CHAPTER 878: CHAPTER 877 [KILL YOU? IT WOULD DIRTY MY HANDS]

Xu Zigang and the Vicious Old Ghost were so shocked that their jaws almost dropped. They could never have imagined that this seemingly inconspicuous old beggar would be so powerful. Both of them had struck with their full strength, unleashing their most potent attacks, yet the old beggar effortlessly neutralized them. It was very clear that the old beggar seemed disinterested in fighting them and hadn’t used his full power. Who on earth was this person, to be this incredibly strong?

"Though I don’t want to kill you, fearing it might soil my hands, I’ll say it one last time. If you don’t leave now, I’ll have no choice but to obliterate you completely!" the old beggar said indifferently, not bothering to spare Xu Zigang and the Vicious Old Ghost a glance.

"Such arrogance! I don’t care if you’re a madman or some Feng Qingyang, but in front of me, Xu Zigang, no one dares to act so grand. Show whatever skills you have!" Xu Zigang shouted defiantly.

Xu Zigang was aware of the old beggar’s prowess. He had just used his Martial Arts Absolute Skill, the "Fiery Flame Azure Dragon." This move was notably strong and domineering, and no one had managed to break it as easily as this old beggar did. Despite his unassuming and scruffy appearance, the old beggar possessed unfathomable combat power. Yet, Xu Zigang had been treated like a rising star since birth, and was a prodigy of his generation. In China, at the age of only twenty, he became one of the three great War Kings, more formidable than Cang Lang and Yan Long. After defecting from China and becoming a martial artist, it took him only ten years to reach the peak of Late Martial Venerate cultivation. He was indeed a genius and a prodigy. If it weren’t for Earth’s spiritual energy being depleted and unsuitable for cultivation, he was confident that, given his talent and insight, he would surely reach even higher. It wasn’t his own fault but rather the limitations of this cultivation place.

Therefore, even with the appearance of Ye Tianchen, even if Tianchen, in terms of age and cultivation, might be more of a heaven-defying genius than Xu Zigang, he still hadn’t surpassed Xu Zigang. This somewhat balanced Xu Zigang’s mind. However, the emergence of the old beggar made Xu Zigang feel like a mere clown. The old beggar could easily kill him if he exerted his full power. Being treated as an ant wasn’t a pleasant experience for someone always praised and who believed he was exceptional. How could he endure such a blow?

Buzz!

The old beggar cast a cold glance at Xu Zigang, and instantly Xu Zigang felt suffocated as if the air around him was stifling. In an instant, he lost all vitality, with a sense of the Power of Slaughter following. During this, a beam of sword light shot out from the old beggar’s eyes. Xu Zigang had no chance to respond and was blasted away. The treasured spear in his hand broke into two pieces, and he himself was severely injured and barely clinging to life.

"What a pity for your talent and insight, but you’ve strayed down the wrong path. I won’t kill you; you’ll come to regret it yourself in the future!" the old beggar shook his head, speaking with a tone of disappointment.

The Vicious Old Ghost glanced at the old beggar and said, "You are indeed a master, thank you for sparing us. Until we meet again!"

The old beggar didn’t respond, as he originally intended not to kill. It was Xu Zigang and the Vicious Old Ghost’s ignorance that forced his hand, and he merely wanted to teach Xu Zigang a lesson. As for not killing Xu Zigang and the Vicious Old Ghost, the main reason was that he had more important things to deal with and didn’t want to interfere too much. After all, this was a vendetta between Ye Tianchen, Xu Zigang, and the Vicious Old Ghost, which should be resolved by themselves!

After an unknown period, Ye Tianchen slowly opened his eyes. He gently moved and immediately realized that all the bones in his body were creaking, the pain making him feel worse than death, as if every inch of bone in his body had been shattered. A slight movement caused excruciating pain.

"Wow... I wonder if I’m in Hell now, to be tormented like this?" Ye Tianchen couldn’t help but mutter to himself.

"You brat, you’re awake. Truly blessed and lucky, yet you still don’t guard your heart and focus your Martial Arts True Power in the Dantian to heal?" the old beggar’s voice echoed. He was surprised that even as Ye Tianchen was on the brink of total annihilation, his first words upon opening his eyes had a hint of humor.

"Hmm? Old Madman Senior, why are you here? Where are we?" Ye Tianchen asked in surprise, looking at Feng Qingyang.

"You should focus on healing first. Once you’re mostly recovered, we can talk properly. I checked your injuries just now; they’re severe. If you don’t take time to heal, you’ll have lingering issues even after recovery, affecting your breakthrough to higher realms." Feng Qingyang said, looking at Ye Tianchen.

Sitting cross-legged, qi sinking into the Dantian, concentrating Divine Thought, Ye Tianchen carefully guided the remaining Martial Arts True Power in his body, merging it with the healing power left by Zhang Ruotong in him, slowly repairing his injuries. This time, the injuries were very severe, arguably the worst Ye Tianchen had ever suffered. He never anticipated Xu Zigang and the Vicious Old Ghost would be so formidable, with combat power cultivation far exceeding his. If not for his "Holy Heaven Prison" and touching upon a realm to battle across tiers, he would already be a corpse, perhaps even without his body remaining.

After about three whole hours, Ye Tianchen slowly opened his eyes, and most of his internal injuries had healed. However, a full recovery would still take some time of careful adjustment. Upon opening his eyes, Feng Qingyang had already gone outside without him noticing and caught a wild boar and started a campfire to roast it inside the cave.

"Wow, this wild boar meat is nice and smells good. Would you like a drink, senior?" Ye Tianchen asked with a smile.

"Having a drink would be great, but I didn’t bring any wine!" Feng Qingyang replied, slightly taken aback.

"I have some here!"

As he spoke, Ye Tianchen took out some wild game and fine wine given to him by the kind villagers upon leaving Desolate Stone Village from the "Holy Heaven Prison." He had initially thought of releasing the few elder leaders from China, and his mother and three other people, but Ye Tianchen reconsidered, remembering what Leader One had said. Not everyone would cultivate, and not everyone would walk the path of cultivation. Many would lead ordinary lives, experiencing birth, aging, sickness, and death, not everyone desired to become a martial artist. It was better for them not to be involved or aware of such matters, for it would lift a heavy burden off their minds, allowing them to live more happily.

"I didn’t expect you to have fine wine and wild game on you. These wild games aren’t simple, with roe deer and Shan Ji. They are quite the delicacies." Feng Qingyang said with a smile.

"These were gifts from others. Let’s roast and eat them together, and tonight, let’s drink to our heart’s content!" Ye Tianchen said, quite pleased.

Since the last parting, Ye Tianchen had not seen the old beggar for nearly half a year. Among the three great masters known in the Ancient Martial World, only Feng Qingyang remained. Master Fang Zheng and the Sword Emperor perished together, and One Sword Taoist sat in meditation to death on Song Mountain to thwart the schemes of Du Tianqi and Bei Lengshi. Now, only Feng Qingyang was still on the move, investigating the Blood Killing Organization and the Nine Netherworld. He hoped to nip the reemergence of these two evil inheritances in the bud, as they threatened the entire Ancient Martial World, and even all life on Earth. Scenes of Corpse Mountain Blood Sea, skull piles, and utter devastation were sights that many did not wish to witness.

"By the way, senior, how did you end up here?" Ye Tianchen asked, taking a sip of wine.

"Consider it your good fortune. I was tracking someone from the Nine Netherworld, likely a scout sent by the inheritance. His movements were extremely secretive and cautious, so I dared not get too close, fearing detection. While tracking him here, I stumbled upon you." Feng Qingyang explained.

"Did that person from the Nine Netherworld escape because of me?" Ye Tianchen asked, a bit self-reproachfully.

He was well aware of the immense power behind the Blood Killing Organization and the Nine Netherworld inheritance, having experienced it firsthand. These two vile inheritances were only tentatively trying to emerge now, without any of the truly powerful figures appearing yet. When those figures did surface, it would mark apocalyptic scenes. Old beggar Feng Qingyang surely had a hard time tracking down someone from the Nine Netherworld, only for his efforts to be disrupted and ruined by his, Ye Tianchen’s, situation. Who knows, if it hadn’t been for him, the old beggar might have already located the hiding place of the Nine Netherworld inheritance.

"No need to blame yourself or think that way. The Nine Netherworld inheritance is incredibly mysterious, finding their location is easier said than done. I’ve tracked several of their people before, even caught one. Unfortunately, when they’ve no chance to escape, they turn into black smoke, destroying themselves. So if that person detected my presence, it would have resulted in the same outcome. These two evil inheritances are deeply hidden and unimaginably powerful, not easily dealt with." Feng Qingyang shook his head.

"Senior, let me toast to you; this is your third time saving me!" Ye Tianchen said with gratitude, smiling.

"It’s no bother at all. People like you are rare in the Ancient Martial World. If a day comes when I too am gone, I don’t know who would stop the reappearance of these two evil inheritances. I hope that person is you!" Feng Qingyang looked at Ye Tianchen with a smile. .)