Chapter 1315: Chapter 494: Swordman of the Ancient Hall (3)
Everyone turned to Manager Liu for answers.
Manager Liu paused his work, glanced at Hua Zi, and said, "This kid has some spiritual energy, more suitable for refining into a Human Pill than the average dead person. However, his path is peculiar; there might indeed be some hidden story."
"So, do we just let him go?"
"Why would we let him go?" Manager Liu replied, "Tie him up here first. If no expert comes looking for him within seven days, we can assume he has no backing. Cut off his hands and feet, toss him into the furnace to refine into an elixir."
After speaking, he resumed his work, as the dead person on his table cried out in agony.
Manager Liu gently patted the dead person, smiling as he spoke, "Don’t howl so desperately. You’re to be refined into an elixir, which will be sent to the heavens. When the noble ones above consume you, it’s your good fortune."
"Such good fortune is something we cannot beg for."
"Exactly. Once refined into an elixir and consumed by the noble ones, you’ll become feces or urine and come back to the human world. You might even be reborn into a wealthy family."
"We disciples are also suffering souls. You dead people have the chance to change your fate. Shouldn’t you cherish it? All you do is shout day and night. Shout at your grandfather."
These pig-headed men spoke nonchalantly,
when suddenly, a lazy voice reached their ears.
"Since you are so eager for the ’elixir to ascend to heaven,’ this humble Daoist is honored to assist you."
Everyone froze upon hearing the unfamiliar voice, then quickly looked up, seeing a young man dressed in a black Daoist robe standing within the Ancient Hall.
"You... who are you?"
Manager Liu reacted first, taking a defensive stance with his saber, glaring at Zhou Xuan.
Zhou Xuan strode over to Mu Hua’s side, once again using the "Star Body" technique from the Star Law.
The Star Body made Zhou Xuan’s physique invincible; he himself became an unbreakable weapon.
He swiftly tore apart the cloth strips binding Mu Hua.
Freed from his binds, Mu Hua exclaimed, "Brother Zhou Xuan."
"Hua Zi, your sister and third brother are waiting for you at home."
Zhou Xuan said with a smile.
While the two engaged in warm conversation, Manager Liu grew anxious—not because of the name "Zhou Xuan."
As they spent day and night refining elixirs in this Ancient Hall, they paid no heed to outside gossip, unaware of who Zhou Xuan was.
What alarmed them was—the people capable of reaching the Ancient Hall were formidable, beyond what these minor followers could handle.
Though these pig-headed disciples didn’t know Zhou Xuan, the dead hung as wind chimes almost all recognized him.
These dead might not be from East Market Street but were caught by Manager Liu’s people when passing by Huangquan Road—though in life, they were mostly from Mingjiang Prefecture.
How could Mingjiang Prefecture residents not know Zhou Xuan?
They shouted desperately for help, as if seeing their savior: "Mr., save us, please."
"We were just traveling to Soul Shepherd City, minding our own business, and got captured."
"They pierce us with iron hooks, chop our bodies, and plan to burn us in the furnace. Mr. Zhou, save me..."
"We’re fine with reincarnating into either good or bad lives in Soul Shepherd City, but we can’t die here."
The cries for help in the Ancient Hall overlapped, causing the hall to reverberate thunderously.
Manager Liu was more taken aback, realizing that if so many knew Zhou Xuan, he must be an influential figure.
He hastily clasped his fists in apology, holding his saber, and said,
"Mr., if that’s you, we only brought your friend inside seeing him lost. Now that you’re here, you can take him away; we won’t resist."
"I intend to take them all."
Zhou Xuan nodded towards the dead hanging in the rafters.
"That, I’m afraid, is impossible."
"Why impossible? If you die, can’t they leave?"
Zhou Xuan approached the pig-headed men with a teasing smile.
Seeing Zhou Xuan’s menacing aura, Manager Liu steeled himself, saying, "Mr., if you insist on forcing us, then we shall fight."
"All your tricks, use them if you can."
Zhou Xuan strode forward,
whereupon Manager Liu spun his saber, slashing at Zhou Xuan. A strong sword momentum struck behind Zhou Xuan.
The blade seemed to miss, but as Manager Liu spun his saber, the missed momentum rolled back towards Zhou Xuan like an unavoidable avalanche.
Zhou Xuan didn’t think of evading, his Star Body invincible,
standing solitary amidst the sword momentum, none could breach his defense.
After the momentum dissipated, Zhou Xuan was unscathed, and Manager Liu immediately sighed.
The fact that his saber, incorporating his divine skills, couldn’t break Mr.’s defense meant only one thing—their disparity was vast.
Like the difference between man and ant.
Yet Zhou Xuan coolly asked, "How can you use the Human World Hall techniques in the Ancient Soul Returning Hall without incense?"
"Your previous slash was the Flowing Wind and Returning Snow Stance—from Wuwen Mountain’s Sixteen Stances Saber Technique. Are you from Wuwen Mountain?"
"You know Wuwen Mountain?"
Manager Liu didn’t think of "networking" upon hearing Zhou Xuan’s query; a trace of shame filled his voice, like tarnishing the family’s reputation.
Zhou Xuan asked Manager Liu, "Do you know Tan Pei?"
Tan Pei was the catalyst of Wuwen Mountain’s calamity; this unparalleled swordsman slew the disastrous "Young Master Lin Ming."
Because of this, Bai Yujing, Earth Child, dispatched Mr. Ye, Tun Jia Taishang, to capture people at Wuwen Mountain.
"He was our... our mountain’s... most spirited swordsman, we’re familiar."
Manager Liu murmured with lowered head.
Zhou Xuan sneered, "Wuwen Mountain’s Tan Pei was full of chivalry. Unlike you useless cowards who joined the Xianhuo Sect to capture and refine dead into elixirs. Today, as a member of Wuwen Mountain, I, Zhou Xuan, will clean the house."
This time, Zhou Xuan was filled with killing intent, but Liu and his five men refused to retreat.
Especially Liu, who asked, "Mr., your skill is high; just now, that slash showed the disparity. We five, plus the old man outside, are not your match,
but I want to ask, by what right do you use Wuwen Mountain’s name to slay us?"
Before Zhou Xuan could respond, several suspended dead spoke up.
"Mr. last night at Mingjiang Prefecture realized Wuwen Mountain’s seventeenth sword stance—Ten Thousand People Returning to the Origin."
"He is Wuwen Mountain’s appointed heir, the butcher’s ordained successor."
"The butcher also imparted Mr. the Sword Spirit of Wuwen Mountain."
The crowd’s chattering left Manager Liu frozen in place...
