Chapter 500 - 251: "Nascent Soul

Chapter 500: Chapter 251: "Nascent Soul

The Coiling Dragon Eighteen Slashes originated from Treasure King Cangyun, who made a heroic sacrifice in Baili Village twenty years ago.

Even two hundred years ago, during an era when countless martial arts flourished in the Martial World, this saber skill would have ranked near the top of Bai Xiaopang’s Weapon Manual. Now, it had become Zheng Xiu’s most frequently used basic attack.

Ever since learning the Coiling Dragon Eighteen Slashes, Zheng Xiu had found it growing more and more intuitive, moving as if it were an extension of his own arm.

Through steady, gradual practice, the proficiency Zheng Xiu had accumulated daily, fueled by his extreme anger and the Prisoner Trait opening its seventh door, finally broke through from the Masterful realm to the Peak of Perfection.

It had now reached the same realm as his golden, legendary Trait: the Heaven and Earth Sword Intent.

As for why a technique named the Coiling Dragon Eighteen Slashes would have a nineteenth slash...

...Zheng Xiu felt it was perfectly reasonable—just like how the Hitchhiker’s Guide is a trilogy in five parts.

He had no time to savor the euphoric enlightenment of his Trait reaching the Peak of Perfection. The moment Fragrant Maiden was cleaved by his Sacrificial Dragon Slaying strike, dissipating into green smoke before his very eyes, the rage in his heart vanished without a trace. In its place grew a profound sense of powerlessness and an indescribable confusion.

Zheng Xiu’s flurry of slashes had minced the strange tentacles that grew from beneath Fragrant Maiden’s skirt, and those strikes had felt like cutting into flesh. But the killing blow had felt like punching a wad of cotton, and that empty sensation brought Zheng Xiu to a sudden realization.

SWISH!

Expressionless, Zheng Xiu swung his saber a few times within Fragrant Maiden’s boudoir. In the blink of an eye, devastating energy from the blade shredded the room’s furnishings.

WHOOSH~

A cold night wind poured into the room, completely scattering the lingering orchid fragrance. Zheng Xiu looked up and out the window, his eyes filling with the sinister purple that the moon’s halo painted along the edges of the dark clouds.

Inspiration!

Zheng Xiu froze. He immediately decided to use his Inspiration and activate his Spiritual Vision.

Under his Spiritual Vision, Lu Town appeared to be shrouded in a hazy gray mist.

’It hasn’t formed a Dark Curtain yet! It’s definitely Zhu—the exact same kind of setup as "before"!’

Zheng Xiu used his Spiritual Vision to confirm that a fully sealed Dark Curtain had not yet formed above Lu Town. This meant the Ghostly Realm had not yet taken shape, and he breathed a sigh of relief.

He had smashed the room to pieces, yet there was still no trace of Fragrant Maiden. He rubbed his forehead, finally certain that she was truly gone.

’An Incarnation?’

’How is that possible?’

Zheng Xiu racked his brain, unable to understand how Zhu could possess the ability to create an Incarnation. He had always believed that using an Incarnation for Divine Travel was an ability unique to the Prisoner Trait.

But Zheng Xiu had no time to dwell on it. If Fragrant Maiden was truly just one of Zhu’s Incarnations, it would explain how he had been so elusive all these years.

Zhu was everywhere, yet impossible to find.

In Qiannan Jingtang Town, Zhu had also lived under the guise of the Elder Purifying Witch. Judging from the reactions of the locals, Zhu had been there for a very long time.

Zheng Xiu’s mind was in turmoil. But after a brief moment of confusion, he focused, kicked the door to pieces, and vaulted downstairs in a few bounds.

The Yan Chun Building was already in shambles. In the main hall, true to his Medical Compassion, Situ Yong was leaning over the stage to check on an unconscious songstress.

Situ Yong looked up to see the young man, Zheng Xiu, come storming down the stairs, saber in hand. He stared, unblinking, at his own saber, now coated in a strange, transparent slime.

"My saber! What did you cut with it? That’s a benevolent blade! A blade meant for saving lives!"

Distressed, Situ Yong immediately tried to grab his Great Treasure Saber back to wipe it clean. But the young man was faster, retracting his wrist and not letting the Elder Divine Doctor take it.

Zheng Xiu didn’t tell the Elder Divine Doctor that he had used his "benevolent blade" to chop up some... strange things.

The orange cat, which had been quietly observing the drama from the railing, gave a yawn. It leaped down from its high perch and landed squarely on the young man’s head.

Jun Buxiao cackled, "What a show! What a show!"

"Stop your yapping. Keep it up and I’m docking your pay."

Zheng Xiu shot Jun Buxiao a glare.

Jun Buxiao immediately donned an aloof, serious mask. He stopped his clamor and clasped his hands behind his back, finally revealing the bearing of a former Upper Four.

Zheng Xiu took out the Eternal World Painting and tried to contact Snake.

But there was no response.

"Something’s happened! We need to go back, now!"

Zheng Xiu, Situ Yong, and Jun Buxiao—the three men and one cat—rejoined Xi’er, Yin Qingqing, and Ye outside.

The streets were filled with screaming crowds and the Flower Gatherers, who had been shouting until they passed out drunk on the ground. The commotion roused Lu Town from its sleep. Oil lamps were lit one by one as furious wives took to the streets with lanterns, searching for their good-for-nothing husbands.

"Ye!"

With a grave expression, Zheng Xiu beckoned to Ye.

Ye drifted to Zheng Xiu’s side, as graceful and captivating as a fairy descended to the mortal realm.

"What are your orders, Young Master?"

Ye asked, blinking.

"I need to ask you something of the utmost importance. You must answer me truthfully."

Zheng Xiu looked into Ye’s eyes. "Is Snake an Innate Mystic?"

Ye froze for a moment at his words, then shook her head. "Snake was raised by a white serpent from childhood, and her body did undergo a mutation, but she... is absolutely not a Mystic."

"Are you certain? Have you seen every inch of her?"

Ye met Zheng Xiu’s gaze with her clear eyes. "I am very certain."

’Could it be Bai Qiuyue, then?’ Zheng Xiu chose to believe Ye. He rubbed his forehead, pondering for a few moments before muttering to himself, ’Zhu has been setting up this trap for some time, and I just happened to stumble into it. But if we hadn’t come... was he planning to use this "setup" to make up for his failure twenty years ago?’