Chapter 461 - 337: Wuya’s Identity (Part 2)

Chapter 461: Chapter 337: Wuya’s Identity (Part 2)

A moment later, the light and heat vanished. The severed river transformed into an endless rising mist, revealing the vast riverbed and creating a momentary void.

Amid the dense mist, Yu Changsheng’s figure appeared both divine and demonic.

"My Cyan Ghost..."

On the shore, Qiu Xing gasped for breath, his face deathly pale as blood trickled from his lips. He glared at Yu Changsheng, his eyes filled with absolute hatred, his aura completely shattered.

The Cyan Ghost Celestial Vortex was both a Divine Technique and, in a way, his companion beast. Now that it had been shattered, the backlash left Qiu Xing’s Status in a wretched state. Trying to fight Yu Changsheng again would be utterly delusional.

Therefore, no matter how much he resented Yu Changsheng, no matter how unreconciled he felt, Qiu Xing’s first instinct wasn’t to fight. Instead, he turned, transformed into a streak of blood-red light, and fled into the distance.

Qiu Xing was no fool. He knew that as long as he was alive, there was hope for everything else. ’Especially here, on the third floor of the Celestial Slaughter Secret Realm. I can’t just teleport out, so fleeing is my only option. It’s a shame about the Celestial Slaughter Golden Lotus, but compared to my life, it’s completely worthless.’

Yu Changsheng watched Qiu Xing’s retreating figure with a cold gaze, ultimately deciding not to give chase. Instead, he turned to face He Bicheng, whose expression was grim, and regarded him with indifference.

He Bicheng clenched his jaw and pursed his lips, watching the direction where Qiu Xing and Yama had fled. After a long moment, he let out a soft sigh.

"What? You still want to fight?"

Yu Changsheng asked coolly.

He Bicheng took a deep breath and stared at Yu Changsheng for a long moment. Finally, he cupped his fist, shook his head, and smiled bitterly.

"Forget it. I’m withdrawing from this contest. Yu Changsheng, is it? I’ll remember you."

’He routed the strongest two, Qiu Xing and Yama, in an instant, and he’s still in perfect condition. The power gap is enough to make me despair. I know for a fact that I’m no match for him.’

"Mm."

Yu Changsheng nodded lightly, giving He Bicheng a surprised glance. ’This man is worth paying attention to.’

’Like me, he’s not in the Golden Core Realm, just the Fake Pill Realm. To have this much power at his stage... once he condenses a Golden Core, he’s bound to surpass people like Qiu Xing.’

He Bicheng, however, was filled with a bitter, desolate feeling. ’The Celestial Slaughter Golden Lotus was as good as mine. Whether Yama or Qiu Xing got it, it would have eventually come to me after we returned to the sect.’

’But now... Yu Changsheng has already absorbed half of it, and I can’t even secure the other half.’ The thought left him completely disheartened.

’Just like Yu Changsheng, the Spirit Platform I condensed during Foundation Establishment is also a Nine-Layered Spirit Platform. I was counting on this Celestial Slaughter Golden Lotus to break through to the Heavenly Dao Golden Core. For us from the Profound Yin Sect, using it for that breakthrough offers benefits far beyond what anyone else could imagine.’

He Bicheng’s expression was conflicted. Truly unreconciled, he looked up at Yu Changsheng and spoke with a sliver of hope:

"Fellow Daoist Changsheng, if you’re willing to part with the Celestial Slaughter Golden Lotus, I’m prepared to pay any price to buy it. What do you say?"

"Hm?" Yu Changsheng froze, staring at He Bicheng in astonishment before shaking his head.

HUFF...

Crestfallen, He Bicheng silently cupped his fist.

’Fine. Even without the Celestial Slaughter Golden Lotus, it won’t be hard for me to condense a Heavenly Dao Golden Core with my Nine-Layered Spirit Platform. But without the Heavenly Dao Qi... it will be incomplete, lacking its core... And if I had managed to get that specific Heavenly Dao Qi from the Celestial Fiend...’

He Bicheng’s heart ached. His gaze dimmed as he shook his head, but he recovered in an instant. When he looked up again, all traces of dejection were gone, though a secretly clenched fist betrayed the turmoil within him.

Yu Changsheng paid no mind to He Bicheng’s thoughts, though he did make a mental note to keep an eye on him. He then shifted his gaze to the other three who had been spectating from the sidelines.

They were Wen Hanhai of the Purple Rainbow Sect, Qian Chengren of the Seven Stars Sect, and the one called Wuya.

Wen Hanhai wore a broad smile, looking directly at Yu Changsheng and giving a slight nod. Qian Chengren of the Seven Stars Sect, however, looked as calm as ever, his eyes narrowed slightly. Three bronze coins spun ceaselessly in his hand as he appeared to size up Yu Changsheng, a flicker of apprehension flashing through his eyes.

As for Wuya, he was shrouded in a black robe with his head bowed, his face completely obscured. A sinister aura emanated from him. From behind his mask, a flash of resentment flickered in his eyes before vanishing.

Yu Changsheng considered for a moment, then glanced at Wen Hanhai and gave him a slight nod in return.

"The Celestial Slaughter Golden Lotus belongs to the strongest. Fellow Daoist Yu, you overpowered everyone to obtain it, so you are more than worthy. I have no objections."

Wen Hanhai laughed heartily, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes as he looked at Yu Changsheng.

He didn’t know Yu Changsheng well, but he had heard things. Before arriving, Meng Wuan had mentioned him; he and Meng Wuan hailed from the same sect.

Yu Changsheng returned the good-natured smile. ’There were some things I didn’t understand at the time, but looking back now, it all makes sense.’

’Back when I was fighting for the Celestial Slaughter Golden Lotus, Wen Hanhai’s sword strike seemed accidental, but it was intentional. If his sword hadn’t split the lotus in two, and if he hadn’t taken one half to draw some of the pressure off me...’

’...I’m afraid I wouldn’t have escaped alive, even with a Golden Core’s self-detonation. Thinking about it now, it’s obvious Wen Hanhai did all of that on purpose.’

Having figured this out, Yu Changsheng naturally harbored no ill will toward Wen Hanhai.

Hearing this, Qian Chengren flipped the three bronze coins in his hand. His yellow robes shimmered, and he let out a sigh. He closed his eyes, then opened them again with an exhale, shaking his head with a helpless smile.

"The divination tells me that the Celestial Slaughter Golden Lotus and I are not fated to be. I won’t contend for it."

As a prodigy of the Seven Stars Sect and a Direct Disciple of the Seven-Star Elder, Qian Chengren was not only an exceptional fighter, but also remarkably skilled in Astrology and divination. Of course, his words right now were mostly just to save face.

To put it bluntly, the power Yu Changsheng had displayed made them all too wary to act rashly. He had suppressed Qiu Xing and Yama in an instant and was still in peak condition. Qian Chengren knew that even if the three of them joined forces, they would be unlikely to come out on top.

"Mm."

Yu Changsheng nodded, giving Qian Chengren a long look as he slightly reined in his aura. His gaze grew chilling as he turned to the last of the three—Wuya—and suddenly spoke.

"Fellow Daoist, if you need this Celestial Slaughter Golden Lotus, I’ll make you a trade. I only want one thing from you in exchange. How about it?"

"Oh?"

The others froze, staring at Yu Changsheng in bewilderment. He Bicheng, in particular, grew anxious and opened his mouth to speak.

Wuya also froze for a moment before reacting. The figure under the black robe stirred, and a raspy voice, tinged with suspicion, emerged.

"Are you serious?"

"Of course. This isn’t something I can fake. They can all be my witnesses."

Yu Changsheng said, patting his chest and gesturing to the others around him with absolute conviction.

"Fine. Tell me what you want. As long as I have it, I’ll trade you for it."

Wuya took a deep breath to suppress his excitement and spoke in a low voice. He looked up at Yu Changsheng, his eyes gleaming darkly from beneath his mask.

"Heh heh," Yu Changsheng chuckled, scratching the back of his head. He touched his nose and gave a sneer. "Don’t worry. This is something you definitely have..."

Yu Changsheng paused. His voice grew slower but remained firm. Everyone listened with rapt attention, filled with curiosity and suspicion.

"The thing I want... there’s only one..."

"And that is... your... life!"

The moment the word left his lips, Yu Changsheng’s killing intent exploded. He stomped hard on the void, crossing the distance in an instant. With a BOOM, he transformed into a world-shaking streak of light. A great, blazing Rising Sun appeared in his hand, and he smashed it down upon Wuya!

"You’re courting death?!"

Enraged, Wuya shot backward in response to the sudden attack. He looked up at Yu Changsheng, killing intent surging in his eyes. With a low roar, his black robe burst open as a Blood Red Sword materialized in his hand, pointed straight at Yu Changsheng.