Chapter 294: Chapter 186: Hunt Down (Part 2)
Seeing Zhang Donglin trapped, Yu Yuqing quickly ordered everyone to focus their fire.
In less than three breaths, Zhang Donglin self-destructed in despair.
Seeing that the Zhang Family’s Foundation Establishment cultivator was dead, Lü Zhong summoned Yu Yuqing and said, "I’ll leave the Zhang Family’s estate to you. I hope you won’t disappoint the Patriarch."
"Many thanks for your help, Fellow Daoist Lü!" Yu Yuqing said, cupping his fist.
The entire Yu Family had complex feelings about Lü Zhong, who was extremely close to Yu Feng’Er. On one hand, they were enjoying the benefits of the Chengde Commerce Association’s growth, which was a direct result of Lü Zhong’s involvement. On the other hand, they were unwilling to let their family become a mere vassal. As a result, rifts had begun to form within the family, splitting them into two factions.
One faction wanted to maintain the status quo, while the other wanted to depose Yu Feng’Er.
Although any discerning person could see that the prosperity of both the Chengde Commerce Association and the Yu Family was built on the protection of Lü Zhong’s martial strength, some in the Yu Family simply couldn’t see it.
’When I get back, perhaps it’s time for a cleanup...’ Yu Yuqing thought to himself.
He belonged to the faction that wanted to maintain the status quo. As a vested beneficiary who had successfully reached Foundation Establishment thanks to a Foundation Establishment Pill he obtained after Yu Feng’Er retook the Chengde Commerce Association, he naturally supported her.
Meanwhile, Lü Zhong had already found a trace of Zhang Xiyun. He released his Wood Spirit Wind-controlling Ship and chased directly north.
The pursuit lasted for the better part of a month.
Along the way, he continuously encountered abandoned Zhang Family members. Apparently, between his own life and that of his kinsmen, Zhang Xiyun considered himself more important. Perhaps he intended to achieve Core Formation and then return for revenge.
But how could Lü Zhong let him have his way?
Finally, in a Wild Grassland overgrown with blooming reeds, Lü Zhong found Zhang Xiyun, who had been on the run for a long time.
Zhang Xiyun truly lived up to his name as the Zhang Family’s Core Formation Seed.
He was quite handsome, a refined and middle-aged man with an otherworldly air, giving off the impression of an enlightened master. The moment he saw Lü Zhong catch up, he had already summoned a long, green sword.
"It’s a Lower-grade Spiritual Artifact," Lü Zhong said softly.
He wasn’t the least bit surprised by this.
Zhang Xiyun was, after all, the Zhang Family’s only hope. It was perfectly normal for him to have a Spirit Sword for protection. It would have been abnormal if he didn’t.
Staring at the pursuing Lü Zhong, Zhang Xiyun’s expression darkened.
Lü Zhong had arrived so quickly that he subconsciously assumed someone from the Zhang Family had betrayed him. Otherwise, there was no way his pursuer could have arrived right after he did.
"Fellow Daoist Lü, how about we make a deal?"
As he spoke, he threw the several Storage Bags he was carrying onto the ground, one by one.
"Your relationship with the Yu Family is merely a partnership of mutual benefit. A fight between peers always carries the risk of death. If you are willing to let me, Xiyun, leave, then all these assets of the Zhang Family will be yours..."
Before Zhang Xiyun could finish, Lü Zhong had already made his move.
’What an idiot! If I kill you, all this will be mine anyway!’
He waved his left hand, and a red shadow flashed past in an instant.
Zhang Xiyun’s face turned ugly. He hadn’t expected Lü Zhong to be so decisive.
Seeing that negotiations had failed, he immediately controlled the Green Vine Spirit Sword in his hand and lunged at Lü Zhong, attacking with all his might from the very start.
As a Fake Pill Realm cultivator, he wasn’t afraid of Lü Zhong, who was only at the Late-stage of Foundation Establishment. At the same time, however, he knew full well that anyone who could kill Ma Cheng, a long-famous Sword Cultivator, must possess strength far beyond that of an ordinary cultivator. He had to be on par with a True Inheritance disciple from Changchun Valley.
As thoughts raced through his mind, he manipulated the Green Vine Spirit Sword to unleash several Sword Mantras.
CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!
In an extremely short time, Lü Zhong’s Zhuanghong erupted repeatedly, shattering the Sword Lights from the Sword Mantras one after another.
Then, he empowered it with the Star Pulling Skill.
Leaving a long trail in its wake, Zhuanghong shot straight for Zhang Xiyun’s head.
At the same time, his other hand wasn’t idle. He had already summoned the Dragon and Tiger Banner, forming the Cloud Dragon Wind Tiger Barrier to protect himself in case his opponent tried any tricks and launched a sneak attack.
The two had only exchanged blows for a dozen or so breaths, but the Wild Grassland already looked like it had been struck by a disaster.
Not only was the ground a chaotic mess, but even the mud from beneath the surface had been blasted into the air.
The longer Zhang Xiyun fought, the more terrified he became. He clearly had the advantage in cultivation, yet he was still gradually losing ground. He had to start thinking about how to retreat. If he didn’t take this chance to escape while he still had strength to spare, he would truly die here once his True Essence was nearly depleted.
"Trying to run?"
Not far away, lightning flashed in Lü Zhong’s hand as he unleashed several Palm Thunders in quick succession.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
One bolt of lightning after another made it impossible for Zhang Xiyun to retreat, forcing him to continue the fight.
GRIIIND!
Sparks flew as Lü Zhong, holding Zhuanghong, brought it down in a ferocious slash against the spine of the green Spirit Sword. When Zhang Xiyun got a clear look at the blade, his face changed dramatically in horror.
"Zhuanghong! You killed Lady Butterfly!"
At that moment, the extent of his horror was beyond words.
Zhuanghong was Lady Butterfly’s signature Spiritual Artifact.
Now that the blade belonged to Lü Zhong, the implication was self-evident.
PFFT!
Zhang Xiyun’s Heart and Spirit faltered, and the blade stabbed him in the left shoulder.
But he was a ruthless character. He immediately took out a Pill he kept close to his body and popped it into his mouth. His aura instantly surged, nearly rivaling that of a Golden Core.
Pills like this that stimulated one’s potential were undoubtedly fierce medicines that would damage one’s foundation. But at this moment, he couldn’t afford to worry about that. ’If Lü Zhong could even kill Lady Butterfly, what chance do I have of dealing with him?’
He raised his sleeve, and Talismans flew out like raindrops.
This was Zhang Xiyun’s last resort. If even this couldn’t help him escape, then he was going to die here today.
Spiritual Light burst forth, instantly filling the sky with a dazzling array of colors!
Every time a Talisman was activated, it created a significant commotion.
One became a giant firebird radiating scorching heat; another, a sudden cloud of ice that shot out a dense volley of ice spears; yet another, a colossal golden sword.
Every single one was a Tier Two Talisman from the Zhang Family’s collection, accumulated over the years.
At first, Lü Zhong was also taken aback.
As everyone knew, a Qiankun One-Throw was always extremely powerful.
But he quickly realized that Zhang Xiyun wasn’t a Talisman Cultivator from Huayi Temple. This chaotic barrage was just a waste of Talismans. As long as he remained calm and dodged, there was almost no chance of him getting hurt.
With this thought, Lü Zhong controlled the Dragon and Tiger Banner to defend, letting Zhang Xiyun flee. He didn’t feel the slightest bit of anxiety, sneering inwardly, ’Run. With Scene Playback, your death is inevitable!’
Once the power of the Talismans dissipated, he immediately released his Wind-controlling Ship, confirmed the direction, and gave chase.
Seeing Lü Zhong in pursuit, Zhang Xiyun could no longer afford to conserve his Magical Power. He activated the Lone Swan Light-Stealing Technique, a flight-based Secret Skill, and abruptly accelerated, hoping to shake Lü Zhong off his tail.
But the Wood Spirit Wind-controlling Ship was no slouch either. After activating its Wind-Manipulating Divine Technique, its speed increased again and again.
Finally, in a dense forest thick with miasma, Zhang Xiyun was forced to stop.
"Fellow Daoist, must you be so merciless? If you are willing to swear an oath to let me go, the Nascent Pill Fruit and Jade Liquid Marrow—two Spiritual Objects that aid in Core Formation—in this Storage Bag, along with all the assets from before, will all be yours!"
"These things are worth millions, the culmination of several generations of the Zhang Family’s hard work. If you refuse, I’ll destroy them even if it costs me my life. Please consider your choice carefully, Fellow Daoist."
Zhang Xiyun’s True Essence was depleted, and he knew he no longer had the strength to fight. He had no choice but to try negotiating again.
As he said this, he stared intently at Lü Zhong.
If Lü Zhong refused, he was fully prepared to destroy the Storage Bag.
’If I can’t live, then I’ll spite you even in death!’
Lü Zhong looked at him, the icy chill in his eyes fading as if he were genuinely considering it.
He didn’t really doubt Zhang Xiyun’s words.
It was just that, compared to the "millions in assets," he was more intent on seeing Zhang Xiyun dead to eliminate the possibility of a Golden Core Master coming after him in the future.
Seeing Lü Zhong’s silence, Zhang Xiyun let out a bitter laugh.
Immediately, Spiritual Light erupted from his body.
He had chosen to self-destruct.
RUMBLE!
The self-destruction of a Fake Pill Cultivator, while not as terrifying as the explosion of a Golden Core, was still horrifyingly powerful, even with his True Essence nearly depleted. It flattened the dense forest within a hundred-zhang radius.
Only after the aftershocks subsided did a shaken Lü Zhong approach.
He inspected the crater in the ground and was disappointed to find that truly nothing was left.
But he wasn’t concerned.
Now that the Chengde Commerce Association had won, a steady stream of Spirit Stones would flow into his pockets. The two Core Formation Spiritual Objects from before were worth 100,000 at most; he could save up and buy them in three to five years.
Seeing the matter concluded, a great weight was lifted from Lü Zhong’s heart. He let out a long sigh of relief and said:
"Haaah... Finally, I can focus on my cultivation in peace!"
