Translator: CinderTL
"Brother Jiang Wo, we've truly been through thick and thin together on this mission to gather the Nine Deaths Grass. When you reach the Void Refinement Stage one day, don't forget this old man..."
The white-haired old man's tongue moved like a lotus flower, showering Jiang Wo with praise and flattery. Even his address for the dwarf had changed repeatedly. From initially calling him by name, to "Cousin," and now "Brother."
In his words, Jiang Wo's advancement to the Void Refinement Stage seemed as certain as fate. One day, the dwarf would become the Jiang Family's pillar, leading them to dominate the entire Qianchang Wilderness.
A smile that he couldn't suppress spread across Jiang Wo's face. He found the white-haired old man before him particularly pleasing and amiable, feeling as though they had met far too late. If they had become acquainted sooner, perhaps his lonely and painful thousand-year life wouldn't have been so desolate.
"Jiang Chao, you flatter me. As you said, we are comrades who have faced adversity together. From this day forward, you are my closest friend, Jiang Wo. If you ever need my help, don't hesitate to ask. I will never refuse."
As Jiang Wo spoke, he activated his sun-chasing spear, completely eliminating the yin spider king.
Suddenly...
A corpse roar echoed from the cliff, drawing the attention of the two men.
They turned to see Song Wen's Corpse Puppet tearing apart a Fourth-Tier yin spider. Of the seven yin spiders that had been attacking Song Wen, two were already dead, leaving five remaining.
These yin spiders had also discovered the spider king's death and were now madly attacking Song Wen, seemingly seeking revenge for their fallen leader.
Watching Song Wen surrounded by five Fourth-Tier yin spiders and numerous lower-tier yin spiders, the dwarf's eyes flashed with killing intent.
"Ai Kun has no reason to live any longer. I'll eliminate him."
With that, he prepared to activate the blue pearl suspended above his body.
This pearl was his Natal Magic Treasure, capable of both offense and defense. Unfortunately, he had never found suitable spiritual materials to upgrade it to Spirit Treasure level.
"Brother Jiang Wo, wait," the white-haired old man said. "Ai Kun has just ascended and possesses no powerful Mystic Treasures or any cultivation in the mystic realm's formidable Cultivation Methods. Such a weakling hardly warrants your personal attention. Please, Brother, stand aside and let me handle him."
The white-haired old man spoke with utmost sincerity and genuine respect, which greatly pleased the dwarf.
"Then let me handle this," the white-haired old man said, nodding. He gripped his azure flag, ready to summon a gale, when he suddenly glanced at the blue pearl floating before the dwarf.
The blue pearl released a stream of heavy water that swirled around the dwarf, forming a transparent shield.
"Brother Jiang Wo, it's best to put away your Natal Treasure Pearl. I'll take care of the rest of the fight. You just need to hold down the fort for me."
The dwarf pondered for a moment. It was true that Ai Kun and the remaining low-level yin spiders posed no real threat to him and the white-haired old man. He agreed to the white-haired old man's request and retracted the blue pearl into his body.
The heavy water shield around him vanished instantly.
A playful smile curled the white-haired old man's lips.
"Brother, watch closely. See how I'll slaughter Ai Kun! Low-realm scum like him should have stayed where they belonged. How dare he ascend to the mystic realm? Does he truly believe he can achieve immortality and become an immortal?"
The dwarf's curiosity piqued. He turned his attention to Song Wen, eager to see how the white-haired old man would humiliate him.
A flicker of malice flashed in the white-haired old man's eyes. With a flip of his palm, the banner in his hand swept across, its pole's sharp end thrusting toward the dwarf standing mere inches away.
The pole's end, as sharp as a spear, aimed wickedly at the dwarf's Dantian.
The dwarf's expression changed drastically. But the distance was too close, and he was completely unprepared. He had no time to react, forced to watch helplessly as the pole pierced his flesh.
"Pfft!"
The pole pierced straight through the dwarf's abdomen.
A fierce gale erupted from the pole, instantly shredding the dwarf's Dantian and nascent soul.
All of the dwarf's cultivation rapidly drained away.
Gouts of blood gushed from his mouth.
His breath grew increasingly shallow, his life hanging by a thread.
"Jiang Chao... why did you do this?" the dwarf rasped weakly, his eyes blazing with fury.
The white-haired old man's face was lit with triumphant glee, radiating the satisfaction of complete control.
"Naturally, for the sun-chasing spear! Such a Spirit Treasure in the hands of a three-foot dwarf like you is like a pearl tarnished by dust. Only I am worthy of the sun-chasing spear!" His words were resolute, his eyes filled with arrogance.
"You've slaughtered your own kin! The family will never forgive you!" the dwarf spat out venomously.
"Hahaha..." the white-haired elder threw his head back and laughed heartily. "Jiang Wo, you overestimate yourself. Back then, I killed the Jiang Family's peerless genius, and yet I'm still alive and well! If I kill you, the entire Jiang Family might even thank me."
"The Jiang Family has always considered you a burden. Keeping you around damages the family's reputation, but killing you would be a waste. So they simply let you fend for yourself. Yet, you've been incredibly lucky, and your cultivation talent is quite good. Despite receiving little support from the family, you still managed to reach Divine Transformation. Moreover, through a stroke of fortune, you obtained a low-grade Spirit Treasure—the sun-chasing spear. If it weren't for your appearance, which brings the clan too much shame, you would have long ago become a role model for the younger generation of the Jiang Family."
The dwarf glared at Jiang Chao with venomous hatred, his eyes burning with resentment.
His entire life had been a torment of suffering and sorrow, from which he could never escape, no matter how hard he struggled.
Since childhood, he had yearned for the Jiang Family's recognition and respect. He had worked harder than anyone else, enduring hardships and trials that would have broken most people, finally reaching the Divine Transformation realm.
Yet, the clan still treated him as an outsider.
When they needed his help, they would greet him with smiles. But once their goals were achieved, they would cast him aside like a worn-out shoe.
He had never truly belonged to the Jiang Family.
"Jiang Chao, you'll meet a terrible end!"
The dwarf poured all his resentment toward the Jiang Family, his fury at fate's injustice, and his hatred for Jiang Chao into a single, hysterical curse, roaring it out with unrestrained fury.
"Hahaha... No matter what happens to me, you won't be around to see it!"
Jiang Chao laughed maniacally, about to strike the dwarf down.
Suddenly, sharp applause rang out: "Clap, clap, clap..."
Jiang Chao turned to see Ai Kun.
Ai Kun had witnessed him use both deceit and treachery to kill Shu Sheng and the dwarf, yet showed no surprise or alarm. Instead, he watched with an air of detached amusement.
"Truly a brilliant strategy! With just a few words, you lured a powerful cultivator far stronger than yourself into lowering his guard and relaxing his vigilance. Then, you seized the opportunity to inflict a grievous wound. Such cunning deserves my utmost respect," Song Wen said with genuine admiration, his words brimming with sincerity.
Mutual appreciation!
(End of the Chapter)
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