Chapter 276: Chapter 194: Self-destruct?
Yet these Poisonous Insects were still alive, and they had appeared out of thin air so close to him. You didn’t have to be a genius to know something was wrong—the other party was almost certainly after him.
As a Gu Cultivator, a pariah hunted by all, the main reason he had survived for so long—aside from his formidable life-preserving abilities—was his extreme caution.
The fact that his opponent could capture his Poisonous Insects alive and had even come right to his doorstep meant they were absolutely fearless.
’Fighting them under these circumstances? Wouldn’t that be stupid?’
Thus, Fengy Wuming instantly made his decision. Of the Thirty-Six Stratagems, fleeing was the best.
Just as he stepped out the door, he seemed to recall something. He took out a small wooden box, placed it in a corner, and then left.
Before long, Song Changsheng, who had been keeping a close watch on the ravine, noticed something was off. He "sniffed" an utterly repulsive aura moving away from him.
’So he couldn’t hold back after all.’
A slight smile played on Song Changsheng’s lips. This trick of flushing out the snake by rustling the grass had worked quite well. He knew a man like Fengy Wuming would never stay for a head-on clash, and now it seemed he was right.
He didn’t act rashly, waiting until Fengy Wuming was a good distance away before setting off in pursuit.
Fengy Wuming’s movement speed was fast, but it was still no match for Song Changsheng’s. Activating Fleeting Shadows, he transformed into a streak of light and gave chase.
In less than a quarter of an hour, Song Changsheng spotted a figure shrouded in a black robe. As he felt that familiar aura, the old hatred surged through him all at once. He bellowed, "Fengy Wuming! Where do you think you can run? Stop and die!"
Fengy Wuming, who was madly dashing away, glanced back and was so terrified his soul nearly left his body, almost making him fall from his flying sword.
Song Changsheng wasn’t wearing a mask, so Fengy Wuming recognized him instantly.
When he first saw this man, he was just a nameless nobody at the Qi Cultivation Stage.
Later, his whereabouts were exposed and he was besieged by the members of the Song Clan. He fought desperately to break out, thinking at the time that once he had recovered, he would definitely return to take the man’s life. He had even made a special effort to find out Song Changsheng’s identity.
A few years later, once his injuries healed, the first thing he did was return to Ling Province to find Song Changsheng. Only then did he discover, to his horror, that the nameless nobody from before was now famous everywhere.
He had fought a bloody campaign over a hundred thousand li, slaying four Foundation Establishment Cultivators in a single battle.
This immediately made him abandon any thought of looking for trouble with Song Changsheng. Worried that he would be the target of revenge, he fled Ling Province and ran all the way to Xiang Province.
But who knew their paths were destined to cross? He’d somehow managed to stumble upon him against odds akin to finding a needle in a haystack!
Feeling the aura behind him rapidly closing in, Fengy Wuming wanted to curse his rotten luck. Though his cultivation realm was a minor level higher than Song Changsheng’s, his intuition told him that the man was exceptionally dangerous.
’What kind of monster is this guy? How did his power improve so fast!’
Fengy Wuming gritted his teeth and shot a look back at Song Changsheng, roaring angrily, "Song Changsheng, do you really think I’m afraid of you?"
"Old dog! If you’re not afraid, then why won’t you stop and fight? We can settle the score and decide who lives and who dies!"
"Insolent brat!"
Fengy Wuming’s rage flared, but he had no courage to fight Song Changsheng and actually increased his speed, fleeing even faster.
It was the first time Song Changsheng had encountered a Foundation Establishment Cultivator so adept at fleeing. He had no choice but to pour all his energy into the chase.
The chase lasted for over an hour, but in the end, Song Changsheng proved to be the better man and successfully intercepted him.
"There’s nowhere left to run. Stop struggling, and I’ll give you a quick death!" Song Changsheng said, the Spirit-Slaying Gourd hanging from his waist, the Celestial Measuring Ruler in hand, and the Luwu Bell hovering over his head. His killing intent was overflowing.
Fengy Wuming’s expression was grim. He could feel the space around him being locked down by Song Changsheng’s aura; a fight was now inevitable.
"Song Changsheng, must you be so utterly ruthless?" Fengy Wuming stared intently at Song Changsheng as his hand, hidden in his sleeve, secretly released a dozen of the Poisonous Insects he had painstakingly cultivated.
"I can’t be bothered to waste my breath on you. Die!"
With a powerful tremor, immense Spiritual Power erupted from Song Changsheng’s body and surged into the Celestial Measuring Ruler. He then swung it fiercely toward Fengy Wuming’s head.
SWOOSH
Fengy Wuming’s figure flashed as he instantly put distance between himself and Song Changsheng. Then, with a wave of his sleeve, he unleashed a cloud of "black smoke."
The methods of Gu Masters were bizarre. Although the black smoke didn’t look threatening, Song Changsheng didn’t dare let his guard down. Activating Fleeting Shadows, he made sure not a single speck of it touched him.
Only then, upon taking a closer look, did he realize it wasn’t black smoke at all—it was a swarm of innumerable, tiny black beetles. Needless to say, this had to be another type of evil Poisonous Insect he had refined.
’If any of that touches me, I’ll definitely die a miserable death.’
’I don’t care what kind of Gu they are. I’ll just burn them all!’
The Spirit-Slaying Gourd floated in midair and spat out a ball of ghostly blue flames. The moment it touched the "black smoke," a series of CRACKLES and POPS echoed as a foul, burnt stench filled the air.
"Spiritual Fire?"
Fengy Wuming’s face fell. Spiritual Fire was the ultimate nemesis of Poisonous Insects. In its presence, no number of Gu was enough.
Fortunately, he hadn’t been pinning his hopes on these Poisonous Insects; they were just a distraction for Song Changsheng. His true killing move was the dozen or so Gu he had released earlier.
While dodging Song Changsheng’s attacks, he maneuvered the Poisonous Insects, looking for a chance to have them invade his opponent’s body.
Just as he thought he had found the perfect opportunity, Song Changsheng sneered, "I knew your tricks all along. How could I not be on guard against you?"
Fengy Wuming’s heart trembled, and his deathly pale face filled with panic.
The next moment, a layer of golden light erupted from Song Changsheng’s body. All the Poisonous Insects lunging at him shrieked piercingly as they slammed into the light, as if they had met their natural enemy.
"A Tier Two High-Grade Golden Light Talisman!"
Though the Golden Light Talisman was a Defense Talisman, the light it emitted was of the Supreme Yang and Firmness, which had a powerful suppressive effect on Poisonous Insects.
This was something Song Changsheng had purchased back in Luoxia City to prepare for the Qiantian Secret Realm. He never thought it would prove so useful now.
"Heh, I suppose this is your strongest batch of Poisonous Insects."
A cold smile touched Song Changsheng’s lips. With a wave of the Celestial Measuring Ruler, all the Poisonous Insects exploded.
PTHOO!
These Poisonous Insects had all been nurtured with Fengy Wuming’s own Essence Blood, connecting them to his aura. With more than ten of them destroyed at once, he suffered a grievous injury. He tilted his head back and spewed a mist of blood, his aura instantly weakening as he almost fell from the sky.
"Any other tricks? Use them now, or you won’t get another chance." Song Changsheng brandished the Celestial Measuring Ruler, the killing intent in his eyes so thick it was almost tangible.
"Hah... Hah... Song Changsheng, I admit it. Provoking you was the biggest regret of my life. But even if I die, I won’t let you have an easy time of it!"
A glint of desperate madness appeared in Fengy Wuming’s eyes as a centipede-like creature crawled out of his mouth.
"Hahaha! Song Changsheng, come with me to the Yellow Springs!" Fengy Wuming’s face was twisted in a demonic frenzy as he crushed the insect in his hand.
BOOM—
Fengy Wuming’s body instantly exploded.
’Self-destruction?’
Song Changsheng’s expression shifted, and he hastily enveloped himself with the Luwu Bell.
A tremendous force slammed into the Luwu Bell. Song Changsheng felt the world spin around him before he crashed into a small hill with a loud bang.
Fortunately, the Luwu Bell had absorbed most of the impact, leaving Song Changsheng with only minor injuries.
After retracting the Luwu Bell, Song Changsheng rose into the air on his sword. He saw that not even a scrap of Fengy Wuming remained, only a scene of utter devastation on the ground.
’He actually destroyed his own Lifebound Gu.’
Song Changsheng’s brows furrowed slightly. He felt that something wasn’t quite right.
’That’s it.’
He quickly took out the Jade Bottle containing the Poisonous Insects and saw that the creatures inside were still alive and well.
’Damn it. Was that a clone, too? No, he must have used some other trick.’
Song Changsheng frowned in thought for a moment when suddenly, an idea struck him. He immediately rushed back towards the ravine...
...
