Stone Monkey Appears, Causality Law

"Careful, she’s a Luo Sect witch!"

Zhang Yuanshan moved, raising his sword before Meng Qi. His talent and natural gifts fell far short of Jiang Zhiwei’s, but he was honest and kind, and his swordsmanship excelled at defense.

Yet Meng Qi’s expression grew more complicated. He had long known that "Little Zi" from that mission world had actually been Gu Xiaosang, the witch, in disguise.

She was immensely powerful; perhaps even Jiang Zhiwei could not match her now. Her actions were even more strange and unpredictable.

But beyond that, Meng Qi held an especially unusual feeling toward this woman. He had seen her in countless dreams, and it seemed there were many ties between them.

He did not understand. Though the witch was indeed breathtakingly beautiful, his heart clearly… Meng Qi subconsciously glanced at Jiang Zhiwei, whose sword intent had condensed to a razor edge. The bright and open young woman showed no fear toward Gu Xiaosang, the witch with her fierce reputation.

Her heart was wholly devoted to the sword, her thoughts clear and pure.

The resolve in Jiang Zhiwei to seek the Dao without turning back felt like flames, scorching Meng Qi’s hidden feelings.

Standing before them, Gu Xiaosang took in Meng Qi’s expression completely. Exceptionally intelligent, she nearly immediately realized that the way the young monk looked at her was unusual and promptly guessed why.

"You had those dreams too. As expected… you’re the same as me…"

Her gaze shifted rapidly, and she immediately came up with an idea.

She suspected that today’s bizarre mission was some sort of trial—or rather, an arrangement made by certain high-ranking beings behind the scenes.

As Gu Xiaosang’s cultivation deepened and she used the Six Paths Reincarnation Space to begin learning information the Luo Sect had kept from her, she had also formed a guess as to why, even as a child, she had vaguely known that she would one day be replaced by that great figure.

Only someone on the same level as that great figure, or perhaps even higher, could make such moves without that person knowing.

Otherwise, a "fish" like her would likely never know the truth until the day she was reeled in.

Since ancient times, Heaven’s Will had been difficult to question. What if Heaven’s Will itself was the one that wanted her dead…

Gu Xiaosang’s gaze softened for an instant. She realized those dreams had not been that great figure "misleading" her. On the contrary, perhaps they had been hints from another great figure who had allowed her to gain an independent consciousness in childhood.

Another Heaven’s Will was suggesting that she should seize this ignorant, frightened young monk before her.

Gu Xiaosang flicked her sleeve, her body drifting forward. In almost an instant, she appeared before Meng Qi.

Meng Qi’s pupils contracted. Zhang Yuanshan shuddered before reacting, instinctively thrusting his sword at the witch.

But Gu Xiaosang grabbed Meng Qi by the collar and flew backward, using Meng Qi to block Zhang Yuanshan. Yet Zhang Yuanshan did not withdraw his sword. Instead, he followed through and slashed at Gu Xiaosang’s arm.

Clang!

Meng Qi’s clothes tore apart as golden light flashed from the Golden Bell Shield, a supreme body-tempering art. As it blocked Senior Brother Zhang’s sword, Meng Qi also reached back to seize the witch’s arm.

Their team had endured countless dangers and long since developed flawless coordination, knowing each other inside and out. Though Zhang Yuanshan was kindhearted, he knew Meng Qi fought boldly and fiercely, possessed exceptional body-tempering skills, and while he often seemed to admire the bearing of an aloof swordsman, was in truth someone who feared no death in battle.

Meanwhile, Ruan Yushu had already retreated dozens of steps under Qi Zhengyan’s protection. Sitting in a half-kneeling posture, she began using the ripples of her zither music to disrupt Gu Xiaosang’s mind.

Jiang Zhiwei, the genius of Wash Sword Pavilion, moved like lightning and rapidly closed in behind Gu Xiaosang. The long sword in her hand erupted with terrifying sword intent and divine radiance.

Just as Sword Comes Without Self was about to leave its sheath, an illusory ripple suddenly crashed toward them. The next moment, Sensual Music sounded beside everyone’s ears.

This is bad!

Qi Zhengyan was the first to notice. Turning around, he saw a lush green mountain in the distance explode apart as a slender, bewitching purple celestial demon flew backward through the air.

The rampaging True Essence and sword qi in the air tore apart the atmosphere for several kilometers around them.

He pressed down Ruan Yushu’s head as she swayed in a daze. A streak of scarlet sword qi swept overhead like a curtain, directly cleaving open the ocher earth and the thousand-meter cliff behind them.

The pitch-black cliff collapsed with a thunderous roar.

Elsewhere, Meng Qi suddenly saw illusions. He saw himself and Gu Xiaosang return to that utterly unidentifiable place, their bodies entwined. Then the scene shifted, and he saw Little Foodie—Ruan Yushu—playing the zither alone with an icy expression inside a pristine white palace.

The scene shifted again. A dusty stone chamber opened, revealing a ruined white dress within. The skeleton still sat in its dried meditation posture. Jiang Zhiwei, bright and open as ever, had actually died seated within a tomb.

"Ah!"

Meng Qi cried out, instinctively releasing Gu Xiaosang.

Gu Xiaosang also loosened the Life-Ending Finger she had already formed. She merely twisted her body and struck a palm at the Wash Sword Pavilion genius.

Jiang Zhiwei’s eyes shone brightly, bloodshot veins visible within them, but her expression remained resolute. In fact, she was in the best condition of anyone present. Sword Comes Without Self had already left its sheath, but when she saw Gu Xiaosang disperse the Life-Ending Finger, she slightly altered the trajectory of her sword, cutting across Gu Xiaosang’s shoulder and neck.

Pfft!

Blood sprayed as Jiang Zhiwei herself was struck by a palm and sent flying.

In that brief exchange, Zhang Yuanshan alone remained standing where he was. Sweat drenched his face, and even his pupils and Adam’s apple trembled faintly without pause.

Even Moon Demon’s pained moans in the sky carried an overwhelmingly seductive quality. Almost every time she was hit, the hearts of those besieging her trembled.

Those with steadfast wills could only be grateful that there were not many humans in this region of the Netherworld. Otherwise, they might now have faced an assault by a sea of people.

However, the greater danger was…

"Hahaha, blood for the Blood God!"

Behind them, that figure seemed to be rapidly changing alongside the slaughter. It had now grown over three meters tall, and red light gleamed sharply from the curved horns on its head. The mere sight of them unsettled the mind.

That fiend possessed tremendous destructive power, terrifying defense, and speed and strength taken to extremes. It closely resembled the extraordinary great demons said to be born with innate gifts.

But the demon race should have declined long ago.

Moon Demon broke away from the mad battlefield. Wrapped in demonic qi, she plunged into the earth like a flood dragon, then emerged thousands of meters away in a single leap. A sickly sweet scent filled every corner of space.

She had sensed the power of that other celestial demon, and it was still growing stronger. She had to seize more power quickly.

Moon Demon swept her gaze around, fully exposing the dark desires within human hearts.

Her body vanished in an instant, transforming into pure demonic qi as resentment poured madly into everyone’s bodies.

So long as one was human, one had weaknesses. So long as one was human, one had desires.

Moon Demon’s resentment had always been tied to the desires of human hearts. Now, strengthened by the evil god, this ability had improved considerably as well.

Using resentment as a vessel, she invaded everyone’s bodies indiscriminately.

The scarlet girl in the midst of a frenzied massacre froze in place. Even Seven Nights Holy Lord, whose demonic qi ran rampant, clutched his head.

Everyone began confronting the darkest and most secret desires in their hearts.

Bai Cangshu stood atop a shattered mountain covered in scorched earth. The miasma around him had long dispersed. There had once been a massive boulder over a hundred meters wide atop this mountain, but he had smashed it apart using Moon Demon and another Outer Scenery body-tempering expert as weapons.

Standing amid rocks like sulfurous burnt earth, he threw back his head and roared.

The scarlet bestowal from the void grew even more intense.

The Blood God reveled in the offerings of this devout believer. Not only flesh and blood, but that frenzied slaughter and seemingly endless battle pleased the evil god.

"Ha… hahaha!"

Bai Cangshu’s body swelled further. He realized that he could probably activate the Kaio-ken at an even higher multiplier now, but that thought was immediately washed away by an even more violent will.

He looked around, only to find complete silence.

The enemies that had constantly appeared and fought him had all suddenly become quiet.

Not only that, even the Slaanesh Chosen had vanished.

He abruptly turned around and saw a faint wisp of black qi bore into his mind. The violent urge briefly faded, and he saw a waterfall-like stream of prompts appear before him.

Most informed him that he had received greater blessings from the evil god Khorne. Both Blood Magic and the power of his special blessings were constantly strengthening.

A smaller number were warnings that the corruption he suffered had deepened.

Special Reincarnator EX051, you have suffered corruption from the Slaanesh Chosen, Moon Demon.

Bai Cangshu felt a chill run through his head. Frowning, he saw scene after scene begin to play before his eyes like a film.

There was the undisguised malice he had felt while walking through Binhai University, looking at classmates so physically frail that a light push from him could shatter their bones and pierce their organs.

There was also the scene of him seizing the beautiful eldest daughter of the March Group and forcibly making her increase the compatibility of his Color Domain Heart.

And there was the brutality he displayed in battles across various worlds, where the mere aftershocks could easily kill countless people.

Yet none of these scenes felt real. Bai Cangshu had no sense of being personally immersed in them; he merely stood there as though watching a movie.

He waited for a long time, but nothing more appeared.

The next moment.

Pfft!

Bai Cangshu drove a finger into his own temple, followed by a surge of intense voltage.

Crackle!

Before the agony of having his brain nerves directly electrocuted could even arise, his will had already recovered.

Burning, scorching, searing!

Boom!

The scarlet Satsui no Hado was the first to revive. As the energy system most aligned with Khorne’s blessings, it swept forth like raging fire beneath this enhancement.

It rapidly drowned every nerve Bai Cangshu used to think.

Bai Cangshu did not evade it at all. Instead, he completely lowered his guard and allowed the Satsui no Hado to sweep over him, letting the violent will devour everything.

"Kill!"

With a crazed roar, a crimson shockwave exploded from the mountaintop, shattering several nearby peaks.

Bai Cangshu bent his knees. The air was thick as paste, yet relying purely on brute force, he shot himself out of that mass.

Boom!

As sonic-boom clouds burst apart one after another, the War Madman demon with twin horns atop its head tore through the sky toward them.

A powerful man in a purple brocade robe stood where he was, his palms like white jade and his face covered in pale sweat. He could feel the terror of being locked onto by something in the unseen depths.

The fear of death tore apart the illusion before him. He only had time to slightly turn his body before an immense force, carrying a terrifying impact, struck him.

Pfft!

His body exploded apart.

Bai Cangshu’s eyes were bloodshot. He did not care about any will of heaven. He only knew that this was likely the grandest harvest sacrifice of the ritual Ruofeng Lin had planned for so long.

Bai Cangshu tilted his head slightly, using his instinct for slaughter to seek out more valuable targets.

Then he saw the purple-robed witch and the several people entangled with her.

There was no need for thought. Instinct had already judged them to be the most valuable prey here.

"Ha!"

Meng Qi’s heart trembled as the gorgeous illusion before him shattered. Hearing that inhuman bellow, he turned his head and saw rings of Blazing White Shockwaves exploding in midair.

The figure crowned with curved demon horns, wrapped in qi and ripples with barely any gold remaining, charged straight at them with brutal force.

Golden Bell Shield!

Gu Xiaosang was shocked as well, but her mind was still considering whether this scene was also part of those great figures’ scheme.

Were they using the celestial demon’s hand to erase both me and this young monk here?!

Gu Xiaosang formed the Life-Ending Finger, suddenly seized by indignation. Though moving later, she struck first, pointing a finger at the demon tearing through the air.

This strike of hers was far more exquisite than anything those Outer Scenery Triple Heaven experts could produce.

Boom!

The Life-Ending Finger sent the qi and Satsui no Hado around Bai Cangshu’s body surging backward. That recoiling qi and Satsui no Hado then violently collided with other qi, causing a terrifying detonation.

With just that single finger strike, Bai Cangshu’s incomparably dense wall of qi and force field exploded. Yet the finger force that followed failed to deliver a killing blow.

Instead, it only left a wound on his body before twisted air slammed into the pair.

Pfft!

Pfft!

The Golden Bell Shield shattered instantly. Gu Xiaosang and Meng Qi were both sent flying, spraying blood wildly through the air.

When Bai Cangshu landed, the ground erupted with a massive shockwave that directly blasted away Ruan Yushu and Qi Zhengyan, who had been trying to help.

Ruan Yushu, the youngest of them all, was equally pale as gold paper.

Amid cracking sounds, web-like fissures spread thousands of meters outward. Jiang Zhiwei, barely standing on the ground, even felt the earth groaning as it tilted.

Like a drawn bow.

What savage, violent power.

Unlike the sword Dao she had always pursued, this was the fighting style of a beast, a demon, that pursued no Dao at all and sought only strength.

Pure force, pure violence.

Ring!

A sword cry soared into the heavens. Jiang Zhiwei had previously seen through the Six Paths Space the sword art that the young monk had refused to let her study no matter what.

Sword Twenty-Three!

She had long been prepared. In the Six Paths Space, there would always be enemies she could not defeat. When that time came, she would naturally draw her sword.

Just as… she did now.

Listening to the groans of the twisting earth, Bai Cangshu felt indescribably exhilarated. Borrowing the rebounding force, he tore through the air with a roar, intending to smash the two of them apart midair.

Instinct told him that killing these two would bring him supreme rewards.

Ring!

Freezing sword intent locked completely onto Bai Cangshu. Jiang Zhiwei took a step forward, golden sword qi crisscrossing around her body.

But the next moment, thunder suddenly exploded in the sky.

An unmatched, terrifying will descended.

Boom!

It was more terrifying than the sound of any thunderclap.

A black field of qi swept indiscriminately across the area. Moon Demon suddenly condensed into form in midair with a pfft.

Everyone simultaneously expelled the resentment qi from their bodies.

Even the Mark of Slaanesh had dimmed considerably.

"What’s going on…"

Bai Cangshu tore through the air with a bang, but the earth suddenly split open before him. A gigantic stone hand rose from within and clenched Bai Cangshu in its grasp.

Bang!

The shockwave passed through the stone hand and blasted Meng Qi and Gu Xiaosang even farther away, yet somehow allowed the two to escape this terrifying battle.

Bai Cangshu struggled. His compatibility with the Authority of Qi and Power was extremely high; only a being with more than twice his strength could suppress him in a contest of force.

But with the Four Times Kaio-ken, Kirin Armor, and all his abilities and traits fully activated, ordinary humans could scarcely reach such a value.

He turned his head and saw an incomparably massive stone ape slowly rising from within the mountains that they had utterly destroyed…

"They cannot die."