Translator: CinderTL
Xu Sanyan hurried forward to help Li Zuoxing to his feet, feigning concern. "Brother Li, how severe are your injuries? Can you still move?"
Li Zuoxing gritted his teeth, suppressing the pain. "Divine Soul Secret Technique!"
Suddenly, a faint glow emanated from Xu Sanyan's right hand. He swiftly struck from a concealed position, his palm crashing heavily into Li Zuoxing's abdomen.
Bang!
Caught off guard, Li Zuoxing was unable to defend himself. His body was hurled through the air, crashing violently against the trunk of a massive ancient tree. The tree, as thick as a man's waist, shattered instantly, splintering into jagged shards.
Cough!
A metallic sweetness flooded Li Zuoxing's throat as a torrent of crimson blood gushed forth. His ribs were crushed, his internal organs ruptured. It felt as if he had been struck head-on by a berserk beast. His head lolled limply to the side, and he collapsed to the ground, his life hanging in the balance.
"You—"
Wang Lulu froze for a moment, but her reflexes kicked in instantly. She swiftly retreated, her voice sharp with warning. "What are you doing?!"
Xu Sanyan glanced at her sideways, raising an eyebrow. "Isn't it obvious?"
"You're not at the Initial Stage of Foundation Establishment!" Wang Lulu's expression turned grave. The force of that strike far exceeded what someone at that level could muster.
"Heh heh..." Xu Sanyan chuckled softly, his eyes narrowing slightly. "Who said I was?"
Wang Lulu hesitated, unsure of Xu Sanyan's true strength and unwilling to act rashly. Glancing at Li Zuoxing, who lay unconscious and possibly dead, she proposed, "We have no prior grudges. Why not let bygones be bygones? If we both join the Holy Sect of Harmonious Hearts in the future, we could even watch out for each other."
Xu Sanyan slowly shook his head, sneering. "No grudges? I killed your husband, you know. Besides... what makes you think you're worthy of my protection?"
"You!"
Wang Lulu's expression darkened. Without another word, she turned and fled into the dense forest, abandoning the fight before it had even begun.
Xu Sanyan didn't immediately pursue. Instead, he closed his eyes, focusing his divine soul. In an instant, he condensed an almost invisible, needle-sharp soul spike and unleashed it.
"Ah!"
Wang Lulu, still sprinting through the forest, suddenly collapsed, clutching her head and screaming wildly. The searing pain overwhelmed her thoughts, leaving her writhing on the ground.
Xu Sanyan exhaled deeply, fatigue shadowing his features. Using the Lu Clan's Spirit Refining Force twice in quick succession had pushed him to his limits. He was only able to do so thanks to the significant increase in his divine soul power during his time in the Soul Realm. Without that, he could have used it only once.
Xu Sanyan approached Wang Lulu at a leisurely pace, coldly observing her anguished cries without a trace of pity.
Wang Lulu lay curled on the ground, trembling violently as she desperately pounded her temples, hoping to alleviate the searing pain. But her efforts were futile.
Leaning against a tree, Xu Sanyan savored the scene, unwilling to rush her demise. When it came to dealing with women, he always had plenty of patience.
In her delirium, Wang Lulu's azure gown had ridden up to her waist, exposing her pale, flawless thighs. The unhindered view of her groin revealed her white panties, their tight elastic cutting into the curves of her labia.
Sweat drenched her face, matting stray strands of hair to her skin, giving her a strangely alluring appearance.
Xu Sanyan's interest grew.
"Spare... spare me..." Wang Lulu's endurance was far weaker than Li Zuoxing's had been. Earlier, Li Zuoxing had managed to force himself to stand and cautiously survey his surroundings after taking the same blow. Wang Lulu could only beg for mercy.
"Spare you... not entirely impossible. But what would I get in return?" Xu Sanyan smirked as he crouched down. His large hands clamped around her neck, yanking her upright. With a slight tightening of his grip, he could snuff out her life in an instant.
"I... I have treasures in my storage pouch..." Wang Lulu's eyes welled with tears, her face a picture of utter misery.
"Foolish," Xu Sanyan said, shaking his head and dismissing her offer. "Killing you is just another way for me to get them."
"What... what do you want? Just let me go, I'll do anything..."
"Really?" Xu Sanyan smirked.
Wang Lulu felt the pain subside slightly. Though still excruciating, it was now barely tolerable.
"Really... I... I can sleep with you," she blurted out, the words surprising even herself as she saw Xu Sanyan's expression.
Xu Sanyan slowly shook his head. "Alas... how could I do such a thing? What kind of man do you take me for?"
Wang Lulu's spirits sank. He didn't seem interested in her offer. But Xu Sanyan's next words rekindled her hope:
"I've never liked forcing people," he said earnestly, locking eyes with her.
"No force at all! I'm willing!" Wang Lulu felt like she had been thrown a lifeline, her heart soaring with relief.
"Ugh... fine," Xu Sanyan said, nodding reluctantly.
With that, his left hand shot out and slammed into Wang Lulu's Qi Sea.
"Ah!" Wang Lulu screamed in agony, her face twisted with despair. Her cultivation level had been destroyed.
"That's for the best," Xu Sanyan said, stripping off her clothes. "This way, you won't do anything to upset everyone."
Wang Lulu's face was ashen, as if her soul had been ripped away. She lay limp, allowing Xu Sanyan to do as he pleased.
Half an hour later, Xu Sanyan adjusted his pants and patted Wang Lulu's cheek. "So your cultivation's gone. No big deal. As long as you're alive, there's still hope. Hang in there!"
Two streams of tears trickled down Wang Lulu's face as she stared blankly into the depths of the forest.
Xu Sanyan shook his head and sighed. "Looks like you don't want to live anymore. Fine, I'll see this through. Consider it a final favor."
He pressed a finger to Wang Lulu's forehead, unleashing a torrent of Spiritual Power that turned her brain into mush. Wang Lulu collapsed silently, her eyes now completely empty and fixed unblinkingly on Xu Sanyan.
"Rest in peace," Xu Sanyan said, closing Wang Lulu's eyes. He picked up her storage pouch and moved to Li Zuoxing's side, checking his pulse. To his surprise, the man was still alive.
"Tough fate," Xu Sanyan muttered, delivering the final blow to reunite the couple in the afterlife.
After securing their storage pouches, he ventured deeper into Ten Thousand Demons Mountain.
Xu Sanyan hadn't originally intended to kill them, but they had only themselves to blame. Did they really think he hadn't seen through their scheme? This was purely self-preservation.
Suddenly, a loud laugh echoed through the forest. "Hahaha... what a ruthless little bastard! You're destined for our Holy Sect!"
Xu Sanyan's heart skipped a beat. He hadn't sensed anyone nearby—this person's cultivation level must far surpass his own!
"Junior Xu Sanyan greets Senior!" he called out, bowing respectfully in all directions, even though he couldn't see the speaker.
"I smelled that foul aura from miles away. You've committed countless atrocities, haven't you? Hahaha... I love it!"
The voice came from behind him, accompanied by the sound of footsteps crunching through dead branches.
Xu Sanyan whirled around to see an unkempt old Daoist priest shambling toward him. His tattered robe hung limply, his hair was matted into greasy dreadlocks, and his beard was stained with grime—he looked like a beggar.
The old Daoist clutched a purple gourd, gulping down its contents in large swigs. Xu Sanyan glanced at the liquid: a viscous crimson brew radiating both a faint alcoholic aroma and a pungent metallic stench.
"From the Lu Clan?" the old Daoist asked.
Xu Sanyan shook his head. "Junior is not a member of the Lu Clan. I merely happened to learn some of their Mystical Arts."
He must have noticed me using the Lu Clan's Spirit Refining Force earlier, Xu Sanyan thought.
(End of the Chapter)
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