Chapter 16: Threat

“Child, can you see the situation clearly now?” Tu Wuchang glanced at Mu Wanqing, shaking his head with a faint smile. “I must admit, after you grasped the true essence of swordsmanship from that calligraphic sword character, your strength has surpassed mine. Yet what of it? It is all in vain. As long as the soul of the Blood Demon Patriarch remains undestroyed within me, my body is immortal. No matter how many times you try to kill me, you cannot.”

Mu Wanqing bit her lip in frustration. “Damn you, you perverted fiend!” she snapped. There was a deep sense of unwillingness in her heart. She was clearly stronger than Tu Wuchang, yet she could not kill him. The feeling was unbearable.

Tu Wuchang continued, “Child, I’ll give you one chance to save the Skycloud Sect. Take me to the one who gave you that sword character, and I will spare your sect. Otherwise, I will slaughter every last member of the Skycloud Sect.”

Moments ago, Bai Li Song and the others had been overjoyed, thinking their tribulation had passed. But now, despair returned. Tu Wuchang harbored the immortal soul of the Blood Demon Patriarch—he could not die. No matter how strong Mu Wanqing became, she could not kill him.

“Keep dreaming!” Mu Wanqing retorted coldly. Take Tu Wuchang to meet that great master? What a joke. That would be a grave disrespect.

A sharp, chilling sound broke the air. Tu Wuchang pointed his sword, and a lethal intent condensed into a line, instantly piercing the heart of a Skycloud Sect disciple. The young man's eyes bulged wide, terror etched across his face, and he fell without a sound.

A cry of alarm rang out among the Skycloud Sect.

“You!” Mu Wanqing trembled with rage.

“Did you see that, child?” Tu Wuchang’s voice was calm as ever. “If I wish to extinguish your sect, it is but the matter of raising my sword.”

Despite the gaping hole in his chest—a sight both bizarre and ghastly—Tu Wuchang spoke and acted as if nothing was amiss. He should have been lying lifeless, yet here he stood, sword in hand, having just killed another disciple.

“Child, take me to that master who bestowed the sword character upon you. Otherwise, I promise you, the Skycloud Sect will be erased today.”

Tu Wuchang wore a composed expression, though inside he was thrilled. Just a single character had elevated Mu Wanqing’s strength beyond his own—such a master could not be missed.

“Never!” Mu Wanqing shook her head resolutely. But before the words had died on her lips—

Again, with a flash, Tu Wuchang lifted his sword and slew another disciple of the Skycloud Sect.

“Damn you, demon!” Mu Wanqing was so furious she nearly exploded.

“You’re absolutely right. I am a demon.” Tu Wuchang shrugged indifferently. “If you still refuse, the next to die will be your sect leader.”

Bai Li Song’s breath caught, his aged body trembling violently. The others, too, were stunned—he was about to kill their sect leader.

Suddenly, a radiant blade of sword-light flashed through the air, slicing off Tu Wuchang’s head, carrying with it a chilling aura of death. Yet Tu Wuchang did not fall. His headless body stood motionless, the sight more horrifying than ever.

A deathly silence fell over the scene. Not even a breath could be heard as everyone stared, wide-eyed, at Tu Wuchang’s headless form. Then, before their very eyes, a new head slowly grew from his neck—but it sprouted backward, the face appearing on his back.

A collective scream erupted. Jaws dropped in shock—this was too horrific to bear. Tu Wuchang truly was undying and indestructible. Even after Mu Wanqing had decapitated him with a single stroke, he had grown a new head in an instant.

With a guttural sound, Tu Wuchang twisted his head back into position, looking at Mu Wanqing with a calm smile. “Child, now you see for yourself—I am truly immortal. Enough delays. Take me to that master who gave you the sword character, or I assure you, your sect leader will die next. After that, every last member of the Skycloud Sect will follow.”

“I…” Mu Wanqing hesitated. She knew that bringing such a fiend before the master was the gravest of disrespect, a defilement to that great one’s presence. Yet as a disciple of the Skycloud Sect, how could she bear to watch her sect annihilated?

She bit her lip, heart heavy with guilt. Great Master, please do not blame me. I am truly at my wit’s end. After this is over, I will atone with my life.

“Follow me!” In an instant, Mu Wanqing made her decision and sped off toward the town of Clearwater.

Tu Wuchang was briefly taken aback, then burst into laughter. “That’s more like it. I do admire such decisiveness in a young one.” With that, he hurried after Mu Wanqing.

“Wanqing is really taking Tu Wuchang to meet the great master… Alas, it’s all because of the Skycloud Sect’s misfortune!” Bai Li Song sighed deeply, then called out, “I must go as well. The rest of you stay within the sect. Do not act rashly. If Wanqing and I do not return within a day, the Skycloud Sect shall disband. Everyone will go their separate ways.”

With these words, he hurried after them. The remaining disciples stared at each other in bewilderment.

Meanwhile, Chen Changsheng was oblivious to all that had occurred at the Skycloud Sect, and even less aware that Mu Wanqing was bringing a great fiend his way.

At that very moment, Chen Changsheng was wholly absorbed in crafting a necklace for Chen Die’er. Though what the system had taught him before had little to do with cultivation, his crafting skills were nonetheless quite impressive.

Making a necklace was child’s play.

Chen Die’er sat nearby, watching him intently with bright, clear eyes. “It really does look beautiful,” she said, her delicate face full of anticipation. She raised her tiny hand to wipe a few beads of sweat from Chen Changsheng’s forehead and asked, “Daddy, how much longer until it’s finished?”

“Almost done,” Chen Changsheng replied. “I just need to make a pendant for it. Once that’s done, we’ll go to Clearwater Town to buy one and attach it. Then it will be complete.”

“Okay.” Chen Die’er nodded, then asked, “Daddy, what kind of pendant do you want to buy?”

Chen Changsheng thought for a moment. “How about a little pig?”

“Why a little pig?”

“Because your zodiac is the pig.”

“So just because I’m born in the year of the pig, I should have a pig pendant?”

“Yes. That way, it will bring you good luck.”

“And what is good luck?”

Chen Changsheng coughed, rubbing her little head. “Die’er, you still haven’t changed that habit of asking endless questions.”

Chen Die’er immediately puffed out her tiny chest and nodded seriously. “Daddy, I understand. I’ll change.”