Chapter 246 Slaughtering the Eighteen Passes
Under the watchful eyes of all the onlookers, the young man in brocade robes made his move once again on the battlefield.
This time he was even faster.
Those cultivators below the Fusion stage couldn't see him at all; they could only sense what seemed like a gust of wind.
Although there were four people entering this level, they only saw the flashing arrow light in front of them the moment they made their move, and then instantly turned into four blazing "torches".
Fast! It's so fast!
Compared to "Young Master Wu's" current speed, his previous speed seemed like child's play; the difference was too great.
·
Wu Shaogan walked past the people blocking his way and stood in a corner of the battlefield. Then he turned around and looked up at Zhong Cai.
Zhong Cai waved his arm enthusiastically at him, just like when Wu Shaogan used to fight in the ring, making the atmosphere as lively as if it weren't.
Wu Shaogan's fierce aura dissipated, and he smiled again—it seemed that no matter how angry he was, he would immediately become happy as soon as he saw the boy in his heart.
But then, new challenges and new cultivators appeared.
Wu Shaogan's violent temper intensified.
Everyone could see that he was very anxious.
I'm in a very urgent situation.
In his haste to reach the previous checkpoints, Wu Shaogan ignored them and attacked at the same time as the gatekeepers made their moves.
But things are different now.
Wu Shaogan didn't wait at all—he seemed to think that everyone who tried to block his view was a pebble that needed to be kicked away immediately.
And so, the moment the new gatekeeper stepped onto the stage, another gust of wind blew by.
This time, four bursts of blood and flesh fireworks exploded.
As blood splattered, it stained the battlefield with vivid blood flowers, spreading across the ground with a scarlet and ferocious beauty.
·
The gatekeepers appeared time and time again... and time and time again they were sent to their deaths.
Every time the "wind blows", several cultivators who had merged with the fusion would have their heads cut off by bowstrings, be burned by arrows, be blown into flesh and blood, or have a large hole in their chests and fall to the ground with a thud!
These four reactions occur in rotation, but regardless of how many reactions occur simultaneously, they are all completed within the same breath.
Each time, the defenders couldn't even last three breaths at most.
They all died.
They died with only a tiny bit of their primordial spirit and their accompanying treasures—some even had their accompanying treasures incomplete.
From beginning to end, Wu Shaogan slaughtered indiscriminately without even sustaining a single injury.
Even more remarkably, there wasn't a single stain on the hem of his clothes.
·
Wu Shaogan's "atrocities" naturally made Hong Shaoling and those around him feel extremely bad.
Many of the bolder onlookers, taking advantage of the curiosity of the other cultivators, would secretly observe the expressions of those involved.
In particular, since Young Master Shaoling's attention was entirely focused on Young Master Wu, and he was in a state of agitation due to the thought of "dying subordinates and being humiliated," he still had to consider the reputation of the Hong family. With so many of them peeping, they had no fear—it was a case of "the law does not punish the masses."
As for the "deep affection" between Wu Shaogan and Zhong Cai...
Of course, they wouldn't let it go either.
But every time they looked over, the two of them were always shrouded in that intense, unyielding emotion, a subtle feeling that was both oblivious to others and seemingly suffocating.
After watching it a few more times, they couldn't stand it anymore.
Then, these cultivators naturally paid more attention to Hong Shaoling.
Hong Shaoling's expression was not as innocent as that of the boy... The boy had always been bright and pure.
Hong Shaoling's expressions were not as monotonous as those of "Young Master Wu"... Young Master Wu constantly shifted between fierceness and tenderness, but this Young Master Shaoling was gloomy, even more gloomy, iron-blue, and as black as ink... which was very layered.
The cultivators were naturally more interested.
At the same time, they were also deeply impressed by Young Master Wu's fighting prowess.
·
Those below the fusion level can only see the instantaneous results, while those at the fusion level and above can still detect Wu Shaogan's movements.
It's just that those with greater strength can see things more clearly.
Especially with the arrival of some Palace-Building cultivators, they could better appreciate the exquisite skill in Wu Shaogan's every move—something that most Fusion cultivators simply couldn't withstand.
Wu Shaogan's actions seemed very simple, but skilled cultivators could tell that they were all actually slaughter techniques.
A slaughter technique honed through countless trials.
Therefore, every time Wu Shaogan makes a move, it's as if he instinctively "sees" his opponent's weakness, can seize any blind spot, and then resolve the situation in the most efficient way.
Of course, there are also times when it's a simple, almost unskilled crushing, pure violence.
That's why, despite it being a battle between cultivators who had merged, the outcome came so quickly—so quickly that it was like cutting melons and vegetables, without revealing the abilities that this level of cultivation should have.
To put it bluntly, fights among cultivators at the Heavenly Guidance Realm might be even more back-and-forth, with more elaborate and varied scenarios.
...Apart from movement and speed.
Aside from the earlier levels, where Wu Shaogan "ignored" the gatekeepers and allowed them to make some initial moves, revealing a glimpse of the fusion's charm...
All of this is actually caused by a huge gap in combat capabilities.
Only when the combat abilities of the two sides in a deathmatch are roughly equal do they need to use various secret techniques, make countless changes, and fight each other to the death—but as long as their moves are seen through, they can die very quickly.
Many cultivators understood this.
Since Young Master Wu can cut vegetables, he naturally wouldn't need to use those secret techniques that require a lot of profound energy.
Of course, no matter how simple Young Master Wu's movements are, killing and burning a fusion unit with each move still consumes a considerable amount of his energy.
However, this kind of consumption is much more economical than continuously pouring it into the "ultimate" secret technique...
·
Duan Xingchen watched in silence.
He had been overestimating Young Master Wu, but he kept discovering that he had underestimated him.
When facing the gatekeepers, Young Master Wu was like a real butcher, decisive and brutal.
It doesn't quite match his appearance... yet it seems to match his temperament somewhat.
Duan Xingchen slowly exhaled and moved a little closer to Commander Li.
Commander Li patted his shoulder reassuringly.
Duan Xingchen said softly, "Now should be the moment when I get closest to these two."
Commander Li comforted him, saying, "It has already been a very enriching experience."
Duan Xingchen: "...Indeed abundant."
The experiences in this short period of less than a month were more dramatic than the previous thirty years of his life!
I'm speechless.
Commander Li smiled and changed the subject, saying, "This time, Young Master Shaoling is likely to suffer a great loss."
Duan Xingchen pondered: "Because of those gatekeepers?"
Commander Li nodded: "The guardians of the eighteen passes of the Hong family are all capable and cannot be easily assembled. Even in the hands of Young Master Shaoling, this should be the only one of its kind, but they have all been lost because of Young Master Shaoling and the Hong family's 'face'."
Duan Xingchen understood the intricacies of the situation and said, "Young Master Shaoling definitely has competitors in the Hong family. In order to avoid being attacked by them and causing his status in the family to decline, and also to avoid disheartening his subordinates and making it more difficult to recruit strong individuals, he must make a statement."
Seeing Duan Xingchen's earnest analysis, Commander Li agreed, saying, "The guardians' primordial spirits still remain. Once we return, he will surely spend his own resources to rebuild their physical bodies."
Duan Xingchen counted on his fingers and exclaimed, "That's a huge sum!" He muttered even more quietly, "First, we need to use a large number of soul-nourishing treasures to restore their primordial spirits. If their companion treasures are also damaged, we need to find a way to repair them. After all that's done, we'll find a large number of precious medicinal herbs to reshape them..."
Commander Li smiled but remained silent.
Duan Xingchen: "Hiss."
Even a prodigy like Hong Shaoling would feel the pinch from such an expense, right?
For a moment, Duan Xingchen felt a renewed sense of doubt.
Is this something Young Master Wu did on purpose?
Hong Shaoling made it more difficult for the couple to reunite. However, the Hong family was powerful and it was not easy to kill Hong Shaoling. Therefore, Young Master Wu made it more difficult for Hong Shaoling to gain a position in the Hong family in the future.
It's pretty... pretty...
Are they vengeful?
and……
Duan Xingchen secretly glanced at Zhong Cai.
He paid close attention to his benefactor, and thus he noticed that every time Young Master Wu slaughtered a group, his benefactor would glance triumphantly at Hong Shaoling and give him a malicious glare—
To be honest, he doesn't seem like Mr. Zhong at all.
But thinking about it... this might just be Zhong Gongzi's true nature.
Therefore, Duan Xingchen somehow felt that even though Young Master Wu's slaughter of the eighteen levels was already a form of revenge against Hong Shaoling, Young Master Zhong actually had his own revenge yet to be carried out.
That would be... rather outrageous.
Duan Xingchen thought carefully for a while, then spoke with difficulty: "Uncle Li."
Commander Li lowered his head, waiting for Duan Xingchen to continue.
Duan Xingchen chuckled twice and said, "Uncle Li, you have to be careful. If I say 'run,' you'd better use the teleportation talisman to get me there as soon as possible!"
Commander Li solemnly agreed.
He also felt that a storm was brewing.
After all eighteen levels are wiped out... many unexpected things will happen.
Their power is weak, and their voices carry little weight; therefore, their personal safety cannot be neglected in the slightest.
At this moment, Duan Xingchen exhaled slightly again.
Be prepared at all times...
·
Zhong Cai had come with a belly full of anger, but most of it dissipated when she saw her old man, Wu. And when she saw Wu shining brightly and easily killing the subordinate of the man surnamed Hong, Shi Ba Guan, her anger dissipated by half again.
Despite being a subordinate, Zhong Cai still disliked Hong Shaoling.
While admiring his handsome old man, he was finally able to spare some attention for the resource hall in the ancient city.
The more handsome Lao Wu was, the more he wanted to teach the man surnamed Hong a lesson.
If he weren't surnamed Hong, he would be hanging on Old Wu by now!
Zhong Cai's soul search was extremely fast; in just a few breaths, she had scanned all the medicinal resources and already made a plan in mind.
·
The more Wu Shaogan killed, the more the onlookers discussed, whispering and gossiping among themselves.
"Let's see what Young Master Wu can do..."
"...Another one! What a pity for the Hong family..."
"This is how you become a trusted advisor to a powerful force..."
"There's no need to feel sorry for them! They once relied on powerful forces to support them..."
"...Pity us rogue cultivators!...We were paid for with our lives..."
"...They all risked their lives..."
"Look!"
“…Amazing!…Truly amazing—”
"...Young Master Shaoling...is embarrassed..."
"...Shut up! How dare you...!"
Even if Hong Shaoling didn't pay any attention, some sounds still got through.
Hong Shaoling couldn't just kill someone because of this, so he could only continue to pretend he didn't hear it.
The most frequent comments from onlookers were undoubtedly about how swiftly "Young Master Wu" acted, how superb his methods were, and how regrettable that Hong Shaoling had met his match, becoming nothing more than a stepping stone for "Young Master Wu"...
A fire seemed to be burning in Hong Shaoling's heart, and he grew increasingly angry.
Almost every time, he couldn't hold back and wanted Nirvana to make a move!
However, the Nirvana Protector's primary concern is protecting his safety, and he will not arbitrarily bully young cultivators of similar cultivation level on his behalf. His confidante is very perceptive and can always dissuade him in time.
Every time Hong Shaoling was calmed down, a fierce glint would flash in his eyes.
He took several deep breaths before he could barely suppress the frustration and irritability in his chest.
Finally, Hong Shaoling's eyes darkened as he began to calculate the resources he would lose this time.
Just as Duan Xingchen and many other cultivators had predicted, if the other young masters of the Hong family who went to the other Central Continents failed—or most of them failed, or some failed even more miserably than him—then he might be able to stay at ease. But if he was the only one who suffered such a miserable defeat and such a great loss, then he would really be suppressed by the others.
All Hong Shaoling can do now is try his best to make amends.
He needed to plan ahead how much resources would be needed to bring back the gatekeepers who had already perished, and what kind of compensation would be given to soothe their grief at having died once.
If the repairs are made as soon as possible, his weaknesses will be reduced when he returns.
Within a family, the judgments made by the family tend to carry more weight.
No matter how angry Hong Shaoling was, he had to remain calm.
Even though he now saw the carnage flying everywhere and felt that the man slaughtering his subordinates was utterly disrespectful to him, he still had to endure it in the end.
This was his own decision, and he has to bear the consequences himself!
Hong Shaoling suddenly closed his eyes.
This is the final hurdle. Next, he should...
Hong Shaoling said, "Protector Zhang, after this matter is over, I need to have a few words with Young Master Wu."
Nirvana Protector said in a deep voice, "Young Master, do you intend to—"
Hong Shaoling took another deep breath and said through gritted teeth, "Recruit."
The protectors of Nirvana remained silent.
Hong Shaoling clenched his fists, but continued, "Treat him as a second-class... no, a first-class guest elder."
Protector Zhang pondered for a moment and said, "We can give it a try." He paused, "However, I'm afraid this will be difficult to accomplish."
Hong Shaoling couldn't help but lower his voice and say, "Can't we take this opportunity to capture them?"
Protector Zhang said, "Young Master Wu probably doesn't want to talk to you. You'll have to go find him yourself. Once you find him, he'll be wary of you, and the puppet won't leave his body, making it impossible to capture him."
Hong Shaoling was actually well aware of the situation, but he couldn't help but take the initiative to suggest it, just so he could hear Protector Zhang say "it's not feasible" with his own ears.
Then……
Hong Shaoling closed his eyes again, trying to process his emotions.
"Let's give it a try first."
Protector Zhang nodded, agreeing with Hong Shaoling's statement.
From his adventures through the eighteen trials of the Hong family, it is clear that "Young Master Wu" possesses formidable combat abilities. Although his specific background remains unknown, his strength surpasses that of Hong Shaoling, yet his protective abilities are inferior. This suggests that even if he has a powerful background, it is far less influential than that of the Hong family.
Therefore, it is possible to plan.
However, Hong Shaoling doesn't treat Young Master Wu with much respect, so it will be difficult to get this matter done.
in addition……
If Hong Shaoling fails to recruit the other party this time, he absolutely cannot allow him to be recruited by the Hong family again.
Because if that were the case, Hong Shaoling's position in the Hong family, which was already being resented, would be somewhat affected by Young Master Wu...
·
During the time that Hong Shaoling and Protector Zhang were discussing, eight cultivators from the eighteen gates besieged the young man in brocade robes, but they couldn't even successfully form an encirclement.
It seemed that whether there were three or five people or seven or eight people, they were just wooden stakes or haystacks in front of Young Master Wu. They could not put any pressure on him at all and were all easily crushed.
The eight people in the group only lasted for... about seven or eight breaths?
On average, one person dies for every breath.
·
By this time, all eighteen levels had been wiped out.
All the onlookers had anticipated this and knew that the Eighteen Passes were probably no match for Wu Shaogan, but seeing this scene in person still left them all feeling incredibly shocked.
Many cultivators couldn't help but feel their fingers trembling slightly.
They actually killed them all!
That's incredible! That's terrifying!
Where did this young master Wu come from?
Why did he separate from his Daoist partner? Where exactly did he come from?
Judging from his "equipment", he may really come from a family that is not so powerful, or he may just be from a small sect, or... there is also a certain possibility that he is just a rogue cultivator.
But if that's the case, then all those relationships and entanglements behind him have really come out ahead.
Even more so...
Many cultivators who had already guessed the true purpose of Hong Shaoling's trip felt that this Young Master Wu had a good chance of making it onto the Lesser Heavenly Ranking!
In that case, countless forces would extend olive branches to him.
Despite his fame being limited to Haiyuezhou, his reputation only grew stronger because he was challenged and contrasted by Hong Shaoling, who had come to gain fame but failed.
All the preparations that Hong Shaoling had made will now become resources for this Young Master Wu.
The ranking that Young Master Shaoling originally wanted to achieve on the Lesser Heavenly Ranking is now much more likely for Young Master Wu!
If Young Master Wu's actions were merely unintentional...
So, he was incredibly lucky.
Excellent.
·
While countless cultivators harbored various thoughts, the scene was no longer filled with the lively discussions of before; instead, it became rather quiet.
After killing the last guard of the Hong family, Young Master Wu paid no attention to anything around him—whether it was noise or silence, he didn't even glance at it.
His attention once again fell on the bright and lively boy.
Young Master Wu greeted the boy's radiant smile, a gentle smile set over his eyes, and then swayed slightly.
In an instant, he appeared right in front of the boy.
The young man seemed to have an unparalleled understanding with Young Master Wu, and he pounced out at that very moment!
Young Master Wu also shared an unparalleled understanding with the young man; the instant he steadied himself, he had already opened his arms—
In that instant, the boy threw himself onto Young Master Wu!
Young Master Wu's smile deepened, and he instantly embraced the boy tightly.
The two embraced each other very warmly in full view of everyone, as if they wanted to embed themselves into each other's arms.
Even more so...
The young man raised his legs and wrapped them around Young Master Wu's waist.
Then, Young Master Wu turned the boy over and carried him on his back.
All the movements, from beginning to end, were incredibly smooth.
In this situation, everything else seemed to become mere background to the two of them; all one could do was watch them laugh and joke, and they quickly revealed an extremely close and intimate atmosphere.
It makes you not want to disturb them...
However, someone had to disturb them.
·
Wu Shaogan and Zhong Cai both turned cold at the same time.
The two were still perfectly in sync, and many puppets appeared around them again with a "whoosh"!
—Three statues for each person, six statues in total! And so they surrounded the two of them.
Even if puppets are no match for living people, having six of them is still terrifying.
At almost the same moment, Hong Shaoling and the Nirvana Protector also arrived.
They did come on their own initiative.
However, although Hong Shaoling tried his best to control his emotions, his face was still not very good, and the aura he exuded was not very friendly.
This is something we can't help. The reasoning is one thing, the loss is another, and losing face is yet another.
Hong Shaoling wanted to come over after he had controlled his emotions, but the two of them were so intimate and oblivious to others. If he left now, wouldn't it be too late?
So, the only thing we can do is come over and stop them first.
This scene excited many cultivators.
What does this young master Shaoling want to do? What will happen between them?
Some people guessed that Hong Shaoling might lower his stance a bit, but many others watched with bated breath, feeling that things would take a more unexpected turn...
In an instant, all eyes were once again on this place!
·
Hong Shaoling tried hard to restrain himself and was about to speak.
But then, the Nirvana Protector stood in front of him!
It turned out that there were four level-eight puppets attacking Hong Shaoling at the same time!
Nirvana Protector had actually made a discovery: the move wasn't particularly fierce, and it probably wasn't really meant to kill Hong Shaoling. However, Protector Zhang couldn't gamble, so he could only quickly stop it.
Then……
As expected, the four puppets ganged up on Protector Zhang!
Protector Zhang moved with incredible speed, as if he were about to break through—but at that moment, the other two also surrounded him.
Meanwhile, Wu Shaogan, behind Zhong Cai's back, attacked Hong Shaoling!
·
Hong Shaoling was not entirely unprepared and immediately began to defend himself.
Wu Shaogan was much faster than him, and Hong Shaoling had been seriously injured by the arrow earlier and was still expelling the foreign energy from his body, so his momentum was even weaker.
Now, Wu Shaogan easily subdued him.
Protector Zhang's pupils contracted, but he couldn't break free from the puppets' attack for a moment. Seeing this, he was suddenly distracted—in an instant, several puppets attacked him at the same time!
However, Protector Zhang didn't care about anything else. His face suddenly turned pale and he spat out a mouthful of blood, but he was still looking at Hong Shaoling. Then he was somewhat relieved that the two of them were not trying to kill the young master.
He watched helplessly as the clever yet hateful boy picked up a bottle and poured it into Hong Shaoling's mouth.
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