Chapter 17: Living to the End Counts as the Oriole

The Kunn position advances four, the Li position retreats six. That poisonous creature has already started slithering toward the left.

Hiding within the warm and comfortable trunk of the old cypress tree, Li Changshou continued to send voice transmissions. Youqin Xuanya was now less than three hundred zhang away from the cypress tree.

This cliff formed a protruding horizontal structure. At that moment, the Sanwei Bi Bo She had emerged from its original rock crevice and was crawling along the cliff wall below, its snake head poking out near the tree trunk.

It had been startled by Youqin Xuanya and the six pursuers, yet it remained undetected by Yuwen Ling in the air.

This allowed Li Changshou to save a great deal of his scheming efforts.

Li Changshou was multitasking: suppressing his own inner energy circulation with all his might, continuously guiding Youqin Xuanya aloud, and keeping a close eye on the demonic beast's movements, all while not ignoring Youqin Xuanya's life or death due to her toxicity...

The dough wasn't ready yet, so he couldn't just turn the donkey into donkey meat flatbread.

Here it comes.

Youqin Xuanya was now only a hundred zhang from the great cypress tree!

The Sanwei Bi Bo She's attention was fully captured by the fighters. It clung to the rock wall, moving slowly and subtly blocking the path to the Xian Jie Cao, yet not straying far from it.

It was an experienced hunter, well-versed in ambushes, and at that moment, it was being quite patient, viewing Youqin Xuanya and the pursuing group ahead as easy prey, mere snacks.

Li Changshou could already imagine the terrifying and thrilling scene when this three-zhang-long venomous snake suddenly lunged out.

This world was just that terrifying.

Next...

As the Mu Dun incantation circulated, Li Changshou moved freely up and down within the tree trunk, slowly descending to the root area.

Li Changshou's voice transmissions continued without pause, constantly entering Youqin Xuanya's ears:

"The Kan position advances three, the Zhen position retreats nine.

That poisonous creature has now locked onto you. Later, focus entirely on my guidance. When I say the word 'jump,' leap into the air with all your strength—do not hesitate for even a moment."

Youqin Xuanya acknowledged silently in her heart, her hands forming sword fingers that slid continuously, as the flying swords surrounded by flames darted back and forth.

Sword-flight and graceful dancing in her long skirt, she was like a fairy dancing in flames—utterly captivating and dazzling.

In the air, Yuwen Ling held Yuan Qing's shoulder, helping him resist the surrounding miasma.

Yuan Qing gazed down at Youqin Xuanya, his eyes filled with intense infatuation.

"Yuwen General! This time, we must not let Xuanya escape again!"

"Fourth Young Master, rest assured. Last time, we were unprepared for her having a teleportation treasure talisman," Yuwen Ling replied gravely. "Her magical power is already waning. When she retreats to the cliff's edge, I will make my move. Then, Young Master, you can appear from the side to protect her.

If she only feels aversion toward you in her heart, the love gu's effect might be halved. We need to make her develop some fondness for you."

Yuan Qing's face turned somewhat unpleasant, but he nodded. "Yuwen General, you've gone to great lengths."

Yuwen Ling added gravely, "I must say, I'm a bit puzzled, Fourth Young Master. How have you failed to win over the Sixth Princess's heart in sixty years?

If this matter doesn't succeed today, or if the love gu fails to take effect, we must kill the Sixth Princess here. Please prepare yourself, Fourth Young Master."

Yuan Qing clenched his fist tightly, a flash of anger in his eyes, but he said nothing more.

Below, Youqin Xuanya had already retreated near the cliff, about to enter the area covered by the cypress tree's canopy.

Li Changshou, who had already reached the tree roots, suddenly had a sharp glint in his eyes. The word "jump" was transmitted through the incantation into Youqin Xuanya's ear!

A burst of fiery light erupted from under Youqin Xuanya's flying sword, and her graceful figure shot into the sky, causing several incoming streams of light to miss their mark!

The six pursuers, unaware of the danger ahead, charged straight into the area covered by the cypress tree's canopy!

They had no intention of stopping, thinking only of rushing forward a few steps to jump and continue the chase. Little did they know, the edge of that canopy was a line between life and death!

Whoosh—

A violent rushing sound erupted as the Sanwei Bi Bo She, which had been waiting at the cliff's edge, suddenly sprang out without warning!

In the air, Yuwen Ling shouted, "Retreat quickly!" But the leftmost masked figure was already caught in the poisonous creature's gaping maw!

Its fangs clamped down, and with a fierce yank of its head, the person was instantly torn in half...

Hidden in the old cypress tree's roots, Li Changshou pondered to himself that facing this poisonous beast head-on would make victory far from certain.

The remaining five tried to retreat, but how could the Sanwei Bi Bo She let its prey escape?

Its tail whipped out in a flurry of shadows, smashing one person to the ground and simultaneously blocking the others' escape routes. Its fine scales flared open, spewing out thick clouds of deadly poison that enveloped the rest.

"You beast, how dare you!"

A roar came from the air as the burly figure broke through the mist, hurling his large axe downward while diving straight toward the Sanwei Bi Bo She.

The Sanwei Bi Bo She, with its flesh horns on its head, immediately sensed the threat and reared up to ram its head against the falling axe.

That oddly shaped fleshy bulge on its head was its hardest point!

A resounding clang echoed as the giant axe was deflected. The snake's head slammed into the ground, and a crack appeared in the fleshy bulge, from which golden blood began to trickle.

The poisonous creature flew into a rage. Its tail lashed out, propelling it into a leap.

Yuwen Ling, falling from the air, summoned his axe back with a wave of his hand and swung it down to meet the attack head-on!

At the tree roots, Li Changshou gripped three paper figures in his right hand, hesitating briefly before pulling out a fourth; soon after, a fifth and sixth...

In his left hand, he held his strongest anesthetic—Super Grade Soft Immortal Powder.

Li Changshou waited for the right moment to release the Soft Immortal Powder, planning to act only when the Sanwei Bi Bo She was on the brink of defeat.

The Sanwei Bi Bo She was immune to poison, but Yuwen Ling was not.

Meanwhile, Li Changshou kept his spiritual sense fully extended, scanning a ten-li radius for any hidden threats.

On the other side, Youqin Xuanya had followed Li Changshou's guidance and retreated to the rear of the cliff.

Without Yuwen Ling's protection, Yuan Qing dared not stay in the mist. He finally made his move, charging from mid-air toward Youqin Xuanya with a three-chi green sword, intent on blocking her escape.

However, Youqin Xuanya had no intention of fleeing. She countered by controlling her flying swords, instantly suppressing Yuan Qing.

Though Yuan Qing's cultivation was a minor realm higher than Youqin Xuanya's, he could only desperately defend...

Yet, Youqin Xuanya kept most of her focus on the fierce battle on the cliff, using her spiritual sense to observe it.

She could sense that Li Changshou, who had been transmitting to her, was nearby, but she couldn't pinpoint his exact location, and anxiety began to build in her heart.

Nevertheless, the entire situation was firmly under Li Changshou's control.

The Sanwei Bi Bo She saw Yuwen Ling, at the early Yuan Immortal stage, as the greatest threat and refused to yield an inch, guarding the Xian Jie Cao.

Yuwen Ling wielded his giant axe, hacking relentlessly while shielding his three subordinates, who had lost their senses to the snake's poison, behind him...

In such a scenario, Yuwen Ling couldn't hold back, and both sides fought with full force.

Li Changshou remained patiently hidden, standing still at the old tree's roots, waiting for his moment to strike and preparing to escape at any time.

Since this was a hasty response rather than a meticulously planned scheme, Li Changshou slightly lowered his standards for himself.

This time, even with just a ninety-eight percent certainty, he would act—always seeking one hundred percent was unrealistic...

After a brief but intense battle, the somewhat bare canopy of the old cypress tree was chopped in half, and the waves of energy from the giant axe's strikes carved deep gashes into the cliff, causing parts of it to collapse.

The Sanwei Bi Bo She, not yet having reached immortality, couldn't hold out long against a Yuan Immortal at the early stage, even without powerful treasures. It was soon covered in wounds, toxic blood flowing wildly, on the verge of being slain.

'You've worked hard, big fellow.'

Li Changshou thought to himself, then gently shook his left hand. The colorless vapor from the Super Grade Soft Immortal Powder was wrapped in his magical power, sent first to the cypress tree trunk, and then quickly seeped out, silently drifting toward Yuwen Ling.

Soon, Yuwen Ling's movements slowed slightly, and he began to feel dizzy and disoriented.

'This serpent's poison is incredibly potent!'

Yuwen Ling cursed inwardly, his eyes bulging with bloodshot veins. Despite the drowsiness and unsteadiness, he let out a forceful roar.

He dared not linger in battle any longer, channeling a powerful strike that propelled him into the air. He used his immortal power to immobilize the great serpent and swung his giant axe straight for its neck!

The Sanwei Bi Bo She suddenly felt the urge to retreat and turned to flee, but it hesitated briefly, glancing at the three stalks of Xian Jie Cao on the cliff's edge...

That moment of hesitation sealed its fate.

The giant axe, gripped by two sturdy hands, cleaved into its neck from behind, sending the snake's head flying and toxic blood spraying everywhere!

Yuwen Ling landed unsteadily, staggering a few steps before propping himself up with the axe to avoid a humiliating fall.

He pulled out a bottle of antidote pills and poured them into his mouth, but his movements grew even slower...

'What kind of poison is this? It's so fierce!'

"General... we..."

A weak cry came from behind him. As Yuwen Ling tried to turn and rescue them, his footing faltered, nearly causing him to collapse.

The antidote pills had no effect, and his vision spun wildly.

Just then, a whistling sound came from the side!

A wooden arrow shot from the flank, piercing straight into Yuwen Ling's neck. The burly man trembled and turned angrily toward the cypress tree trunk.

There, a figure of 'Li Changshou' slowly emerged from the tree, tossing out the Heaven-Swapping Treasure Umbrella, gripping a bronze short crossbow, and releasing three paper figures.

Boom! Boom boom!

The paper figures transformed into avatars and charged at Yuwen Ling!

'Li Changshou' circled around to the side, quickly reloading the bronze short crossbow with a wooden arrow and firing again.

The crossbow glowed with treasure light, and the wooden arrow struck with extraordinary force.

Deeply poisoned, Yuwen Ling could barely fight back. Another arrow hit his neck, splattering immortal blood.

The three paper figures surrounded him, forming a triangle and sprinkling green mist from the porcelain bottles in their hands.

The green mist wrapped around Yuwen Ling like a living thing, and his body emitted sizzling sounds. His last bit of strength went into a upward roar filled with agony...

Unfortunately, the Heaven-Swapping Treasure Umbrella had already set up a barrier, sealing off the area completely, so no sound escaped.

Yuwen Ling's immortal body was rapidly corroded by the mist, exposing bones in several places and forming translucent bubbles around him.

He struggled to counterattack, swinging his heavy axe slowly, but the three paper figures agilely leaped back.

Whoosh!

A third wooden arrow pierced Yuwen Ling's corroded chest, striking his heart meridian!

The three paper figures began chanting incantations in unison, spewing three streams of white flame that engulfed Yuwen Ling!

Only then did Yuwen Ling recognize Li Changshou, weakly shouting:

"It's... you..."

Though a Yuan Immortal, and one who had just achieved immortality, he was now teetering on the edge of death.

Yet, immortals do not accept such an end lightly.

In the white flames, Yuwen Ling suddenly closed his eyes, and several streams of immortal light surged from his mutilated body, condensing into a faint shadow above his head!

His primordial spirit emerged!

"Die!"

Yuwen Ling's primordial spirit roared and, resisting the Soft Immortal Powder's effects, struck a palm at Li Changshou!

The palm descended like a mountain collapsing or a flood surging!

Li Changshou tried to dodge, but his ankle was suddenly grabbed tightly by a hand. Looking down, he saw one of the poisoned, anesthetized masked figures had made a desperate move.

The man was trembling all over, having resisted the toxins by burning his three souls and seven spirits, all just to snuff out Li Changshou's life...

Tsk, a miscalculation.

Li Changshou shook his head slightly as the palm struck, shattering his upper body.

Yuwen Ling's primordial spirit showed a cold smile.

'Though this young man's spells and schemes are formidable, he is still not an immortal...'

Whoosh—

Whoosh whoosh whoosh—

More whistling sounds came from under the cypress tree as seven long nails flew rapidly, embedding themselves into various parts of Yuwen Ling's primordial spirit!

Each nail was inscribed with complex prohibitions and flickered with pale white ghostly fire!

Yuwen Ling's primordial spirit looked down in bewilderment, realizing that the three paper figures had never stopped spewing flames. By the time his primordial spirit emerged, his body was already reduced to a skeleton...

The masked figure who had burned his soul stared blankly upward, watching as half a paper figure drifted in the wind and caught fire...

He had exhausted all hope of reincarnation, yet only earned a half-paper figure as his burial companion.

Under the cypress tree, a new 'Li Changshou' appeared, extending his left hand toward Yuwen Ling's primordial spirit. With a gentle clench of his fingers, the seven hard-to-refine soul-extinguishing nails detonated instantly!

At the tree roots, the real Li Changshou used his spiritual sense to observe the immortal skeleton that still wouldn't burn away. He frowned slightly, directing Paper Figure Five to throw out the Soul-Capturing Treasure Pearl while having Paper Figures One, Two, and Three intensify their flames.

This ghostly cold fire wasn't effective enough against immortals; he really needed to find a way to get the sect's Samadhi True Flame.

After waiting a while longer, the skeleton finally collapsed into ashes on the ground. The three paper figures began reciting scriptures as per protocol, and only then did Li Changshou stir.

Such ritualistic steps as scattering the ashes had to be done personally to ensure they were thorough.