Chapter 138: The Unexpected Twist

　　Despite the Kunlun disciples’ profound and exquisite cultivation in Taoism and the numbers on Kunlun’s side exceeded the poltergeist ghosts by a few times, they were still beaten in unspeakable bitterness.

　　The poltergeist ghosts were inherently ferocious ghosts. With the protection of the Art of Ghost, they feared nothing. They seemed to be eagerly looking forward to being killed by the enemies. Once they identified the enemies before their eyes, they would never rest until their deaths. A few cowardly Kunlun Sect’s Taoist priests ran here and there, being chased by the poltergeist ghosts.

　　Wen Leyang could only follow the rest of the group. He dodged when he saw a poltergeist ghost pouncing on him. When he was unable to dodge the attack, he used his punches and kicks to fight the opposing party. No matter what, he refused to use the Poison Stream’s undercurrent and the Thunder Heart Sand since the reflection of these murderous weapons onto himself was not to be taken lightly.

　　Even though he managed to repulse three to four poltergeist ghosts, he also suffered from uncountable sets of Faulty Punch. Liu Zheng did not bother to discuss with his senior and junior brother disciples, but jumped next to Wen Leyang instead, “This is not the way, what should we do!”

　　Wen Leyang’s entire body was sore and painful being hit by ‘himself’. He looked at Liu Zheng in annoyance and was about to utter something. Suddenly, in high spirits, he asked, “I thought you all are trained in the Art of Immobilization?” If a Kunlun disciple could immobilize a poltergeist ghost, three hundred people would prosper.

　　Despite the pressing affairs, Liu Zheng was stunned for a moment, “You are talking about ‘The Journey to the West’!”

　　Most of Wen Leyang’s understanding of the supernatural powers of the cultivation world was originated from the story of The Journey to the West. He gave a forced smile as he shook his head, “I guess we can only hope that your esteemed teacher can kill Hanba soon…”

　　Before he could finish his sentence, a series of muffled loud noises echoed from mid-air abruptly. Wen Leyang and the little supreme leader Liu Zheng looked up in fear. The sword ball that was tightly trapping Hanba in mid-air expanded rapidly. The two streaks of blood red-colored giant talismans that were binding the sword ball in both horizontal and vertical positions were shaking vigorously, cracking into streaks and streaks of tremendous fissures. It seemed that it could not withstand any longer.

　　It was as if the enlightened person Tian Shu was drunk. He blushed in the color of wine such that it seemed like blood was almost seeping out from his face. He roared loudly and hoarsely, “Nine Palaces’ Seventy-two Swords, I summon ‘Resist the Evil Child’!”

　　‘Resist the Evil Child’ was a Taoist formation of the Kunlun Sect. Tian Shu could no longer pin down Fifth Brother Hanba on his own. Hence, he summoned the disciples under his seat to combine their powers to help him.

　　The poltergeist ghosts chased the seventy-two esteemed sword seniors frantically such that they even lost their shoes. When they heard Tian Shu’s summon, they responded in an exceedingly messy manner. Anyone would feel disheartened from hearing their response. Liu Zheng shouted loudly towards the rest of the disciples to shield the seventy-two esteemed sword seniors. Only then, the enlightened person Tian Shu realized that the poltergeist ghosts were wreaking havoc and the Kunlun Sect’s formation had been dispersed. He roared in rage towards Liu Zheng, “Moron, just hold them down, don’t let them move!”

　　Liu Zheng was suddenly enlightened. He hastily ordered, “Taoism code, three people group into one formation, hold down the ghosts!” Upon saying that, he halted for a moment before repeating, “Just hold them down so that they cannot move!”

　　The poltergeist ghosts’ incisiveness was that others could not inflict harm on them, for any harm that was inflicted onto them, the person who inflicted the harm would be reflected by the same harm due to the Art of Ghost. Moreover, once the poltergeist ghosts’ corpses were shattered, the poltergeist souls could still continue to harm others. However, it seemed that they could be being held down.

　　Wen Leyang was at a loss whether to cry or laugh. Everybody was so blinded that they could not even figure out such a simple method. He was the first to move his body twist his body around a poltergeist ghost that was dashing past his side. The strength of the Poison of Life and Death held the ghost down. Simultaneously, a gush of similar strength held him down as well. He slumped onto the ground together with the poltergeist ghost.

　　The Kunlun disciples were all enlightened. Under the supreme leader’s order, three people grouped into a formation. Without using the flying swords or supernatural power, they used brute force to pounce onto the poltergeist ghosts…

　　The Kunlun Sect was one of the five greatest sects in the right path of cultivation world. They even had the Sword Immortal, who was a solitary heaven guardian supporting their back.

　　The poltergeist ghosts were a form of ferocious ghosts that were rarely seen in the world.

　　Right now the people in the City God Temple fought into a ball of mess, just like the game in the kindergarten of defending own territories.

　　The master cultivator was really a master. His method worked well.

　　The seventy-two esteemed sword seniors from Kunlun Sect’s three mountains and nine palaces finally had the time to undertake the task. They heaved a sigh of relief one after another as they jumped onto the eaves and arranged themselves in a well-spaced manner as they gathered towards the sword ball that was getting more and more agitated.

　　From the sky, the seventy-two Kunlun master cultivators on the ground formed into the shape of an eight diagram as they surrounded the sword ball firmly in the middle of the circle.

　　Liu Zheng instructed three disciples to hold down the poltergeist ghost, which was underneath Wen Leyang’s body. Only then, Wen Leyang could stand up. The two youngsters stood side by side. They squinted their eyes as they witnessed the battle before their eyes.

　　Once the formation was properly set out, one of the esteemed sword seniors slowly opened his mouth and chanted a formation-conjuring spell. His voice was smooth and steady like flowing mercury, “Six stems nine branches, round sky ground square!”

　　The spell was thundering and rippling. At the end of the spell, the second esteemed sword senior immediately continued, “Four seasons five divisions, green red white yellow!”

　　The third esteemed sword senior’s voice was akin to thunder. He pronounced word-by-word in a knife-like sharpness, “Acknowledged Taiyi as teacher, sun moon as light!”

　　The fourth esteemed sword senior’s cool and indifferent expression suddenly turned dramatic, akin to a brown bear that suddenly discovered a huge salmon. He jumped up vigorously with his arms wide opened. He shouted in surprise and abruptly, “Alas…”

　　The seventy-two sword seniors immediately shouted in unison, “Resist the Evil Child!”

　　Wen Leyang was both astonished and amused. He turned sideways and peered at the little supreme leader Liu Zheng that was standing by his side, “How is it your formation-conjuring spell sounds like the Er Ren Zhuan¹?”

　　Liu Zheng sneered, “I feel that it is peculiar as well. That is why I never learn this.”

　　Even though the formation-conjuring spell sounded messy and grotesque such that goosebumps erupted everywhere. However, following each pause of the chant, the long sword behind every esteemed sword senior’s back unsheathed with the wind and shook rapidly. The surrounding air also started fluctuating from slow to fast within the humming of the long swords. When a sudden colorful brilliance flowed in all directions, gradually converging into a thick and magnificent brilliance, circulating in layers within the eight-diagram formation. Waves upon waves of fluctuation were akin to gentle tidewater that slowly penetrated into the sword ball.

　　The initially agitated sword ball suddenly quieted down. However, before Liu Zheng could fully exhale, the sword ball started shaking vigorously again. Layers upon layers of metal clanking noise echoed louder and stronger within everyone’s ears. The noise combined into a stretch of loud noise akin to hundreds of blacksmiths that simultaneously opened for business!

　　The poltergeist ghosts that were held down by the Kunlun disciples on the ground started struggling more vigorously.

　　Fifth Brother Hanba was in the core of the thousands of swords. His body spun rapidly akin to a spinning top. His strong body pulverized layers upon layers of divine swords but he still did not manage to break out of the cocoon. The sword cage’s lock that was summoned by the enlightened person Tian Shu and the ‘Resist the Evil Child’ spell of the seventy-two esteemed sword seniors were one of the top Taoist Sect’s protective circles that existed in the world. The powers were so strong they could almost bore through the heaven!

　　Wen Leyang did not understand the popularity of these Taoist formations but he could truly sense differences of the tremendous forces that were trying to annihilate one another. He asked Liu Zheng softly, “What is the origin of the zombie corpse?” The enlightened person Tian Shu was the ultimate master cultivator who was a solitary heaven guardian. However, in order to deal with the zombie corpse, he needed the combined effort of seventy-two esteemed sword seniors before he could slightly gain the upper hand. The zombie corpse’s actual power was truly shocking.

　　At the most crucial moment of zombie corpse’s and the Kunlun Sect’s battle of spell and strength, Liu Zheng tried to exercise the Taoist spell and supernatural power through his entire body. However, there was no way for him to help out, his expression was a combination of restlessness and concern. He completely disregarded Wen Leyang’s words. Just as Wen Leyang was about to ask again, a faint and light voice, accompanied by a little fear answered next to his ear softly with slight scruple, “I am also curious, he seems to be extremely incisive.” The voice was familiar, the breath smelled like the scent of orchid, tickling his earlobe.

　　Wen Leyang’s telegnosis ability was spread across all directions. Nevertheless, someone managed to creep up unexpectedly to his side soundlessly. Not only did he fail to take notice, the little supreme leader Liu Zheng’s telegnosis ability also did not realize that someone was there. The two brothers were akin to quails whose feet were stepped by an elephant, each of them squalled as they somersaulted away.

　　The little supreme leader Liu Zheng was suspended in mid-air. His flying sword had already shot up to protect himself. As he was about to touch the ground, a gush of scented wind brushed past his body. His self-defense flying sword was already snatched away by someone. Wen Leyang was also suspended in mid-air when he suddenly turned and moved his body in a ghastly manner. Shielding Liu Zheng with his body, he roared loudly, “Stop it, Cone Nail!”

　　The person who suddenly appeared was the demon-suppressing young maiden Cone Nail, who was entrusted by Tuo Xie to the marvel Lue Luo to be resurrected in the Gold-Consuming Lair.

　　Cone Nail had already stretched out her hand initially, in preparation to kill Liu Zheng. However, upon hearing Wen Leyang’s words, she hastily retreated. Akin to a young maiden that misbehaved, she looked towards Wen Leyang fearfully as she defended herself with a soft voice, “It was him…who drew the flying sword first. I thought that he was going to kill me.” As she was saying that she hastily released the flying sword that was struggling strenuously in her hand and spoke softly to Liu Zheng in an extremely guilty manner, “I’m sorry…”

　　Wen Leyang did not wait for Cone Nail to finish her sentence before he asked her, “Why did you come here?”

　　Cone Nail’s face was filled with surprise, as if she was overwhelmed and flattered by Wen Leyang’s willingness to talk to her, “I am afraid that someone from the Leyang family is trying to harm me again. Ever since I came out of the Gold-Consuming Lair, I have been trying to look for them to clarify the situation…”

　　Wen Leyang shook his head. In an icy-cold tone, he said, “I bet you are trying to kill them, leaving them no chance for survival.”

　　Cone Nail was startled. Her eyes turned red and were brimming with tears, “How can you think of me that way!”

　　Liu Zheng swallowed a gulp of saliva strenuously. He could not help but to say to Wen Leyang, “She is right, how can you think…”

　　Wen Leyang gave Liu Zheng an evil stare, yet Cone Nail nodded towards Liu Zheng. She smiled with a face full of gratitude, her chilled little hand grabbed onto Wen Leyang strongly as she continued, “Ever since I came to this big city, I can’t find Leyang Wen anymore. I sensed the appearance of someone from the Black and White Island earlier, that was why I came rushing over.”

　　Upon saying that Cone Nail stopped for a moment, a mischievous expression floated on her face, “I arrived here the moment Tian Shu broke the evil spirit, hehe, but none of you knew about that.”

　　The moment she finished her sentence, a hoarse voice cried out in alarm in the sky. Immediately, a human figure flashed before her eyes. The enlightened person that was leading the sword formation in mid-air had already jumped in front of Cone Nail.

　　Tian Shu was the sword immortal of the Black and White Island. Two thousand years ago, he joined his disciples to go after Chang Li because she crushed the heaven’s cone nail and drew in Tuo Xie, resulting in a heaven-shocking battle. When Cone Nail appeared earlier, Tian Shu recognized her just by sensing the watery spiritual vitality surrounding her body. Everything was tossed to the back of his head all of a sudden, even forgetting about the grand formation of ‘sword cage’s lock’.

　　In mid-air, the sword formation became more agitated with time. The enlightened person Tian Shi did not care but gazed at Cone Nail, “You…you are still alive!” Just a few short words, his tone of speaking turned from uncertainty into an almost hysterical wild excitement!

　　Cone Nail let go of Wen Leyang’s hands and took a few steps forward lightly. Her fragile gaze met Tian Shu’s.

　　Tian Shu’s face was overflowing with an almost insane joy. His lips were trembling and his Adam’s apple moved up and down but he could not mutter a word.

　　Cone Nail frowned. A layer of uncertainty floated onto her face, “Why did you come here alone? Where is Tian Ge and Tian Hua?”

　　Tian Shu’s voice sounded robotic, yet slow. It was as if he did not even think with his brain and depended on his instincts to answer her, “Tian Ge’s spirit primordial energy was shattered when he went after the demon cat, he had yet to recover even until now, he was still on the Black and White Island. Tian Hua was severely injured by Hanba more than ten days ago.”

　　Cone Nail’s eyes were forever filled with delicateness and pity that were eternally imperishable. However, at that moment, a strand of sharp murderous intent flashed past her eyes. She raised her hand and pointed towards the sword ball that was about to shatter in mid-air, “I fell into a deep sleep two thousand years ago. I do not know what happened, but judging by your words, Hanba is of the same party as Xiang Liu. Has Xiang Liu escaped?”

　　Tian Shu nodded and shook his head, “Hanba has been constantly helping Xiang Liu to collect demon primordial energy for the past two thousand years…”

　　The little supreme leader Liu Zheng watched helplessly as the sword ball that was locking down Hanba was about to shatter, yet his esteemed master only cared about chatting with his old friend. He could no longer restrain himself, as he reminded softly, “Esteemed master, Hanba is about to break out of the formation soon!”

　　Tian Shu’s state of mind was distracted but he was still the Sword Immortal after all. He regained his composure immediately. He could no longer care about commenting in the midst of panic and only spoke two words to Cone Nail, “Help me!” His hands pinched into the conjuration gesture as he jumped up once again.

　　Cone Nail cracked a smile, she answered in a logical manner, “It is an evil man, you are a good man!” Her body flashed as she followed closely behind Tian Shu, her hands flipped once. At the sound of a pop, a very large icicle appeared without a sign in the middle of the Taoist formation of ‘Resist the Evil Charm’ that the seventy-two esteemed sword seniors were trying to launch!

　　Tian Shu was initially filled with excitement. Yet, when he saw the situation he was terrified as he screamed, “What are you doing!”

　　The icicle was akin to a sharp cone nail that bore awe-inspiringly yet savagely into the ‘Resist the Evil Child’ formation. The dazzling colorful power of spirit primordial energy that was circulating within the humongous eight diagram formation stopped for a moment and immediately turned into a chaotic mess, just like a rapidly flowing great river that was suddenly chopped into two by a huge mountain.

　　Tian Shu was surprised and deranged. He pointed towards Cone Nail and asked in a hoarse voice, “You…” He only managed to utter one word when a loud noise that was sky splitting and earth cracking broke out suddenly, annihilating every other noise ferociously! The two streaks of blood talisman that was wrapping the sword ball and the large sword ball simultaneously shattered. Thousands of swords let out a shrill scream that shook the entire heaven and earth. Within the moaning airwave akin to a raging dragon, Fifth Brother Hanba shrieked as he broke out of the cocoon!

　　“Resist the Evil Child’ protective circle was destroyed by Cone Nail’s icicle, Tian Shu’s distracted state of mind could no longer protect the sword cage. The sword formation with exceedingly high power collapsed akin to a huge mountain with a bang. Thousands of remnant swords that were giving out unwilling howls splattered in every direction with the unparalleled strength.

　　The moment Hanba struggled free, his body moved faster than a poltergeist ghost. As he flashed past swiftly, his punch went straight through Tian Shu that was still caught by surprise! His arms slung once and he tossed the severely injured Tian Shu heavily onto the ground.

　　It seemed that Cone Nail did not expect that Hanba was so ruthless and tyrannical and she did not expect that Tian Shu was akin to a clay figurine that did not even try to dodge when Hanba struck him, causing him to suffer from severe injuries. A layer of frost-like cruelty immediately appeared on her mischievous face. She shrieked sharply. Her hands waved about continuously. Sticks upon sticks of large yet sharp icicle shot up vertically and diagonally into the air towards Hanba mercilessly.

　　Fifth Brother Hanba broke off a few sticks of icicles. He could not stand firm from all that shaking. As he had finally realized Cone Nail’s incisiveness, he had no desire to continue fighting anymore. He gave a few clearly pronounced long howl for a few times before his body suddenly dashed and disappeared in the blink of an eye.

　　The poltergeist ghosts that were pressed down by the Kunlun disciples on the ground struggled about desperately and continuously. When they heard Fifth Brother Hanba’s long howl, their bodies shook vigorously for a few times and their struggle turned weaker and weaker.

　　Everyone was dumbstruck by the scenario that was taking place before their eyes, Wen Leyang understood that Cone Nail refused to return to the Black and White Island, but at the very least she was not colluded by Xiang Liu. When she first appeared in the City God Temple earlier, Wen Leyang thought that out of the memory for an old friend, she wanted to help Tian Shu to defeat Fifth Brother Hanba. Yet, he did not expect that Cone Nail would surprisingly destroy the ‘Resist the Evil Child’ protective circle created by the seventy-two esteemed sword seniors. However, when Cone Nail realized that Tian Shu was severely injured, she immediately became deranged and attacked Hanba madly.

　　Hanba escaped swiftly. His trace disappeared in the blink of an eye, yet Cone Nail did not chase after him. Her gentle and graceful body swayed once as she bent over and lifted Tian Shu who was critically injured.

　　Liu Zheng’s eyes were almost cracking with rage. He directed his flying swords as he roared in rage and pounced towards Cone Nail. Wen Leyang was also akin to a hunting leopard as he dispersed off the Poison Stream and chased after Cone Nail. Both of them almost simultaneously dashed in front of Cone Nail, when their bodies suddenly stiffened. They did not understand what happened, but they were frozen on the spot and turned into two sticks of ice pillars.

　　It was the first time in Wen Leyang’s life to be frozen. He could not budge at all but he did not feel cold and he could still hear every noise out there clearly.

　　Not only the both of them were frozen, everyone else in the City God Temple was frozen! The Kunlun disciples, the poltergeist ghosts, the seventy-two esteemed sword seniors that were severely injured after they fell from the broken protective circle…

　　Cone Nail’s bare hands flipped around, a layer of frost immediately emerged on Tian Shu’s body, sealing the gaping hole in his chest. She appeared slightly less concerned as she heaved out a long sigh, “Fortunately he missed your heart, judging by the extent of your cultivation base you will not die. You…why didn’t you dodge?”

　　Tian Shu completely disregarded his injuries. His eyes stared straight into Cone Nail, unable to hide the deep heartache of his gaze. There was even despair within, “Why did you let go of Hanba? You possess the body of true water from five elements that were coagulated from the vital energy of the world. How could you and that monster Xiang Liu partake…partake! In! All! Evilness!”

　　The enlightened person Tian Shu was severely injured. Hanba had dug out his right chest into a huge gaping hole. Nevertheless, when he was speaking his qi sounded strong, there was not a pause in between. His four final words were even more clearly enunciated as if he was only willing if he could clench and shatter his teeth.

　　Cone Nail’s gaze was like a startled little deer. Her gaze was filled with fear and panic, “I only wanted to release Hanba. I did not expect that he would injure you. Why didn’t you dodge?” When she was at the end of her sentence, she was almost in tears.

　　The enlightened person Tian Shu’s eyes were bloodshot, he shouted and asked, “Why?”

　　Cone Nail stretched out her hand and caressed Tian Shu’s wounds repeatedly, yet she diverted the topic of conversation. Her tone was light and did not carry a trace, “I will never return to the Black and White Island, I will never become the demon-suppressing Heaven’s cone nail. Even if I am as old as the heaven and earth, I cannot think or move. What is the point?”

　　Tian Shu’s body shook once, his face turned dimmed into the color of dead ash in the blink of an eye. The rage on his face initially, turned into vacantness and bewilderment.

　　Wen Leyang’s brain started having another spasm, Cone Nail’s refusal to return to the Black and White Island was certainly related to her letting go of Hanba, but he could not figure out the concrete reason. His encounter today had since turned into a messy pile of hemp rope, especially when Cone Nail appeared on the scene at the end, that was equal to pouring a basin full of super glue into the starch paste pot, everything was completely out of order now.

　　Cone Nail laid down Tian Shu’s body, she regained her prior piteous and weak mannerism, “I did not think that Hanba would harm you, but I will certainly avenge on behalf of you for this matter. You…you better don’t die on me.” As she was saying that she stood up, and walked towards the frozen Wen Leyang, her face was filled with regret and unwillingly to part, “I was thinking to accompany you for a longer period, but right now I am going to kill Hanba. I will come and look for you once I am done avenging Tian Shu.”

　　Wen Leyang wanted to ask, “What is the purpose for you to come looking for me?”

　　When she was done speaking, Cone Nail’s expression dimmed as she heaved a sigh. A gush of scented wind blew as she disappeared before Wen Leyang’s eyes.

　　The icicles that trapped the crowd shattered in the blink of an eye. The little supreme leader Liu Zheng immediately rushed in front of the enlightened person Tian Shu and helped his esteemed master to sit up cautiously. Wen Leyang also followed.

　　The little supreme leader Liu Zheng was helping to dress his esteemed master’s wounds and fed the esteemed master medication when Tian Shu gave an instruction, “I am going to cultivate my power to recuperate. I cannot be moved before the time it takes for three joss sticks to burn off completely. Be careful of the ghosts!” Soon after that he sat up strenuously, closed his eyes and entered meditation with his five surfaces faced skywards.

　　Wen Leyang was of no help. He stood aside foolishly. The sunlight before his eyes darkened after a moment as a few Kunlun disciples gathered over.

　　Liu Zheng was stunned. He frowned as he asked the other disciples, “Where are the ghosts?”

　　These Kunlun disciples were supposed to form a group of three and were in charge of pressing down the poltergeist ghosts.

　　A middle-aged disciple answered hastily, “The moment Hanba escaped, those things turned back into dead corpses. We had examined closely. I even tried to chop off the head of a corpse myself but I am fine now. There are many junior brother disciples that were guarding them now.”

　　Liu Zheng frowned. Uncertain, he dispatched the order towards his Kunlun disciples, “Take care of the seventy-two esteemed sword seniors. We will immediately leave here as soon as the esteemed master is done recuperating, be careful of those corpses.”

　　That Kunlun disciple that was speaking nodded but did not speak. His head suddenly rolled down from his neck and a gush of fresh blood spurted madly into the air.

　　The head tumbled to the ground. His widely opened eyes were still filled with disbelieve.

　　The sound of Kunlun disciples’ agonizing and alarming screams immediately echoed!

　　

1. A local folk dance and song duet in China