Chapter 106: The High-Stakes Gamble Goes Awry

"Ha! Duan Chen, do you think I would be afraid of you?" Zang You laughed wildly as he summoned his magical artifact—a purple wrist-spike, about two feet long and shaped like a tapered thorn—and slowly strapped it to his right arm.

"Are you insane?" Duan Chen planted his Songshi Sword firmly before him, sneering, "Even if you manage to fight me to a draw, what have you got to challenge Brother Che?"

Che Ba let out a cold grunt in response, spinning his Dragon-Subduing Staff in his hands as he calmly waited for Zang You to make his move.

"Arrogant! Killing you will be as easy as flipping my palm." Zang You’s aura shifted abruptly. A sharp glint flashed in his eyes, and a mass of greenish-black ripples slowly emerged from his left hand.

"The Green Light Demon Curse!" Duan Chen’s pupils contracted. Without hesitation, he struck with his sword!

All previous oaths and agreements instantly vanished, worth nothing more than dirt. Unmasked killing intent filled both their eyes as they lunged at each other simultaneously. Che Ba stepped back coldly, his eyes narrowing slightly.

*Whoosh—* Zang You flicked his left hand, and the green radiance sprayed out straight like a wave. "Roar!" The green ripples transformed into a demonic shadow, colliding with the light of Duan Chen’s blade.

*Rip!* The demonic shadow was sliced open like fabric by the sword light, but at the same time, the green ripples dissolved into a mist, dousing Duan Chen entirely.

"Ah—" He let out a piercing scream, but his sword momentum did not falter. Emerald light flared, and sword qi spread out, striking Zang You squarely in the chest. Both men wore expressions of ruthless ferocity. The Songshi Sword slashed into Zang You’s body, only to be held fast by a shimmering veil of colorful mist, unable to move further. At that very moment, their bodies collided—close-quarters combat!

"Die!" Zang You’s right hand, which had remained motionless until now, suddenly lashed out, clawing into Duan Chen’s abdomen—the very location of his Dantian.

Duan Chen’s eyes widened in horror, yet he did not cease his attack. Sword qi erupted from his body, spiraling toward Zang You’s head. In such close-range slaughter, ordinary people had no defense. A master swordsman at the late Foundation Establishment stage could convert their inner spiritual energy into sword qi, making it no different from wielding the blade itself.

*Boom!* Zang You’s head exploded into a spray of gore!

"Hahaha! You thought you could fight me!" Duan Chen reached out to retrieve his Songshi Sword, intending to strip the high-grade treasure armor from Zang You’s body, when a hand suddenly burst through his own chest, gripping his heart, and squeezed gently.

In an instant, the Songshi Sword fell from Duan Chen’s hand with a *clatter*. He turned his head slowly, his eyes bulging wide. "It’s... you..."

"Didn't expect that, did you, Duan Chen? You asked if killing you would be as easy as flipping my palm, remember?" The "Zang You" before him laughed wildly, flicking his hand to push away Duan Chen’s mangled remains.

The headless body vanished into thin air before everyone's eyes. It was merely an illusion! Che Ba curled his lip, tilted his chin upward, and asked, "You want to kill me too?"

"Zang You" smiled slightly, tucking the Songshi Sword into his pouch. "Not for the moment. But if you intend to compete with me for the next immortal artifact, I would not mind making an enemy of the Great Ape King."

"You... you are Daoist Xu Ci?" Lin Feng spoke up from the side.

"Ha! Indeed! That rebellious disciple Zang You was purged by me long ago. With his meager abilities, how could he possibly have entered the Immortal Mansion?" A sharp glint flashed in Daoist Xu Ci’s eyes as his appearance shifted, revealing a withered, gaunt face with a goatee—the look of a man who was clearly treacherous and malicious.

"Daoist Xu Ci, you killed someone in cold blood, violating our agreement. Do you not fear divine retribution?" Chen Yuxi said, her gaze cold.

"Divine retribution? Hahaha! The agreement was made with Zang You, not with me, Xu Ci. How could there be retribution!" Xu Ci threw his head back and laughed, then looked at the others with a mocking gaze. "Juniors, if I obtain the immortal artifact today, I will naturally leave you be. Heh heh. Otherwise..."

Daoist Xu Ci walked toward Lin Feng and Chen Yuxi, his eyes shifting restlessly.

"What do you want?" Lin Feng demanded.

***

"Hmph! Earlier, when the stone table was shattered, a Golden Macaque Lion emerged—that is one of the restrictions! Tell me, what do you think would happen if I smashed that small bridge?" Daoist Xu Ci pointed calmly at the jade-carved arch bridge in the garden, his eyes burning with greed. "This is much larger than the stone table; it should at least reward us with an immortal artifact! Perhaps even that one-of-a-kind treasure."

In the courtyard, including the statues, this stone bridge was indeed the largest and longest structure, spanning a pond of koi. It was elegant and beautiful, and one could hardly bear to destroy such scenery. Yet, the old Daoist’s words were tempting. Destruction to bring about creation? Could it be that the Immortal had set this riddle to test their courage?

Che Ba walked over to join Lin Feng and Chen Yuxi as they watched Daoist Xu Ci approach the stone arch bridge.

Yuan Qianzi raised his head, his eyes vacant, muttering something unintelligible. Daoist Xu Ci raised his hand, and a flash of green light struck the jade bridge. Suddenly, Leng Linglan opened her eyes and shouted urgently, "Stop!"

It was too late. The jade bridge fractured in the middle and collapsed into the pond below.

"Roar!" From the pond leaped three monsters, half-fish and half-dragon, which transformed into three charming young maidens standing in the air. Draped in colorful silk and red satin, they were bewitchingly beautiful, with fair legs and jade-like arms, their figures incredibly alluring.

"Brocade Dragon Carp!" Che Ba stared at the three women, his eyes like sharp arrows.

"Hee hee, Big Sister, the monkey recognizes us," one of the maidens in blue giggled.

The leading woman in gold silk and red robes glared at her and said coldly, "Qing'er, no playing around. They destroyed the Master's estate—their crimes are unforgivable!"

"Three young ladies, wait." Seeing they were about to strike, the old Daoist Xu Ci hurriedly said respectfully, "We only seek a few immortal artifacts and did not intend to damage the Immortal Mansion. We accidentally broke the stone table and gained an item, which is why we tested the bridge. I hope you will be magnanimous."

"You killed Little Jin!" The woman in white suddenly erupted in rage, her killing intent surging.

"Don't waste words on them. Manqing, Manxue, you deal with the others; I will handle this old man!" The woman in red reached out, summoning a long golden sword from thin air, and fired it at Xu Ci.

"How annoying, we finally get to come out and play, and now we have to fight," Manqing pouted, but she still reluctantly pulled out her magical artifact—a dazzling light-yellow bead.

"What are you waiting for? Kill them!" Xu Ci shot a green beam from his finger, striking the golden sword. The sword light paused for a moment before accelerating, curving around to strike directly at Daoist Xu Ci’s head.

There was no choice but to fight. Manqing and Manxue were already attacking. Che Ba cursed and swung his staff at Manxue.

*Boom!* A flash of golden light appeared. Che Ba felt his hands go numb, almost losing his grip on the Dragon-Subduing Staff, his mouth dropping open in shock.

"You dead monkey, you think you can fight me with that level of cultivation?" Manxue held an embroidery needle between her fingertips and smiled slightly.

A single needle had defeated Che Ba. Lin Feng and the others were horrified; these three sisters were definitely more troublesome than the Golden Macaque Lion!

"Demoness! Don't be so arrogant!" Chen Yuxi raised her Jingluan Sword. Sword qi flowed like a rainbow, like a colorful phoenix facing the sun. With a sharp cry, seven-colored sword light surged forward, engulfing Manxue.

"Hey! Since Big Sister wants me to fight, I'll take you." Manqing’s figure flickered, and she appeared beside Lin Feng, her speed too fast to track. Every one of these sisters was more terrifying than the last!

"Oh no!" Lin Feng’s face changed drastically. At such close range, it was too late to dodge.

"Behold my Mountain-Suppressing Bead!" Manqing flicked her small hand, and the pale yellow bead flew above Lin Feng’s head, radiating brilliant light.

"Ah!" He collapsed to his knees instantly. An invisible weight crushed his spine, his bones cracking and vibrating as if a massive mountain were pressing down on his back. He pushed against the ground with all his might, his face turning beet red, his muscles bulging as he gasped for air.

"Hehe, my Mountain-Suppressing Bead can suppress even a Rank-5 True Immortal. And I haven't even used any curses yet—you're already falling apart?" Manqing leaned forward, covering her mouth with a light laugh.

"Don't hurt him! Take this!" Cold light flashed in Leng Linglan’s eyes as her White Snow Sword slashed toward Manqing’s neck.

At that moment, the Fire Heart within Lin Feng erupted with astonishing energy. Sparks spread rapidly through his muscles, and spiritual energy flooded his meridians and bones. Two distinct, opposing energies burned simultaneously. With an explosion of power, he forced his arms to support his body!

He unleashed the Phantom Incarnation Technique, splitting into three shadows. The Mountain-Suppressing Bead trembled violently and fell to the jade floor with a *clink*.

Manqing felt a flicker of surprise. After dodging Leng Linglan’s strike, she began to face the combined assault of the two.

*Boom!* As Lin Feng leaped from the ground, his body seemed to burn with raging flames. The Moyan Sword hummed joyfully, its blade wreathed in fire.

Leng Linglan’s beautiful eyes sparkled with realization. With a sharp shout, her White Snow Sword thrust diagonally toward Manqing.

"Hehe, one white sword, one black sword. What is your relationship?" Manqing remained unperturbed, moving like a slippery eel through their sword qi with effortless grace.

"Demoness!" Cold light erupted from Leng Linglan’s eyes as a freezing aura manifested on her blade. This fire and ice seemed to share a telepathic bond; from fighting separately, they began to coordinate, putting significant pressure on Manqing. Yet, Manqing still responded with ease, her movements ethereal, her bare hands acting like metal as she blocked the fire and ice without fear.

Just what level had these three sisters reached? "Great Majestic Vajra!"

Suddenly, a field of golden light surged. The fierce, wide-eyed Great Majestic Vajra appeared, wielding a trident to attack Manqing, while the Demon-Suppressing Glazed Pagoda glowed brilliantly, pressing down on her head!

The appearance of the Vajra startled Manqing. At that moment, Leng Linglan’s aura shifted. She rose like a willow catkin, hands raised high. "Boom!" A massive pale-blue sword, ten zhang long, descended from the sky. The sword qi whipped up the plants, accompanied by a thunderous, explosive roar, striking down before Manqing in an instant!

The Demon-Suppressing Glazed Pagoda only trapped her for a heartbeat before she broke free, but she could no longer dodge this grand sword strike. The true power of an immortal sword!

In that instant, Manqing felt the terror of approaching death—an infinite, frigid rage and the aura of world-ending destruction.

"Kan Water Evasion!" In that split second, she leaped, transforming into a green dragon-carp. A massive water sphere enveloped her body. Curving into a ball, she met the Immortal Sword with her glowing, armored scales and spine!

*Pop!* The immortal sword struck the water sphere like a bursting balloon, then slashed at the dragon-carp’s green scales. With a screeching sound like a sharp knife on a whetstone, sword qi flew everywhere! The Demon-Suppressing Glazed Pagoda pursued her again, and the Vajra’s trident struck fiercely. Before it could even hit her, the Moyan Sword, wreathed in Heavenly Heart White Flames, arrived.

*Bang! Bang! Bang!* The seamless, continuous assault was perfectly coordinated. In particular, Leng Linglan’s immortal sword strike had not only shattered Manqing’s protective water shield but had also pierced her scales, followed immediately by their combined ultimate attacks!

The Immortal Sword transformed into a beam of azure radiance, piercing through Manqing’s dragon tail!

The scorching Heavenly Heart White Flames enveloped her, burning violently! With the aid of the Vajra manifestation, it was as if the power of three people struck Manqing simultaneously.