Chapter 131: Beaten to Death on the Spot

The moment Gu Changqing lunged forward, the woman surnamed You sensed that something was amiss.

Blood energy surged throughout Gu Changqing’s body, his aura as violent as an ancient, savage beast. Terrified, she retreated hastily and shouted, "Elder Yu!"

At the same time, a streak of green light flew from her sleeve and struck the red glow of the Turtle-Snake Bagua Lamp. The spiritual light merely flickered, revealing the green light to be a small cyan sword, its hilt shaped like a coiled serpent.

By then, Gu Changqing had already reached her and unleashed a punch.

To the woman, it felt as though she were facing not a fist, but a massive bronze mountain-and-river cauldron, unstoppable and overwhelming. Fear gripped her heart. However, her gaze was suddenly drawn to a black pupil embedded in the "cauldron," leaving her mind completely ensnared, unable to react as the blow descended toward her head.

"Spare her!" a gravelly, aged voice rang out from nearby.

Simultaneously, a tremendously heavy bead shot toward Gu Changqing.

"Spare your mother!" Gu Changqing roared. He had been coveting this woman for a long time. Even so, he held back some of his strength, fearing he would shatter her skull entirely.

The punch landed. The woman’s elegant, cold face caved in instantly, bone fragments flying as her features were rendered unrecognizable. Blood-Hell energy poured from Gu Changqing’s fingers, burrowing into her body. Whatever ambitions, schemes, or family background she possessed, they were now utterly useless!

"Do you have any idea who she is?" An old man appeared in the distance and charged forward, his face twisted in fury.

His mistress had been gravely wounded right before his eyes; he could not escape punishment, and his rage was absolute. The heavy bead struck the red light surrounding Gu Changqing, shattering it completely before slamming into his head. Gu Changqing saw stars.

"Damn, that bead packs a punch," Gu Changqing thought, genuinely startled. He had still been shielded by the Turtle-Snake Bagua Lamp, but the impact had drained nearly all of his remaining spiritual energy in one go. This bead was far more powerful than ordinary artifacts.

A grin of savage delight spread across his face. *Good power. It’s mine now!*

"Do you have any idea who *I* am?" Gu Changqing retorted. He activated a Green Wood Profound Light Talisman, pivoted, and threw a punch at the old man.

The old man dared not take the blow head-on. His priority was not Gu Changqing, but the woman. He shifted his stance and lunged toward her, shouting, "You haven't committed an unforgivable sin yet! Stop now, and there may still be a chance! Otherwise, you’ll find it hard even to die!"

Gu Changqing sneered. We’ll see who finds it hard to die.

He shifted his momentum, changing direction to intercept the old man. The bead flew at him again, shattering his green light and forcing him to stagger. Taking the chance, the old man grabbed the woman, intending to flee and treat her wounds.

However, he suddenly felt something wrong. Countless Blood-Sea Stinger Needles erupted from within the woman’s body, dense and swarming, striking him. A spiritual light flared from the old man's robes, blocking the needles, but his eyes turned bloodshot with rage.

The woman in his arms dissolved into a pool of blood, which immediately began to coil around him. Seeing his mistress dead, the old man went pale and glared at Gu Changqing with a look of pure malice. "You deserve to die!"

The bead flew toward Gu Changqing once more.

This time, Gu Changqing was prepared. He deflected the bead with a punch, though the impact brought him to a momentary halt. The bead was immensely heavy and powerful.

Gu Changqing let out a cold laugh. While he grappled with the old man for a few breaths, his Blood River and the Child-Mother Yin-Yang Swords slaughtered the rest of the group. Given that these people were only at the fifth or sixth level of Qi Refining, they stood no chance against the Blood River; once swept inside, there was no hope of survival.

The Blood River and the swords then converged on the old man. Despite his deep resentment, the old man was forced to retreat. Yet, in his rage, he had failed to notice the Blood-Hell energy clinging to him. He didn't get far before the energy wore away his protective light. The Child-Mother Yin-Yang Swords entangled him, making escape impossible.

Just then, a Bone Banner flew from the distance, releasing countless vengeful spirits and black mist that surged toward the old man.

Daoist Mi’s voice echoed: "What a coincidence, Fellow Daoist Gu! You owe me another favor!"

"Excellent!" Gu Changqing laughed.

The Child-Mother Yin-Yang Swords severed the old man's legs. He fell with a groan, turning to fire the bead at Gu Changqing one last time. Meanwhile, the ghosts from the Bone Banner ignored the old man and dove straight at Gu Changqing.

Gu Changqing sneered. Aside from directing the Blood-Hell energy into the old man's wounds, he commanded the Blood River to swallow the spirits within the black mist.

Daoist Mi hadn't expected to deceive Gu Changqing—his sudden appearance was already suspicious—but he hoped to distract him for a moment. He hadn't imagined that Gu Changqing would respond without a second of hesitation, crashing the Blood River into the mist.

Faces emerged from the Blood River, biting into the spirits within the mist. The Xiang-Sui God, along with Fu Yi and Shentu, stood atop the river, charging back and forth. The agonized faces on the river and the vengeful ghosts in the mist were equally monstrous.

In an instant, the Blood River tore a hole in the black mist.

"Huh?" Daoist Mi was shocked to see his Thousand-Soul Bone Banner losing ground to Gu Changqing’s Blood River, especially as the ghosts were dragged into the river and vanished without a trace.

*What kind of technique is this Blood River? The power is immense!*

He hastily pulled out a small vial and dripped a few drops of liquid into the mist. The mist expanded, and the ghosts within grew more ferocious. Yet, even so, the black mist and spirits were being gradually devoured.

Seeing the situation turn dire, Daoist Mi realized he had underestimated Gu Changqing. *It seems I can no longer stay at Lingjiu Peak.*

He turned to flee, but the Child-Mother Yin-Yang Swords flew in from both sides. Daoist Mi drew another sword, parrying the blades with two exceptionally precise strikes. "Fellow Daoist Gu, since we both belong to the Demonic Path, why don't we call it a truce?"

"You've fought several battles; your consumption must be high. If this continues, the outcome is uncertain."

"Excellent! Put away your artifact, and we'll stop!" Gu Changqing lunged at Daoist Mi, wearing a savage grin.

As for consumption... he had never known the meaning of the word. Especially after fighting several rounds, his spiritual power felt fuller than ever.

Daoist Mi, shrouded in black mist, kept moving in circles. "Fellow Daoist, could you stop for a moment?" A glint of trickery flashed in his eyes as he formed a seal, sending several rays of ghostly light into the ground.

"Since you won't put away your artifact, I'll just have to kill you!" Gu Changqing pulled out a talisman, unleashing a bolt of lightning that tore through the black mist, forcing Daoist Mi to stumble.

Gu Changqing was upon him in an instant, unleashing a punch.

Daoist Mi let out a terrified shriek, unable to dodge. The black mist was dispersed, his protective light shattered, and his flesh flew as the blow struck home. Before he could be sent flying, Gu Changqing grabbed him and dragged him back for another punch.

This time, Daoist Mi couldn't withstand it; his skull was pulverized.

However, just as he died, a streak of ghostly light flew from his head and burrowed into Gu Changqing's body. Simultaneously, several other lights emerged from the ground; one flew into the Thousand-Soul Bone Banner, while the others shot into Gu Changqing as well.

Gu Changqing froze, standing perfectly still, as the Blood River, left without a master, receded back into his body.