Chapter 33: I am the Taoist Jiang Sheng, specially inviting the River God to face death

Xu Xiao and Qiao Xuan exchanged a glance, their faces filled with bitterness.

They had considered the gap between Foundation Establishment and the Purple Mansion Realm, but they never imagined the disparity would be this immense!

"Lord River God, do you require my assistance in dealing with them?" Young Master Kongxu stared at Xu Xiao, his eyes as unsettling as a venomous snake.

The River God’s massive, hideous head nodded slightly. "Leave that female cultivator from the Moon Sect to you. I shall take the one at the late stage of Foundation Establishment."

Young Master Kongxu was naturally delighted. With a tremor of his Azure Water Dharma Sword, he charged straight toward Xu Xiao, while the River God brandished his trident and lunged toward Qiao Xuan.

In an instant, Xu Xiao and Qiao Xuan were separated from their opponents, plunged into a desperate struggle.

Meanwhile, atop the summit of Qingping Mountain, Jiang Sheng stood with his hands behind his back, gazing out at the surging floods beyond the mountains. "Using the cultivation of dozens of Qi Refinement practitioners as a guide, and the lives of the inhabitants of the six towns in Qingshan County as bait... I have finally lured you here, step by step."

"How much certainty does Daoist Jiang have in eliminating that demon?" Zhang Qingyun’s voice drifted over, her expression tinged with nervousness.

It was no wonder Zhang Qingyun was anxious. The cost of this operation was so high; if they failed to kill the River God, not only would they face punishment from the imperial court, but there would be no place left for them in Qingshan County. She could not even think about the future.

Jiang Sheng did not answer directly, but instead asked, "Miss Zhang, where are Wang Tianfang and the other three?"

Zhang Qing was wrapped in a thick brocade robe, her pretty face pale from the cold, yet the brilliance in her eyes could not be hidden. "Rest assured, Daoist. Wang Tianfang and the others have already made their arrangements outside Qingping Town."

Jiang Sheng nodded, then finally answered Zhang Qingyun’s question. "If all goes according to plan, that demon shall surely perish here today."

With that, the group turned their gaze back toward the distant battlefield.

At that moment, facing the combined assault of Young Master Kongxu and the River God, Xu Xiao and Qiao Xuan were already showing signs of decline.

A Purple Mansion demon like the River God was difficult enough to contend with, and with the assistance of a mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator like Young Master Kongxu, they were simply no match.

Young Master Kongxu engaged Xu Xiao in constant combat. Their dharma swords clashed repeatedly, sending waves of either deep blue or icy sword qi flying back and forth in a fierce struggle.

Young Master Kongxu continued to provoke Xu Xiao with his words: "Fairy Xu, why struggle so hard? If you simply submit to me and allow me to brand a slave seal upon your divine sense, I might just let you go."

"Being an inner disciple of the Moon Sect—how does that compare to the luxury of following me? Besides, such a pure and celestial body as yours would be a waste if no one were to enjoy it. Rest assured, Fairy, I shall treat you with great affection."

Xu Xiao’s expression remained unchanged, completely unaffected by his vulgarities. How could she not know that Young Master Kongxu was intentionally trying to provoke her?

Seeing that she remained unmoved, Young Master Kongxu’s eyes narrowed. An object slid from his sleeve into his left palm. As they closed in once more, he threw the object directly at her. "Since Fairy Xu refuses to surrender, then die!"

It was a Ground Fiend Yin Thunder. Its explosive power was comparable to a Foundation Establishment cultivator self-detonating; an ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivator would be reduced to nothingness upon impact.

The moment the Ground Fiend Yin Thunder appeared, Xu Xiao’s face paled.

In the next instant, the Yin Thunder erupted with a deafening roar that echoed for ten miles. Smoke billowed as the power of the Ground Fiend and the Yin Thunder raged outward.

Young Master Kongxu had just been feeling smug when he suddenly sensed Xu Xiao’s aura amidst the chaotic energy. Her presence had not weakened in the slightest!

An icy blue sword qi cut through the smoke, surging toward him. Kongxu looked in shock at the center of the explosion, where a shimmering curtain of water protected Xu Xiao’s entire body.

Spiritual light flowed across the water curtain, and a pure essence emanated from it; it was clearly no ordinary item!

"A Second-Grade Profound Water Talisman?" Kongxu’s eyes were filled with suspicion and vigilance.

Xu Xiao said nothing, but her heart was pounding wildly.

If not for this Profound Water Talisman that Zhang Qing had pressed into her hands—refined by Jiang Sheng—she would likely have been obliterated by that Yin Thunder.

Seeing Kongxu’s extreme wariness, Xu Xiao suddenly turned and charged toward the battlefield where the River God and Qiao Xuan were fighting. "Elder Qiao, retreat!"

Qiao Xuan nodded and sacrificed a small, pitch-black sphere, hurling it toward the River God.

The River God was well-versed in many things; he recognized at once that the black sphere was an Yin Thunder Seed. He immediately summoned a massive wave to wash over it.

The Yin Thunder Seed exploded violently, sending lightning splashing in all directions, carving a vacuum out of the endless, surging waves.

Taking advantage of the distraction, Qiao Xuan and Xu Xiao retreated toward Qingping Mountain.

The River God watched their retreat with a heavy expression, a sense of foreboding creeping into his heart.

Young Master Kongxu approached him. "Qingping Mountain... that is the training ground of that Penglai man, Jiang Sheng."

"Merely a Foundation Establishment Daoist," the River God said coldly.

Kongxu, of course, did not argue. "Then, Lord River God, shall we pursue them?"

The River God replied without hesitation, "Naturally! If we let that Moon Sect disciple escape, how can we ever have peace again? They must be slain here!"

Upon hearing this, Kongxu expressed his agreement.

If there had been no conflict, it would be one thing, but since they had already clashed, it would be too naive to hope that nothing would come of it.

One must pull up the weeds by the roots!

Thus, the River God led Young Master Kongxu in direct pursuit of Xu Xiao and Qiao Xuan.

If they could kill these two on the spot, this operation would be perfect!

Xu Xiao and Qiao Xuan had already exhausted much of their strength in combat, and now, while fleeing for their lives, their spiritual energy was draining rapidly.

Qiao Xuan occasionally glanced back at the relentlessly pursuing River God, then asked, "Fairy Xu, what exactly is Miss Zhang's plan? If there is no follow-up arrangement, the two of us will perish here!"

Xu Xiao’s expression was complex as she looked toward Qingping Mountain. "Rest assured, Elder Qiao. We will see the truth once we reach Qingping Town."

Throughout the chase, the River God continuously unleashed water arrows and waves to harass them. Under this constant attrition, their spiritual energy was nearly depleted.

Finally reaching Qingping Town, Xu Xiao and Qiao Xuan landed directly in the town, appearing ready to fight to the death.

The River God, pursuing them, suddenly halted in mid-air as he looked down at them.

Young Master Kongxu followed closely behind. "Lord River God, what is it?"

The River God surveyed the deserted Qingping Town. "Something is wrong."

Kongxu laughed. "You are a divine deity of the Purple Mansion Realm. Are you truly afraid of two desperate Foundation Establishment cultivators?"

The River God nodded. His massive, paddle-like claw grabbed the defenseless Kongxu and hurled him directly into the town. "In that case, you go and investigate for me!"

Kongxu had not expected the River God to strike so suddenly. By the time he reacted, he had already been thrown into the sky above Qingping Town.

Before he could even scream, he saw chains rising from the east, west, south, and north of the town.

Within a few breaths, the chains had him tightly bound in the air above the town. Terrified and enraged, Kongxu screamed, "I am not the River God! Don't attack! I am not the River God!"

The River God let out a wide grin. "An ambush, indeed."

Seeing that the chains failed to bind the River God, Xu Xiao felt a flicker of disappointment, but she still raised her sword and charged toward the bound Kongxu.

Hearing the whistling sound of the approaching blade and feeling the bone-chilling killing intent, Kongxu yelled desperately, "Fairy Xu! Fairy Xu, please do not strike! I am willing to join forces with you against the River God! I am willing to swear a blood oath!"

"I—"

An icy sword light shot into the sky. Before Kongxu could finish his sentence, his body was sliced in two by the sword qi!

"Is this your final trump card?" the River God’s mocking voice rang out.

Ignoring the dying, resentful Kongxu, Xu Xiao turned to face the River God. "So what if it is? And so what if it isn't?"

The River God gripped his trident, his golden vertical pupils blinking. "If I am not mistaken, you intended to use that Foundation Establishment Daoist from Penglai as your final trump card."

"You wish for a mere Foundation Establishment Daoist... to slay a god?"

As he spoke, a terrifying pressure erupted from the River God. The aura of the Purple Mansion Realm spread out, causing winds to howl and waves to surge. His ten-foot-tall golden body radiated a brilliant, majestic light, looking truly like a solemn and grand deity.

"You likely do not know what the Purple Mansion Realm truly is! None of you shall escape. Die before me!"

The River God swung his trident, and in a flash, he appeared before Xu Xiao. The massive trident tore through the air, leaving behind a trail of afterimages.

Xu Xiao’s expression changed. She hurriedly raised her sword to block, but she was sent flying along with her weapon.

Seeing this, Qiao Xuan quickly sacrificed another Yin Thunder Seed, hurling it at the River God.

Sensing the terrifying fluctuations of the Yin Thunder Seed, the River God swung his trident. A massive wave washed down, detonating the seed in mid-air.

"With your meager strength, you think you can stop me? How arrogant!"

"Come, Water!"

The River God’s voice echoed over Qingping Town. As he raised his trident high, sinister winds began to howl and dark clouds gathered.

In an instant, a torrential downpour began, and behind the River God, waves surged to a height of hundreds of feet, as if intending to swallow everything in their path.

The momentum was heaven-shaking!

The commoners from the various towns hiding at the foot of Qingping Mountain were terrified, huddling together in despair.

They had thought that even after abandoning their homes and fields to flee to Qingping Mountain, they might find safety, but they still could not escape death.

"Heavens, someone save us!"

"The River God is angry! The County Magistrate angered the River God, we are all going to die!"

"I don't want to die! I offer incense to the River God every year, why must he drown my home!"

"We are all going to die here... there is no hope..."

At the foot of the mountain, there was a chorus of wailing. Children cried, the elderly wept, men held their wives and children in agonizing grief, and women clutched their children, shedding tears.

Anyone who looked up at the River God suspended in the air, the gathering dark clouds, and the gargantuan waves poised to consume everything, knew that they had no way out.

Just then, a figure suddenly flew out from within Qingping Mountain. As the figure appeared, a sense of pure, tranquil energy calmed the panic of the people.

The commoners at the foot of the mountain felt a surge of hope. "That is Daoist Jiang of Qingping Mountain! Daoist Jiang has come to save us!"

"You are the Jiang Sheng from Penglai?" The River God sized up the young Daoist appearing before him.

Jiang Sheng wore green robes and a jade crown. His posture was upright, and his aura was calm and indifferent.

With a slight smile, Jiang Sheng offered a shallow bow to the River God. "This humble Daoist is Jiang Sheng, a Qi Refinement practitioner of Qingping Mountain."

"I have come specifically to invite the River God to his death."