Chapter 117: Sweeping All Before It

Legend has it that the spirit energy of the Ghost Mountain in Changping is tainted and murky, primarily because, in ancient times, a cataclysmic celestial war once raged here. Back then, not only the great Tang Empire at the heartland but also the various small border kingdoms had established their own celestial courts.

Yet, no matter how small the kingdom, the emperor’s ambition was never satiated.

Thus, a series of celestial wars erupted among these border states, with one such battle taking place in Changping. None of these kingdoms could remain unscathed. It is said that over 450,000 cultivators perished in that conflict.

Therefore, for thousands of years, restless souls and malevolent energies have lingered here, refusing to dissipate.

Generations of cultivators dwelling in this place have diligently studied ways to resolve the issues of sparse and polluted spiritual energy. At last, one day, a prodigy in alchemy emerged, concocting a pill that, when ingested, allowed one to absorb spiritual energy for months without being affected by the lingering resentment.

This pill came to be known as the Yellow Spring Eclipse Pill.

Such a precious treasure naturally caught Song Yan’s attention. Moreover, the materials required were said to be common and inexpensive. Most disciples involved in matters concerning Changping would purchase some.

Leaping onto a towering ancient tree, Song Yan gazed eastward. In the distance, the crimson leaves of the Cold Mountain already came into view.

Sunrise, Cold Mountain, red leaves.

Amid this desolate and barren land, there existed a profoundly unique and exquisite beauty.

Hmm?

Just as he prepared to continue on his journey, he noticed some unusual movement not far ahead.

With several bounds, he swiftly approached for a closer look.

At the foot of the mountain, among a pile of rubble, a fifth-stage Qi Refining rogue cultivator was gripping the neck of a third-stage Qi Refining female cultivator. His right hand, entwined with chains, was tearing at her clothes.

“No... please don’t...” she pleaded.

“Please, spare me...” she begged.

Song Yan watched the scene coldly and chuckled softly.

What a clumsy ruse.

His divine sense, far beyond the seventh stage of Qi Refining, instantly expanded, clearly revealing the situation nearby.

“Fifth stage, third stage...”

“Two at sixth stage, and one at seventh stage.”

Upon closer sensing, faint spiritual energy from formation talismans leaked out, indicating some sort of killing formation.

The power of divine sense manifests in every aspect.

For instance, now.

It allowed cultivators to avoid many unnecessary risks in advance.

But even without such a powerful divine sense, Song Yan would not have fallen for this trick.

Such petty schemes were condemned in the “Records of Evil Cultivators” as typical examples of what the Golden Core Demon Elder derided.

This terrain was open, and the path from Changping County to the Cold Mountain was not far.

If a demonic cultivator truly intended to assault someone, a clever mind would not choose such a place. Surely it would be near cliffs, caves, or the Cold Mountain’s flanks close to Changping, places convenient for ambushes or quick disposal of bodies.

This farce before him was clearly designed to lure in inexperienced, hot-blooded young heroes.

Others hidden nearby would wait for the right moment to strike, murder, and loot.

Yet the chain in the rogue cultivator’s hand glowed with a blood-red light—he was likely a demonic cultivator.

Song Yan pondered quietly.

If he could confirm the presence of a demonic cultivator among them, then setting a trap here to slay them and bring back evidence would earn him additional merit.

Accumulating enough merit early to exchange for realm-breaking pills would allow him to return to his sect sooner. That would be ideal.

However, the enemy was numerous and included a seventh-stage Qi Refining cultivator, while he was alone.

Acting rashly now was very risky.

After much deliberation, he prepared to withdraw his divine sense and turn away.

Huh?

Suddenly, a familiar aura entered the range of his divine sense.

Song Yan froze, verifying repeatedly.

His expression grew unusual. After a moment’s hesitation, he shook his head and instead walked directly toward the rubble.

“Looks like these fellows are out of luck.”

The third-stage female cultivator, seeing a cultivator take the bait, brightened with hope.

Tears streaming, she wailed, “Senior, save me...”

The mountain wind swept past as Song Yan walked slowly forward, casually stepping into the encirclement but stopping a few paces short of the hidden formation talismans.

“Save me...” The fifth-stage rogue cultivator, noticing the distance, shouted, “Kid, I am one of the Five Demons of Cold Mountain! I advise you not to meddle!”

With that, the chains in his hand suddenly flared with demonic flames, masking the blood-red glow beneath.

He sneered inwardly.

Usually, when such brash words were spoken, naive greenhorns would be provoked into a heroic rescue scene, only to be killed by their combined forces.

The plump female cultivator struggled in his grasp, pleading desperately, “Senior, save me... I’m willing to serve as your beast of burden!”

“So, you admit you are demonic cultivators?” Song Yan said, lightly forming a spell with the sleeve of his Dao robe.

The dark blue sword case on his back emitted a faint spiritual light.

Two sword shadows swiftly flew out, heading straight for the man!

“So fast!”

The fifth-stage demonic cultivator panicked. Though the opponent had not yet entered the killing formation, it was too late to think further. He shouted, “Attack!”

The female cultivator was about to break free from the chains and throw herself into Song Yan’s arms.

But one flying sword was coming right at her!

“What’s wrong with this guy!?”

She hastily summoned a crimson talisman, but the sword came too quickly. She hadn’t yet infused much spiritual power into it.

Bang!

The twin-blade sword tip seemed to barely touch her talisman, but the sword qi it contained was no ordinary force to resist.

The crimson talisman dimmed instantly and, despite her efforts, could not deploy a protective light.

The gap between late-stage and early-stage Qi Refining was vast—no inferior artifact such as hers could compensate.

Moreover, standing here now was Song Yan, whose Dao heart had just been perfected three months ago, the seed of the sword path nearly at its peak.

The flying sword shifted fluidly.

Under the terrified gaze of the female cultivator, the sword tore through her protective spiritual robe and slashed across her throat.

Plop.

The female cultivator clutched her neck, struggling as she collapsed to the ground, convulsing, blood pouring out.

Too fast.

In the blink of an eye, she was dead.

The fifth-stage cultivator fared no better. Song Yan’s other sword, the Unbound Boat, was even more formidable than the Twin Blades.

It pierced through his protective spiritual robe almost instantly, aiming straight for his face.

“Big brother, save me!”

Clang!

At the critical moment, a small gong shield blocked the attack.

The sword retracted, returning swiftly to Song Yan’s side.

“I really misjudged this situation...” Song Yan murmured.

From the dense forest around, three cultivators slowly emerged.

Two at sixth stage, one at seventh stage.

“Big brother! Fifth sister...” The fifth-stage demonic cultivator’s eyes blazed with rage, itching to tear this person limb from limb.

But the leader merely raised a hand to silence him, then cupped his hands toward Song Yan.

“I am…”

Hum—

The Unbound Boat darted out instantly, heading straight for the leader.

Song Yan’s expression remained indifferent, as if he were not speaking to anyone.

“The identity of the dead does not interest me.”

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