Chapter 138: The Mystic Arts of Qi Men Dun Jia

(Page 1 of 3)

We are not leaving.

That was Yu Ye’s decision.

An eagle was watching them from the sky; there was no way they could escape. Rather than exhaust himself only to be overtaken in the end, he would take advantage of his remaining cultivation and fight with everything he had.

Once Yu Ye had made up his mind, his panic vanished. He sat quietly, waiting for the powerful enemy to arrive.

Dang Guiyi was genuinely startled when he realized Yu Ye was not joking. In his eyes, Yu Ye had killed Qi Jun through sheer luck. To challenge an expert at the ninth level of Energy Refining was nothing short of madness.

Still, Dang Guiyi kept his word. He did not flee alone, but instead ran behind a boulder and hid there.

Another sharp cry rang out from the sky.

A figure swept across the valley, drawing nearer from the distance.

A man in white robes landed more than thirty feet away. His features and bearing resembled Qi Jun’s, but he looked more mature, his expression more somber, and the killing intent in his eyes even fiercer.

His gaze swept over Yu Ye, then over Dang Guiyi hiding behind the boulder. He could not help letting out a heavy sigh as he shook his head.

“Why did the two of you kill my younger kinsman, Qi Jun?”

The youth in the bamboo hat sat on the ground, yet his cultivation could not be detected at all; he looked no different from a farm boy. The man hiding behind the boulder was barely twenty, with cultivation at the first level of Energy Refining, and carried a peachwood sword on his back. He looked more like an itinerant ritualist.

Had he not pursued them desperately for one or two hours, he would never have believed that these two young men were the ones who had killed Qi Jun.

Yu Ye said nothing.

Dang Guiyi waved his hands and hurriedly said, “I didn’t kill anyone…”

The man in white surveyed the surrounding area and casually asked, “Oh? Then who exactly killed my younger kinsman?”

Though still concealed behind the boulder, Dang Guiyi kept watch on everything around him. He poked half his head out and asked, “Who are you?”

“Qi Shi of Ten Thousand Beasts Manor!”

“Qi Shi?”

“The ‘stone’ in ‘one stone, two stones.’”

“Oh, Fellow Daoist Qi Shi, a pleasure to meet you. A pleasure!”

“The pleasure is mine.”

Qi Shi gave a slight nod, appearing quite reasonable.

Dang Guiyi could not help stepping out a little farther. Cautiously, he said, “There was a misunderstanding earlier. Might you allow me to explain it face-to-face?”

Qi Shi nodded again.

“Go ahead.”

Dang Guiyi relaxed. He straightened, puffed out his chest, and cupped his fists.

“My name is Dang Guiyi, heir to the Five Thunders Orthodox Method. I have come out to travel at my master’s command, with the sole purpose of slaying demons and proving the Dao. Several days ago, I passed through Iron-Fence Village and learned that the livestock there had been attacked by a demon. How could I stand by and do nothing? Thus, I used the arts of Qi Men Dun Jia to lay down a Heavenly Thunder Formation. Sure enough, the demon attacked Iron-Fence Village again that night, and I slew it on the spot. Who could have imagined that the demon actually came from Ten Thousand Beasts Manor? Fellow Daoist Qi…”

“As you say, Fellow Daoist, this was indeed Ten Thousand Beasts Manor’s fault.”

Qi Shi actually admitted their wrongdoing, then continued, “I do not know what happened afterward. Please tell me the truth.”

Dang Guiyi’s courage swelled. He walked several steps forward.

“If that is so, then I ask Fellow Daoist Qi to go to Iron-Fence Village, calm the frightened villagers, and compensate them for the livestock that died…”

“Quite reasonable.”

Qi Shi readily agreed, but then changed tack.

“But was my younger kinsman’s death also a misunderstanding?”

“Your younger kinsman was killed by Fellow Daoist Yu…”

“The Fellow Daoist Yu you mentioned does not resemble a cultivator. How could he have killed Qi Jun? What is his name?”

“Oh, do not underestimate Fellow Daoist Yu. He comes from the Wei Kingdom and is the son of a noble family…”

*Splendor of Sun and Moon*

(Page 2 of 3)

“Fellow Daoist Dang, watch your words!”

Yu Ye had remained silent all this time, but at last he could bear it no longer. He turned to glare fiercely at Dang Guiyi.

Dang Guiyi merely made a face at him and turned to run.

At that instant, a streak of sword light arrived behind him. He seemed not to notice it—or perhaps he had no time to dodge.

Boom!

A thunderous crash rang out where the sword light struck. The seated figure vanished, leaving only a bamboo hat hurled away with scraps of grass and stone.

Qi Shi froze for a moment.

Before he could understand what had happened, an invisible force suddenly enveloped him. He hurriedly leaped into the air, attempting to break free, but several more invisible forces came out of nowhere. Then a sharp cry rang out:

“Bind!”

Qi Shi had risen no more than six feet from the ground when his body abruptly stopped.

As he struggled with all his might, two exceptionally fierce killing auras struck one after another. With a bang, they shattered his protective energy; with a wet burst, they pierced his dantian and sea of qi.

His spirit scattered, and darkness filled his vision.

“Brat, you won’t escape…”

Before he could finish speaking, his body had already become a corpse and dropped heavily to the ground.

Dang Guiyi rushed over at once, brimming with excitement.

“Haha! Fellow Daoist Yu, with the two of us joining forces, we are invincible beneath the heavens—”

A figure emerged from the ground. It was Yu Ye.

Before Dang Guiyi could approach, Yu Ye had already retrieved two storage rings from Qi Shi’s body. He then raised a hand and made a grasping motion from afar, drawing the fallen flying sword into his possession as well.

Dang Guiyi circled the corpse once, deeply disappointed.

“You ought to give me a few spirit stones.”

“I killed him. It has nothing to do with you.”

“I may not have killed him, but I still contributed. Without my full support, could you have succeeded so easily?”

Yu Ye casually produced a Leaving-Fire Talisman.

Flames sprang up, and the corpse on the ground was reduced to ash.

“Heh!”

Having failed to gain anything, Dang Guiyi did not mind. He began boasting instead.

“Killing Qi Shi truly required considerable thought on my part. He deliberately stalled for time, obviously waiting for reinforcements. I simply used his own strategy against him and lured him into making a hasty attack. You took the opportunity to feint and then launch a desperate counterattack. Hmm, I recognize the Earth Escape Talisman and the Dragon-Subduing Talisman, but that feint of yours was remarkably profound. What sort of divine ability was it? Would you care to exchange pointers?”

Yu Ye could not be bothered to say more. He merely warned him, “We cannot stay here long.”

Killing Qi Shi had not been as easy as Dang Guiyi claimed. The heir to the Five Thunders Orthodox Method had contributed only by making himself appear weak—and he had nearly exposed Yu Ye in the process. Fortunately, Yu Ye’s Transformation Technique had deceived Qi Shi, allowing him to succeed with two surprise strikes of sword energy.

Even so, he had used up one Dragon-Subduing Talisman and his final Earth Escape Talisman. Retrieving Qi Shi’s storage rings was therefore a small form of compensation.

As Yu Ye had said, Qi Shi was no easy opponent. His deliberate stalling had clearly concealed some ulterior motive. He had simply never imagined that he would fall into the hands of two seemingly insignificant young men.

“Yes, yes!”

Dang Guiyi readily agreed and gestured with one hand.

“Qi Shi came from the northeast. We should head southwest—”

He was about to lead the way when he suddenly let out a cry of surprise.

“My heavens…”

Yu Ye picked up his bamboo hat and turned around.

A streak of sword light tore through the sky, then plunged straight downward.

Yu Ye’s expression changed, and he stood frozen in place.

Dang Guiyi ran back in a panic. In his haste, he actually hid behind Yu Ye and cried out in alarm, “A Foundation Establishment expert! Hurry and use the Earth Escape Talisman. Saving our lives comes first…”

Yu Ye gave a bitter smile.

“I don’t have an Earth Escape Talisman.”

“Then since you aren’t leaving, do you have some other way to defeat the enemy?”

“I want to leave too, but there is nowhere to go.”

“Ah…”

As they spoke, the sword light reached them. It suddenly wheeled around, then slowly descended and hovered more than thirty feet away.

The sword’s rider was an old man in black robes. He was powerfully built, with graying whiskers and his hair bound in a topknot. Beneath thick brows, a pair of hawk-like eyes gleamed with icy menace.

With a sharp snap, he flung back his sleeve and stood upon the sword, adding an even more unfathomable majesty to his presence. He then peered around intently and asked in puzzlement:

“Where is Qi Shi?”

Dang Guiyi was usually talkative, but now he did not dare make a sound.

Yu Ye’s heart pounded violently, and the corner of his eye twitched.

(Page 3 of 3)

Although Yu Ye could not discern the black-robed elder’s cultivation, the aura radiating from him far surpassed that of Bu Yi and Nanshan. It was obvious at a glance: this was the most powerful opponent Yu Ye had ever encountered in his life.

A trace of murderous intent flashed through the old man’s eyes.

“Did you kill Qi Shi?”

On the grassy hillside, a patch of burning ash was painfully conspicuous. Two young men stood beside it. One kept his head lowered in silence; the other trembled behind him.

“Heh heh!”

The old man suddenly laughed, but there was a desolate quality to the sound.

“I am Qi Heng, master of Ten Thousand Beasts Manor. Earlier, I received Qi Shi’s warning that he had captured two criminals who had murdered Qi Jun. Knowing his cautious nature, I came to assist him. Who could have imagined that I would arrive a step too late, never to see him again? In the space of a single day, both of my nephews have met with misfortune. I wonder what vicious expert could have done such a thing. Will the two of you tell me your names?”

No one answered.

“Heh heh. You dare act, yet lack the courage to admit it?”

The laughter remained just as desolate, but now it carried a heavy killing intent. Even from more than thirty feet away, it made one shudder with fear.

Yu Ye forced himself to remain calm and raised a hand.

“Senior, there were reasons for what happened…”

Before he could finish, a chill pierced straight through his soul. He shivered slightly, then steeled himself and continued:

“Qi Jun raised savage wolves that harassed the mountain villagers and devoured their livestock. Dang Guiyi stepped forward to stop him, and once the two sides came to blows, it was inevitable that one would die. Qi Shi pursued us without distinguishing right from wrong, making the mistake even worse. Unfortunately, the dead cannot be brought back. I hope Senior can restrain your grief.”

“Dang Guiyi?”

“Heir to the Five Thunders Orthodox Method!”

“So you are Dang Guiyi?”

“Yes, I am…”

Although Yu Ye was not skilled with words, he still explained the circumstances concisely and clearly.

In truth, Ten Thousand Beasts Manor had been at fault first. Had Qi Jun and Qi Shi not abused their power to bully others, matters would never have escalated into such a disaster. But now that things had come to this, right and wrong had to be distinguished. Whether one lived or died, the truth should at least be made clear.

“Wait! I am Dang Guiyi!”

Dang Guiyi suddenly grew anxious and shoved Yu Ye aside.

Perhaps mindful of the reputation of an heir to the Five Thunders Orthodox Method, he forgot his fear and shouted:

“Qi Jun raised demons that brought calamity upon the common people. He deserved to die! Qi Shi refused to repent and received the punishment he deserved! As the master of Ten Thousand Beasts Manor, you sheltered and indulged them, bringing shame upon all practitioners of the Dao. I ask you, Master Qi, to apologize here and now. Otherwise, I shall inform the immortal sects of the Five Kingdoms that Ten Thousand Beasts Manor has wantonly bullied mortals and committed evil throughout the land…”

Yu Ye could not help taking a step backward. His heart turned cold.

It was over.

Qi Heng had just lost two nephews; the grief and fury in his heart could be imagined. To provoke him at such a moment was undoubtedly to make matters worse. Once he attacked, Yu Ye could rely on his Transformation Technique to withstand one assault at most. Without an Armor-Breaking Talisman or an Earth Escape Talisman, death would be his only fate.

Sure enough, Qi Heng let out a soft laugh. Then he suddenly whipped his sleeve.

Three rays of light shot out as swiftly as lightning.

They were three flying swords, three streaks of sword light.

Before the sword lights arrived, their razor-sharp killing intent had already enveloped the entire area.

Yu Ye cursed inwardly.

At that moment, even if his Transformation Technique could evade one sword light, he would never escape the other two. The master of Ten Thousand Beasts Manor was consumed by the desire for vengeance and would not rest until both of them were dead.

At the moment of despair, Yu Ye was about to activate the Heavenly Dragon Shield to protect himself.

But Dang Guiyi suddenly turned and lunged toward him. With a sharp snap, he produced a talisman and shouted urgently:

“By command of the law, swiftly obey! Qi Men Escape—”

At a time like this, he was still putting on an act?

Yu Ye was still helplessly exasperated when Dang Guiyi crashed into his arms. A burst of light enveloped them both, and in an instant, the wind howled and the landscape shifted…