Chapter 483: Black Heart
“No, that’s not right. I clearly bowed and killed your soul. How could you possibly still be alive?”
The Wu God of Kui looked suspiciously at Xing’an, who had sat up. “Could it be that you’re not called Xing’an? No, that’s not it either. That bow of mine just now clearly shattered your soul into pieces. A shattered, collapsed soul cannot be alive! What method did you use to gather your dissipated soul back together? You do have some divine abilities…”
He circled around Xing’an, pondering. “Just now, I felt your soul collapse, and then a strange soul drilled out from that box and returned to your corpse, bringing you back to life. But I have a doubt. If your soul is dead, even if another soul returns to your body, you are no longer you. How did you preserve your own consciousness?”
Xing’an stood up, looking up at the Wu God of Kui’s primordial spirit, a strange light in his eyes. His feet were also moving.
As the Wu God of Kui circled him, he too circled the Wu God of Kui. The two traced circles, one large and one small, like two stars revolving around each other.
Xu Shenghua looked at Qin Mu, recalling the scene when he had been defeated by him. At that time, Qin Mu had used his aura to guide him, his momentum to suppress him, and the changes in his movements and techniques to exhaust him.
That time, Xu Shenghua had been utterly defeated. Without a single move being exchanged, he had spat blood and collapsed weakly. Later, Qin Mu had treated his injuries, causing Xu Shenghua to owe him a huge debt, forcing him to work as a blacksmith to pay it off.
Now, the methods used by the Wu God of Kui and Xing’an were somewhat similar to what Qin Mu had done back then, but far more profound.
Xing’an stared at the Wu God of Kui, praising him endlessly. “What a fine thing! Wu God of Kui, you are truly a magnificent treasure! None of the primordial spirits I’ve collected over the years are as formidable as you. Wu God of Kui, you will become the crown jewel of my collection!”
“Collect me?”
The two had already risen from the ground into the air. The Wu God of Kui sneered, “Do you think I’m a clay statue of a god? My magical power is boundless, my combat strength is immeasurable. I am no false god of the False Heavenly Court; I am a deity from the true Heavenly Court! I have destroyed the old dynasty of the False Heavenly Court, annihilated countless powerful beings. Wherever I pass, corpses litter the fields, and seas of blood stretch without end! You are nothing but a little thing who has cultivated some strange arts and techniques, a charlatan performing cheap tricks like a street performer. I see through your tricks. Just now, only the seven corporeal souls flew out of that box, not the three spiritual souls. Your soul is still yours, but you have stolen someone else’s seven corporeal souls.”
Qin Mu’s expression shifted slightly. “Xing’an’s origin is his three spiritual souls? He cultivated his three spiritual souls into a god? Then his three spiritual souls might not be hidden in that box.”
Xing’an’s face changed slightly, but he praised, “What a fine thing! Wu God of Kui, you make me appreciate you even more. That bow you used to kill me just now—I’ve also seen through the mystery of your Soul-Bowing Witch Art. This so-called Soul-Bowing Witch Art doesn’t bow the opponent’s soul into collapse; rather, it bows the opponent’s three spiritual souls and seven corporeal souls, forcing the seven corporeal souls to separate. Those you bow to death still have their souls intact; they are merely forcibly controlled by you. Otherwise, why would so many vengeful spirits cling to you? Your witch art is merely an exceptionally powerful soul technique!”
Little Tathagata’s body trembled, and he murmured, “So that’s how it is.”
The many demonic monks around him, who were protecting him and suppressing his own soul which was on the verge of collapse, suddenly understood as well, as if a fog had been lifted from before their eyes.
The Dao techniques and divine abilities of the Buddhist sect were unique. With their Buddha’s eyes, they could see vengeful spirits. They had long noticed countless vengeful spirits clinging to the Wu God of Kui and thought that converting him would be a great act of merit, perhaps even allowing them to break through the twentieth level of the Buddhist realm and become Buddhas or Patriarchs.
The Wu God of Kui could bow someone to death just by knowing their name, scattering their soul. His witch art was incredibly powerful, but they had never connected the vengeful spirits entwining around him with his Soul-Bowing Witch Art.
Qin Mu’s heart also trembled. Xing’an was truly remarkable!
The Wu God of Kui had bowed to him twice. The first time, Ban Gongcuo had activated the Soul-Bowing Witch Art but failed to kill him. The second time was just now, which directly “bowed Xing’an to death.”
In just two instances, he had seen through the mystery of the Wu God of Kui’s Soul-Bowing divine ability!
Such talent, such insight—truly extraordinary!
“His talent and insight are in no way inferior to the National Teacher of Yankang! Unfortunately, this man’s energy is all spent on seeking other near-god powerhouses and collecting their bodies. If he could devote all his energy to cultivation… Hmm, he’d probably be dead of old age by now, after all, the Divine Bridge is broken… Wait a moment!”
Qin Mu’s body shook, and an expression of disbelief appeared in his eyes.
The National Teacher of Yankang was the most talented and insightful being he had ever encountered. His reforms and changes were unparalleled in boldness. But even before his reforms, he had already become famous throughout the world, hailed by the Old Tathagata and the Old Dao Lord as a sage who appeared only once every five hundred years!
The National Teacher of Yankang was now in his prime. So who was the sage who appeared once every five hundred years before him?
“Could it be…”
Qin Mu’s expression turned strange. Xing’an’s talent and insight were so high that only the National Teacher of Yankang could match him. Didn’t this mean that the sage of the Village Chief’s era, the one who appeared once every five hundred years, was Xing’an?
“Highly likely! The National Teacher of Yankang also has a hobby of collecting other people’s body parts!”
Qin Mu clenched his fist. The National Teacher of Yankang had collected the Lame Man’s leg!
In midair, the Wu God of Kui and Xing’an suddenly attacked. The darkness above Mount Sumeru was torn apart by their divine abilities. Although the Wu God of Kui could no longer bow him to death, he was still a deity’s primordial spirit, with immense cultivation and powerful divine abilities. His techniques were mostly soul-based, but also included various other spells and divine arts.
His spells and divine abilities were overwhelmingly powerful, tearing open the darkness to reveal the strange faces within.
With his divine abilities reaching this level, even without a physical body, his combat power far exceeded that of Little Tathagata.
However, none of his divine abilities could touch Xing’an.
Xing’an’s speed was simply too fast, like a fleeting shadow—the same speed as the Lame Man!
Faced with such speed, even the Wu God of Kui’s divine abilities could not catch up or hit him!
The Lame Man’s speed was number one in the world. If he fled with all his might, no one could catch him. In his life, he had only failed twice. The first time was when he tried to steal the Imperial Disc and was discovered by the National Teacher of Yankang, who cut off one of his legs with a single sword strike before his speed could fully erupt.
The second time was when he encountered Xing’an.
Although the Lame Man’s speed was incredibly fast, his cultivation was not as deep as Xing’an’s. Xing’an chased him relentlessly until the Lame Man’s cultivation was exhausted, and then he cut off both his legs.
With Xing’an possessing such speed, it was almost impossible for the Wu God of Kui to hit him!
Boom—
In midair, the Wu God of Kui took Xing’an’s first hit. His body shook, and his spiritual fetus was almost knocked out of his primordial spirit. Panic appeared on his face.
Then, with another thunderous boom, he took a second hit. His primordial spirit was struck so hard that streams of true fire shot from its eyes, ears, mouth, and nose, and the separation between his spiritual fetus and soul grew even greater.
Boom, boom, boom! The heavy blows in midair came thick and fast. The spiritual fetus within the Wu God of Kui’s primordial spirit was knocked flying in all directions, creating a series of afterimages. His face twisted in panic.
He had no power to resist at all.
“That freak, the National Teacher, might not even be a match for Xing’an at this point.” Qin Mu’s heart tightened. He glanced at Xing’an’s box not far away.
Xing’an had put the box down this time and wasn’t carrying it on his back.
Beside the box, Ban Gongcuo shrank his head and hugged the leg in his arms tighter.
“It’s over. My master is finished. He’s no match for that freak Xing’an. I was planning to reap the benefits while they both suffered, but now it looks like I won’t get anything…”
He took out his Gluttony Bag and stuffed the leg into it, thinking to himself, “That cunning bastard Xing’an will definitely force me to reattach this leg. If this leg really is poisoned by Lord Qin, I’m dead for sure. Even if it’s not poisoned, Xing’an will just cut it off again and not leave it for me. So I might as well take the chance to slip away… But outside is the darkness. I can’t escape.”
Just as he thought this, he suddenly saw Qin Mu not far away take out a fist-sized pearl from his hand, muttering something as if activating some spell.
But Xing’an was busy beating the Wu God of Kui, so he couldn’t hear what this kid was saying.
“The Black Tortoise Pearl!”
Ban Gongcuo’s eyes went wide. He recognized the pearl in Qin Mu’s hand. It was one of the four great spiritual treasures of the True Heavenly Palace, the Black Tortoise Pearl. Even when he was still the Great Venerable in his previous life, he had only seen this pearl but never held it in his hands.
“This bastard has incredible luck! He actually stole the Black Tortoise Pearl from the True Heavenly Palace in the chaos!”
Just as he thought this, he saw Qin Mu’s left hand change gestures unpredictably, leaving a series of afterimages in the air before finally forming a sword seal and gently tapping it on the Black Tortoise Pearl.
“A technique from the Ten Thousand Spirits Natural Art!”
Ban Gongcuo’s heart skipped a beat. Suddenly, the box beside him shook. Ban Gongcuo’s hair stood on end as he saw the box shift a couple of times, and then a leg grew out from under it!
Ban Gongcuo almost screamed. Then, several more legs grew out from under the box. It shook again, and the box actually stood up.
Before Ban Gongcuo could react, he saw Qin Mu jump onto the box. The box’s four legs took off, running down the mountain. Halfway down the mountain, Long Qilin was struggling to shrink his body. When the box ran past, he leaped onto it and sat down with a plop.
Ban Gongcuo was stunned for a moment. He looked at Xu Shenghua, who was holding Jing Yan’s hand and waving at Qin Mu on the box, clearly aware of what was happening.
“Cunning! This bastard even dares to steal Xing’an’s box!”
Ban Gongcuo was about to shout to Xing’an, but then he changed his mind. His hands flew as he sprinted down the mountain.
The box was extremely fast, quickly reaching the mountain gate. Just as it was about to charge into the darkness, Ban Gongcuo leaped up, grabbed the box, and was dragged into the darkness by the speeding box.
The box, filled with divine objects, pushed back the surrounding darkness as its four legs ran wildly into the pitch-black night.
“So it’s the Great Venerable.”
Qin Mu turned around and found Ban Gongcuo dangling under the box. He grinned and drew his sword to strike. Ban Gongcuo pulled out the poisoned leg to block it. Qin Mu’s sword clanged against the leg.
“Lord Qin, stop!”
Ban Gongcuo quickly shouted, “If you make another move, I’ll scream! Let’s see how you escape!”
Qin Mu sheathed his sword, a full smile on his face. “What are you saying, Great Venerable? We’re old friends. How could I harm you? Great Venerable, it must be dusty under the box. Let me pull you up.”
He secretly kicked Long Qilin. Long Qilin understood and opened his mouth, brewing true fire inside, ready to blast Ban Gongcuo into the darkness when Qin Mu pulled him up, using the darkness of the Great Ruins to eliminate him.
Ban Gongcuo shrank back, clinging to the underside of the box. “I appreciate your kindness, Lord Qin. I like eating dust. I’m fine down here. Don’t bother with me.”
Just then, from the sky above distant Mount Sumeru came Xing’an’s furious voice: “Great Divine Physician Qin—I want to see if your heart is also black!”
“It definitely is,” muttered Ban Gongcuo from under the box.