s actions all this time had been a pretense, his humility and gentleness all fake?!
Or perhaps… the lives of these dozens of people weren’t enough to make him waver, insignificant compared to his wives’ dignity?
Bai Shiyi roared furiously: “I still have hundreds of children captured from various places in the back mountain! They haven’t been manipulated, their minds are clear, but if you take another step, they will instantly—”
“They will… what?”
A cold and indifferent female voice suddenly echoed.
Bai Shiyi looked towards the other side, stunned.
Her sleeves like flowing clouds, her dress like a dream, a graceful figure floated down like a celestial being, and on her countless fox tails, swirling like a sea of clouds, were more than a hundred unconscious children.
“Y-You, how…”
“You set up many traps, but you overlooked our cultivation.” Yun Yue raised her eyes slightly, her fox eyes, beneath her long eyelashes, calm and serene: “Those Yin techniques and formations are nothing to me. Rescuing these children was easy.”
Bai Shiyi’s lips twitched, and he suddenly heard a commotion behind him. Glancing back, he saw Hua Shuya and Cheng Yishi leaping and darting swiftly among the demons and ghosts, sword light and axe shadows flashing, their attacks unstoppable!
This sudden counterattack caught the demons and ghosts off guard, completely disrupting their formation!
“Ha, hahaha…”
Bai Shiyi suddenly chuckled miserably.
“Unbelievable… I clearly saw you at the Savage Realm before… how could you possibly…”
Not only had this fox woman’s cultivation increased drastically, but even those women were also much stronger, even Crimson Demon Realm demons and ghosts were no match for them.
It had only been a month since their last encounter, what had happened during this time?!
“So, are you ready to die?”
A tall and straight figure, like a phantom, stood amidst the overwhelming storm of spiritual energy, its voice deep and resonant, shaking heaven and earth.
Bai Shiyi’s face turned pale, but a crazed smile gradually appeared on his face: “Too bad, Lin Tianlu, you’ve been tricked! Those children are the real hostages, if I’m injured, or even killed, they will die with me!”
He threw away his folding fan, his hair standing on end, and roared like a madman: “Reinforcements will arrive soon, even if they’re no match for you, they’ll know that you’re just a fraud, a ruthless killer, and this so-called ‘Mystic Scholar’ is just a—”
Pfft!
Instantly, countless emerald green spiritual chains pierced through the foreheads of the hundred children on the fox tails.
“Ah…”
Bai Shiyi was completely stunned.
Their auras vanished, the connection severed.
These children had all been… killed instantly… by this man.
“It’s a pity that you’ve lost your last bargaining chip.”
Lin Tianlu approached, his aura as powerful as the heavens themselves, his voice deep and low: “I let you escape last time, and it led to this tragedy. But this time, even if you had three heads and six arms, you won’t escape.
—You will die.”
“I-Impossible…”
Bai Shiyi stumbled backward, murmuring in a daze: “How could I…”
But as he murmured, his hands, hidden in his sleeves, quickly formed hand seals, a strange mark appearing on his forehead, a ghostly figure seemingly rising behind him, instantly enveloping Mao Ruoyu, Hua Shuya, and Cheng Yishi, who were fighting the demons and ghosts.
“I don’t believe you would dare to kill your own wives—”
Clang!
A clear and resonant sound, and the sinister technique that was about to be unleashed instantly shattered.
“There’s no need for my husband to intervene.”
Bai Shiyi was stunned, staring blankly at Mao Ruoyu, who was standing not far away.
The beautiful and alluring woman’s face was slightly pale, but she was maintaining her hand seals, her expression cold and indifferent, her gaze filled with disdain: “With my secret techniques, I can easily block your pathetic soul-manipulating tricks.”
“—You, you bitch, aaaaaaaah!”
Bai Shiyi roared in fury and reached out to crush her, but a streak of emerald green light, carrying an earth-shattering power, instantly engulfed him, transforming into a terrifying torrent that seemed to split the earth, sweeping through the village and the valley, crashing into the distant mountains with a deafening roar!
Lin Tianlu’s expression was indifferent as he struck out with his palm.
“Groaaaaar!”
The ground collapsed and sank, and Bai Shiyi screamed in agony, his body seemingly shattered, almost completely destroyed.
But even as his soul was fading, he still managed to grin ferociously, shouting: “You can’t kill me! I, a Luo Xing Soultaker, won’t die in this place! I will return and find you again—”
“You won’t have another chance.”
Lin Tianlu’s figure and face, amidst the blazing torrent of spiritual energy, seemed ethereal and unpredictable, both real and illusory.
Only his terrifying and soul-shaking pressure was omnipresent, as if replacing the very heavens, filling the world.
His large hand slowly descended, crushing Bai Shiyi’s head.
And at this moment, a streak of light suddenly pierced through space and escaped.
Lin Tianlu, as if having anticipated this, looked up and was about to give chase, his spiritual energy surging, when a strange fluctuation suddenly came from his waist.
“Hmm?”
He looked down and was surprised to see the jade flute at his waist floating into the air, ripples emanating from its mouthpiece.
Then, the remnant soul that had just escaped was pulled back, accompanied by a terrified scream, and a completely unharmed ‘Bai Shiyi’ was forcibly dragged out from the crack.
“Th-This is impossible, aaaaaah—”
The jade flute floated and spun in Lin Tianlu’s hand, as if playing a strange melody, and the two soul fragments of Bai Shiyi, their eyes wide with terror and despair, were swept by the ripples, gradually disintegrating and turning into dust.
This time, no matter how many escape methods he had, he was truly dead, not even a trace remaining in this world.
…
In the dark forest, several ghostly figures stopped abruptly, looking at the surging spiritual energy rising into the sky in the distance with shock and uncertainty.
And… Bai Shiyi’s soul power was rapidly dissipating, until it completely vanished.
“He’s… dead.”
“Even using innocent mortals as bait couldn’t trap Lin Tianlu?”
“His cultivation is truly heaven-defying… and he has no moral constraints… who can defeat him?!”
The ghosts exchanged glances.
Then, without a word, they turned and fled.
To appear now would be suicide. Even though they coveted Lin Tianlu’s head, it wasn’t worth losing their lives!
Clang——!
But just then, a long and shapely leg suddenly landed on the ground, a seemingly light and casual movement, yet it created a powerful shockwave that stopped the fleeing ghosts in their tracks.
“Who are you?!”
A graceful figure, faintly visible in the darkness and mist, held a crescent-shaped dagger, its blade gleaming coldly.
“Daring to plot against Tianlu, none of you will escape.”
Her black hair fluttered, her skirt swayed, her supple body crouched like a leopard, her beautiful back exposed, and her eyes, like those of a demon, glowed with a sinister light.
“You… will all die.”
“Arrogant bitch, such big words—”
A flash of cold light, and a head flew into the air.
As a gentle breeze blew, the head, along with the stiff body, disintegrated into dust.
The dagger’s blade flickered, and in the dark and unknown forest, a silent massacre began.
…
As the battle ended, Hua Shuya and Cheng Yishi sheathed their weapons, exhaling softly, and looked around. The surrounding demons, ghosts, and practitioners had all been slain.
Looking towards the distance, Lin Tianlu was slowly walking towards them from the smoke-filled ruins.
Hum—
Countless emerald green spiritual chains retracted, carrying the “corpses.”
Lin Tianlu pondered for a moment, then waved his sleeve, and the spiritual chains dissipated.
The old, weak, women, and children collapsed to the ground, but they weren’t dead, clutching their foreheads and gasping for breath, still shaken.
Clearly, they hadn’t actually been killed.
These emerald green spiritual chains targeted the soul, not harming the body, only shattering the “hidden doors” within them, preventing them from being controlled.
The elderly murmured: “Wh-What were we doing just now…”
“Everyone, you were harmed by villains, your minds controlled, I’ve freed you from their grasp.”
Lin Tianlu stepped forward, helped a few elderly people up, and said gently: “And those villains have been eliminated, there’s no need to worry about them coming back.”
“Th-This…”
The elderly villagers looked at each other, speechless.
But after a moment of silence, they looked back at the devastated village, and they couldn’t help but tremble and fall to their knees, weeping bitterly.
Not hatred or madness, but helplessness and despair, a truly tragic sight.
Lin Tianlu watched silently, a soft sigh escaping his lips.
For these old, weak, women, and children, their families killed overnight, left alone in this village, it was as if all hope had been taken away.
Even though they had survived, how could they possibly accept this?
Lin Tianlu scratched his head and sighed: “Yue’er, do you have any healing techniques?”
“Reviving the dead is beyond our abilities.”
Yun Yue quietly appeared beside him, shaking her head with a complex expression: “And those villagers have been dead for days, their bodies decaying, their souls scattered. Even if there were an expert capable of resurrection here, there’s nothing we can do.”
The cold night wind blew, carrying their cries of grief and sorrow.
And the hundreds of children, captured from various places, huddled together, terrified by this scene of death and despair.
Lin Tianlu was about to comfort them when he suddenly felt the jade flute in his hand trembling slightly.
He exclaimed softly and looked closely, seeing that the usually dormant jade flute… was now emitting a soft and gentle light.
His mind stirred, as if touched by something.
Lin Tianlu, following his intuition, brought the jade flute to his lips, took a deep breath, and slowly began to play a gentle and soothing melody.
“…”
A soft song echoed in the night.
The sound of sobbing and weeping, adding a touch of melancholy.
Mao Ruoyu, who had just approached, stopped, her beautiful eyes widening slightly, and she looked up to see streams of light converging from all directions, gradually illuminating the dark night sky!
These were…
…the demons and ghosts they had just slain!
No, it was their Yin energy and soul power, remaining after their deaths!
Countless strands intertwined and flowed like a river of stars, points of light rising and swirling from all over the village, faintly visible figures condensing and moving swiftly.
Lin Tianlu closed his eyes, silently playing the jade flute, the melody gradually changing from mournful and melancholic to gentle and warm, like a comforting spring, flowing into their hearts.
The despairing and grieving villagers looked up blankly, their breaths catching in their throats.
—So beautiful.
Countless stars twinkled and flickered, like a river of stars flowing through the sky, converging above the village, forming a river of hope and warmth.
As if everything was being revived, life returning, emerald green light swirling around the jade flute, like the rhythm of nature, the pulse of life, ripples spreading along with the melody, scattering the starlight into every household.
For a moment, the world was silent, yet filled with life, as if reborn— Mao Ruoyu looked on in a daze, her eyes shimmering with an ethereal blue light, and she murmured: “Jade Dragon… Creation…”
