Chapter 117: Crushing All Resistance
Legend has it that the spiritual energy of Changping Ghost Mountain was corrupted primarily because an earth-shattering battle between immortal dynasties had once taken place there in ancient times. Back then, not only the Central Plains Great Tang, but every frontier minor nation had established their own immortal dynasty.
But no matter how small a nation was, an emperor’s ambition could never be satisfied.
Thus, wars of annexment between frontier minor nations eventually erupted, and one such battle occurred at Changping.
Not a single frontier minor nation could remain unscathed.
It was said that over four hundred and fifty thousand cultivators perished in this battle.
Therefore, the vengeful spirits and sinister energy here had lingered for thousands of years without dissipating.
The cultivators living here had studied generation after generation, hoping to solve the problem of thin and corrupted spiritual energy.
Finally, one day, a genius in alchemy emerged. He refined a type of pill that allowed those who consumed it to absorb spiritual energy unaffected by resentment for several months afterward.
This was the Yellow Springs Dark Pill.
With such a good thing available, Song Yan naturally would not miss it. Moreover, he heard that the materials required for its refinement were common and inexpensive.
Most of the disciples participating in the Changping operation would buy some.
He leaped onto a towering ancient tree and gazed eastward. The cold mountain’s red leaves in the distance had already come into Song Yan’s view.
“…”
The morning sun, the cold mountain, the red leaves.
On this desolate and barren land, there was a uniquely special and distinct beauty.
Hmm…?
He was about to continue on his way when he noticed some unusual movement not far away.
With a few leaps, he quickly approached to observe.
At the foot of the mountain, amidst a pile of scattered rocks.
A rogue cultivator at the fifth level of Qi Refining was gripping the throat of a female cultivator at the third level of Qi Refining, while his chain-wrapped right hand continuously tore at her robes.
“No… don’t…”
“Please, spare me…”
Song Yan watched their movements indifferently, then suddenly let out a soft laugh.
What a clumsy act.
His divine sense, far surpassing that of the seventh level of Qi Refining, instantly spread out, probing the surrounding situation with perfect clarity.
“Fifth level of Qi Refining, third level…”
“Two at the sixth level, one at the seventh level.”
Upon closer inspection, there was also the spiritual energy leakage of some formation talismans, appearing to be some kind of killing formation.
The power of divine sense manifested in all aspects.
For example, right now.
It allowed a cultivator to avoid many unnecessary risks in advance.
But even without such powerful divine sense, Song Yan would not have fallen for it either.
This kind of small trick was considered so beneath contempt that even that Golden Core old demon would spit on it as a negative example in the “Record of Heterodox Cultivators.”
The terrain here was open and not far from the main route between Changping Prefecture City and Little Cold Mountain.
If demonic cultivators were truly committing violence, anyone with a shred of intelligence would not choose such a location.
They would have to act near cliffs, caves, or the flank of Little Cold Mountain closer to Changping, where it was convenient to set ambushes or quickly dispose of bodies.
The scene before him was clearly a trap to lure some inexperienced, hot-blooded young heroes.
The rest of the ambushers would then wait for the right moment to strike, killing and robbing their victims.
However, the chain in that rogue cultivator’s hand glowed with blood light, suggesting he was likely a demonic cultivator.
Song Yan pondered silently.
Actually, if he could confirm that demonic cultivators were among them, then playing along and slaying them here to bring back intelligence would earn him extra merit merit.
Being able to accumulate enough merit in advance to exchange for a realm-breaking spirit pill would allow him to return to the sect sooner, which would be for the best.
But the enemy had superior numbers and another cultivator at the seventh level of Qi Refining, while he was alone.
Acting rashly at this moment carried great risk.
After careful consideration, he prepared to withdraw his divine sense and turn to leave.
Huh?
Suddenly, a familiar aura entered the range covered by his divine sense.
“…”
Song Yan froze in place, confirming it repeatedly.
His expression turned somewhat strange. After pondering for a moment, he shook his head and actually walked straight toward the pile of scattered rocks.
“It seems these people have really run out of luck.”
The female cultivator at the third level of Qi Refining, seeing a cultivator taking the bait, felt a secret surge of joy.
She immediately wept with tears in her eyes: “Senior, save me…” The mountain wind swept past as Song Yan walked over calmly. He appeared to step casually into the encirclement but stopped just a few steps before the buried formation talismans.
“Save me…”
The rogue cultivator at the fifth level of Qi Refining, seeing the other party was still some distance away, shouted arrogantly.
“Kid, I am one of the Five Demons of Cold Mountain! I advise you not to meddle in others’ affairs!”
As he spoke, the chain in his hand suddenly surged with demonic flames, concealing the blood light.
He sneered inwardly.
Usually, when such bold words were spoken, a young hothead who looked like a naive newcomer would become enraged and play the hero saving the beauty.
In the end, they would be killed by their combined efforts.
The voluptuous female cultivator struggling in his arms squirmed and pleaded, looking toward Song Yan: “Senior, save me… I am willing to serve you as a beast of burden!”
“So you admit you are demonic cultivators?”
Within Song Yan’s Daoist robe sleeve, he lightly formed a sword seal.
The dark green sword case behind him suddenly lit up with a faint spiritual glow.
Two sword shadows shot out from the case at blinding speed, heading straight for the man!
“So fast!”
The fifth-level Qi Refining demonic cultivator panicked. Although the other party had not stepped into the killing formation, there was no time to think. He shouted: “Attack!”
The female cultivator was about to break free from the demonic cultivator’s chain and throw herself into Song Yan’s arms.
But she saw one of the flying swords heading straight for her!
“What is wrong with this person!?”
She hurriedly produced a crimson token, but the flying sword came too quickly. She had not yet had time to infuse much spiritual energy into it.
Bang!
The tip of the Twin Lotus sword lightly tapped, but the sword energy contained within was not something any random cultivator could withstand.
The crimson token immediately dimmed. Despite urging spiritual energy, she could never deploy the protective spiritual light.
Unfortunately, the gap between late-stage Qi Refining and early-stage Qi Refining was not something these cheap, low-grade magical tools could bridge.
Moreover, standing here now was…
Song Yan, whose Dao heart had just achieved perfection three months ago and whose sword Dao seed had reached near-peak condition.
The flying sword flowed with blinding speed.
Under the female cultivator’s terrified gaze, the flying sword simply tore through her protective spiritual robe and sliced across her throat.
Thud.
The female cultivator clutched her throat with both hands, collapsing to the ground in convulsions, blood gushing like a fountain.
Too fast.
In the blink of an eye, the female cultivator was dead.
The cultivator at the fifth level of Qi Refining fared no better. The Untethered Vessel’s momentum was even more terrifying than the Twin Lotus.
It pierced through his protective spiritual robe in an instant, heading straight for his face.
“Brother, save me!”
Clang!
At the critical moment, a small gong blocked his path.
With a sword finger gesture, the Untethered Vessel flew back to Song Yan’s side.
“I really misjudged you…”
From the dense forest around them, three cultivators slowly emerged.
Two at the sixth level of Qi Refining, one at the seventh level.
“Brother! Fifth Sister, she…”
The fifth-level demonic cultivator’s eyes split with rage, wishing he could flay this man alive.
But the leader simply raised his hand slowly, stopping his words, then cupped his fists toward Song Yan.
“I am…”
Hummm–
The Untethered Vessel shot out instantly, heading straight for the leader.
Song Yan’s expression was indifferent, as if he were not conversing with anyone.
“I have no interest in a dead man’s identity.”