The world reincarnates, each time a new talent!

173: Zuo Lengchan’s death!”Uncle Xiang, you said that my father was imprisoned beneath West Lake all those years ago, and now he has escaped?”

Luoyang Bamboo Forest.

Ren Yingying met with Xiang Wentian and learned this news from him.

”But if he has escaped, why hasn’t he come to see me?”

Ren Yingying murmured to herself.

”Perhaps the Cult Leader does not yet know the Holy Maiden’s whereabouts,” Xiang Wentian said truthfully.

”Since those changes only occurred after Yue Buqun went to West Lake, doesn’t that mean the recent rumors in the Jianghu—that Yue Buqun met my father and obtained the Star Absorbing Skill—are well-founded?”

”Uncle Xiang, how much truth do you think there is in this?”

Ren Yingying looked at Xiang Wentian.

Xiang Wentian frowned, deep in thought. ”I do not know about this either, but I believe the Cult Leader is definitely not dead. That Yue Buqun could never have killed the Cult Leader.”

”But now it is rumored that Yue Buqun defeated Zuo Lengchan in public and has become the Five Mountains Alliance Chief.”

”Back then, Zuo Lengchan was only slightly weaker than my father. After all these years, Zuo Lengchan’s strength must have improved, yet he was defeated by Yue Buqun. My father, however, was imprisoned at the bottom of the lake for over a decade and must be weak. If Yue Buqun truly has such strength, I fear my father...”

Ren Yingying stopped there, a look of worry appearing on her face.

Hearing this, Xiang Wentian’s expression changed several times. After hesitating for a moment, he said, ”Holy Maiden, that shouldn’t be possible, right?”

”Perhaps the reason Yue Buqun has his current strength and was able to defeat Zuo Lengchan is precisely because he met the Cult Leader and obtained the Cult Leader’s Star Absorbing Skill, which gave him his current power.”

”This matter is hard to judge. We can only see if we can find Father. As long as we find Father, we can prove he is still alive.”

Ren Yingying sighed softly, her eyes then hardening with determination. ”I will also find a way to go to Mount Hua and ferret out information from Yue Buqun.”

”No, Holy Maiden, isn’t that too dangerous?”

”Nothing is confirmed yet, and Yue Buqun is now the Five Mountains Alliance Chief and the leader of the Righteous Path. If he discovers your identity, I fear it will lead to unnecessary trouble.”

Xiang Wentian quickly advised.

”Uncle Xiang, you need not say more. Besides, my identity is secret. Apart from the senior leadership of the Demon Cult, no one knows of my existence, and very few have even seen me. I believe that as long as I do not expose myself, no one should be able to discover my identity.”

”I am acquainted with Linghu Chong of Mount Hua. With him there, I should be able to infiltrate the interior of Mount Hua to search for clues.”

”If my father really made a deal with Yue Buqun, perhaps he is hiding on Mount Hua. On Mount Hua, by Yue Buqun’s side, I will definitely be able to find clues.”

Ren Yingying said with a determined face.

”Since the Holy Maiden has made up her mind, I will not try to persuade you further. However, rest assured, Holy Maiden, I will follow by your side. I will hide at the foot of Mount Hua; if you have any matters, you can have someone notify me.”

Xiang Wentian said solemnly.

”Rest assured, Uncle Xiang.”

Meanwhile, on the other side.

Ning Yuan, however, left the inn late at night.

Watching Zuo Lengchan lead the people of Mount Song out of Luoyang and onto the mountain highway, he immediately followed.

”Zuo Lengchan, why do you think I didn’t kill you in public?”

”Is it because I was worried about the others?”

”No, it’s just that killing you like that would be too much of a waste!”

Ning Yuan stood on a tree branch. Under the moonlight, his shadow appeared increasingly cold and murderous.

”In this world, there aren’t many people with your cultivation level. It must not be wasted easily. Now is the true moment of the hunt.”

Ning Yuan suddenly dropped from the treetop.

”Who goes there?”

Soon, as the people from Mount Song approached, they immediately drew their longswords and asked guardedly.

Zuo Lengchan, who was meditating inside the carriage, also suddenly opened his eyes.

Ding Mian and Lu Bai, on either side, immediately urged their horses forward. ”Who are you? You have some nerve, daring to block the path of Mount Song!”

Ding Mian, riding on his horse, shouted sternly.

Ning Yuan was dressed in black, wearing a bamboo hat, and stood with his arms crossed over his sword.

Hearing the question, he slowly raised his head, and the longsword in his embrace unsheathed. ”I am the one who will kill you!”

As soon as the words fell, a cold light flashed.

Ding Mian and Lu Bai both felt their hair stand on end and hurriedly drew their swords to parry.

With a metallic clang, Ding Mian and Lu Bai’s pupils constricted. Then, their sword-wielding hands suddenly fell to the ground, and blood sprayed out.

At the same time, miserable wails rang out.

”Ah!”

”My hand!”

Ding Mian and Lu Bai stumbled backward, and the surrounding Mount Song Disciples were all shocked.

”Kill!”

Someone didn’t know who shouted, but the group of Mount Song Disciples looked at each other, suppressed their fear, drew the longswords from their waists, and immediately charged up.

”Kill!”

”Throwing your lives away for nothing!”

Ning Yuan snorted coldly, not holding back in his strikes.

The longsword in his hand was like a living creature. With a flash of sword light, there was no one left standing around him.

Except for Ning Yuan, the carriage in front, and the armless Ding Mian and Lu Bai leaning against the sides of the carriage.

”Senior Brother, this person’s sword technique is so fast. When did such a figure appear in the Jianghu?”

Ding Mian’s forehead was dripping with cold sweat as he endured the pain and said.

”Since he is dressed so mysteriously, could he be an old acquaintance of mine who doesn’t want his true identity to be recognized?”

Zuo Lengchan lifted the curtain and appeared on top of the carriage. ”Perhaps he is an old acquaintance of us all.”

Zuo Lengchan pointed his sword at Ning Yuan. ”So mysterious, I shall reveal your true face!”

Although Zuo Lengchan was alarmed by the other’s sword technique, he had just suffered a loss at the hands of Yue Buqun. Now, someone dared to block his path, kill his Mount Song Disciples, and even wanted to kill him. How could Zuo Lengchan, who was already full of pent-up anger, endure this?

”Do you really think I am easy to bully?”

Zuo Lengchan shouted angrily, his sword technique fierce.

Ning Yuan didn’t waste any words and channeled his True Qi. After just a few moves, Zuo Lengchan felt pressure, and—a suction force!

”Star Absorbing Skill?”

”Are you Ren Woxing? How could you suddenly appear?”

Zuo Lengchan’s eyes suddenly widened, revealing a look of disbelief.

Because in the current world, the only martial art with such characteristics is the unique skill of Ren Woxing of the Demon Cult: the Star Absorbing Skill.

And the things he said earlier about Yue Buqun colluding with Ren Woxing, or obtaining Ren Woxing’s Legacy, were all just things he had said offhandedly.

But now, a person who had disappeared for over a decade and was very likely dead had suddenly appeared. How could Zuo Lengchan not be terrified?

Ning Yuan let out a few ’hehe’ cold laughs. ”Aren’t you always looking forward to seeing me?”

Ning Yuan feigned a hoarse voice. ”Now you have seen me, I have fulfilled your wish.”

”Let me see what progress you have made in these ten-plus years!”

Ning Yuan used the Bei Ming Divine Skill; the strength of the suction was far beyond what the Star Absorbing Skill could compare to.

Under his high-multiplier Comprehension Ability back then, he had long since integrated the Star Absorbing Skill into the Bei Ming Divine Skill, taking its essence and discarding its dross.

”What? Ren Woxing has really appeared?”

Ding Mian and Lu Bai were also pale-faced.

Although they had already confirmed that the deaths of Zuo Ting, Di Xiu, and others were due to the Star Absorbing Skill, and they had once speculated that Ren Woxing had returned to the Jianghu, it was only speculation after all.

Now that they were truly facing him, the arrogant strength of Ren Woxing from back then still made people tremble with fear.

”Ren Woxing, I have waited for you for over a decade, and you have finally appeared.”

But facing Ren Woxing, Zuo Lengchan quickly calmed down, and even laughed crazily, ”It is just as well to let the unique skill I created myself have a taste of your Star Absorbing Skill!”

Zuo Lengchan showed wild joy.

His Frost Palm and another secret Internal Skill he had created were specifically designed against the Star Absorbing Skill; they could hide his own True Qi, making the Star Absorbing Skill completely unable to absorb his power.

And once the Star Absorbing Skill could not absorb his power, then the effectiveness of the Star Absorbing Skill would be crippled by half.

It was a pity that this martial art had no effect when dealing with Yue Buqun earlier.

Now, it was finally time for it to take effect.

Zuo Lengchan confidently traded palms with Ning Yuan.

As their palms collided, a surge of turbulent power immediately erupted.

Zuo Lengchan, however, had a face full of confident smiles. ”Ren Woxing, today I will defeat you fair and square...”

Zuo Lengchan’s words were not yet finished when his expression suddenly changed drastically.

”My power, you...”

”How can you still be able to absorb my power!”

Zuo Lengchan shouted in disbelief.

The unique skill he had created was entirely due to his defeat by Ren Woxing back then, and it was created specifically for Ren Woxing, to counter the Star Absorbing Skill.

Originally, he had been full of confidence.

But now, the secret Cultivation Technique he had created seemed to have had no effect at all.

”Hehe...”

Ning Yuan did not answer, but just gave two cold laughs and silently channeled the Bei Ming Divine Skill.

Zuo Lengchan felt his power pouring into the opponent’s body like a flood, even more violently than before.

”How could it be like this?”

Zuo Lengchan was filled with unwillingness and channeled his Frost Palm, but as Ning Yuan’s True Qi surged, the newly condensed frost shattered with a bang.

The powerful suction of the Bei Ming Divine Skill left him unable to move, and he could only watch helplessly as his internal energy drained away.

”Why!”

”Why is this happening!”

Zuo Lengchan let out a roar of unwillingness.

”This is impossible! The Star Absorbing Skill cannot have such power!”

”No, you are not Ren Woxing!”

”Ren Woxing was arrogant his whole life and never hid his head or showed his tail. Who exactly are you?”

Zuo Lengchan suddenly realized, glaring and roaring at Ning Yuan.

Zuo Lengchan suddenly struck, knocking off Ning Yuan’s bamboo hat.

A look of astonishment appeared on Zuo Lengchan’s face, for beneath the bamboo hat was a bronze mask.

He still had not seen the other party’s true face.

”Who exactly are you?”

Zuo Lengchan shouted again, filled with unwillingness.

He had assumed it was Ren Woxing, but thinking about it now, with Ren Woxing’s personality, he would never do something as cowardly as hiding his identity.

If it were Ren Woxing, he would have likely announced his return to the world long ago.

Faced with him, he would have mocked Zuo Lengchan to his face for having made no progress in over a decade.

But the other party had used a double disguise, clearly intended to hide his identity and fearing being seen.

This also meant that the true face was someone who could not be exposed in this identity, someone he knew, perhaps even a famous figure among the righteous sects of the Jianghu.

”Could it be you...”

Connecting these thoughts, Zuo Lengchan’s pupils suddenly constricted, and he realized with shock, ”Yue Buqun?”

Because of various coincidences and the strength displayed, he immediately drew a portrait in his mind.

It was the Gentleman Sword.

The two had fought before, and needless to say, they had a grudge.

The other party’s sword technique was indeed superior to his own, just like the assassin before him.

In this world, there were no more than three people whose sword techniques could surpass his.

Therefore, it was impossible for a stranger with sword techniques stronger than his own to appear without a sound.

Thus, Zuo Lengchan quickly put it all together. The only thing that shocked and angered him was the Star Absorbing Skill.

”Yue Buqun, so you really did obtain Ren Woxing’s Star Absorbing Skill!”

Zuo Lengchan shouted in shock and anger.

Previously at the assembly, he had just been spouting nonsense to frame him; he never thought or believed that Yue Buqun would Cultivate the Star Absorbing Skill.

But unexpectedly, his words had become a prophecy, and his false accusation had come true.

”Zuo Lengchan, you are indeed clever, but unfortunately, cleverness can be a disadvantage.”

Ning Yuan removed his mask, revealing his true face.

”I didn’t expect you to guess that I had cultivated the Star Absorbing Skill. Since that’s the case, why are you so surprised?”

Ning Yuan looked at Zuo Lengchan with a playful expression.

”It really is you! I never expected that you would actually...”

Zuo Lengchan gritted his teeth, and while struggling to resist, he couldn’t help but ask, ”What is your relationship with Ren Woxing? And where is Ren Woxing?”

”What do you think?”

Ning Yuan sneered and continued to channel the Bei Ming Divine Skill. Soon, Zuo Lengchan’s face turned pale, his whole body trembled, and he was unable to speak.

”Zuo Lengchan, I will gladly accept your internal energy. Many thanks for Alliance Leader Zuo’s gift.”

Ning Yuan said softly.

He had long coveted Zuo Lengchan’s internal energy, but had never had the opportunity to act.

Now, he had finally achieved his wish.

With Mount Song losing Zuo Lengchan and the Thirteen Taibao experts, he would have no more resistance in conquering Mount Song.

Without Zuo Lengchan, that sinister, despicable, and ruthless person hiding in the shadows stirring up trouble, he could focus on other things without worrying about backstabbing.

”Yue Buqun, you really do hide deep!”

Zuo Lengchan collapsed to the ground, his breath fading.

”I didn’t misjudge you; you really are a hypocrite!”

”Thank you for the compliment!”

Ning Yuan casually struck with his sword, slitting Zuo Lengchan’s throat.

Shortly after, Ding Mian, Lu Bai, and the others were all killed by Ning Yuan, and their internal energy was also drained.

...

Inside the inn.

Ning Yuan opened his panel and looked at his gains.

[World: Smiling Proud Wanderer, Xia Ke Island]

[Departure Countdown: 860 days (1 day in main world)]

[Luck: 520 (Can be exchanged for original body martial arts)]

[Current Identity: Yue Buqun]

[Current Talent: Dual Cultivation of Blessing and Wisdom (Active, 4x Comprehension Ability)]

[Cultivation: Super First-Class (Late Stage of Qi Nourishing, Gang Qi Realm)]

[Martial Arts: Bei Ming Divine Skill, Seven-String Formless Sword, Five Mountains Divine Sword...]

”From becoming the Five Mountains Alliance Chief to killing Zuo Lengchan, my Luck has increased by 100 points.”

”Very good.”

Ning Yuan showed a look of satisfaction.

Once he became the Martial Arts Alliance Leader and defeated Dongfang Bubai, his Luck would surely increase by another notch.

If he added the gains from Xia Ke Island, his Luck this time would certainly break one thousand, or even reach over one thousand five hundred.

At that time, once he evolved the Bei Ming Divine Skill to the Rebirth Realm, this journey would be considered perfectly concluded.

”This time, absorbing the internal energy of Zuo Lengchan and the others, although I couldn’t break through again, my internal energy has increased by nearly thirty percent compared to before.”

”If I can absorb the energy of one or two more experts like Zuo Lengchan, perhaps I can re-enter the dao and open my apertures.”

Ning Yuan thought silently. After digesting Zuo Lengchan’s internal energy, Ning Yuan went to Madam Wang’s room.

Before leaving, he had taken Madam Wang twice; she had long since fallen into a deep sleep and did not know he had left. Ning Yuan loosened his clothes and lay down on the bed again.

The next morning.

Madam Wang woke up and, seeing Ning Yuan beside her, her face immediately flushed red.

”Big Brother Yue, why haven’t you left yet? Aren’t you afraid of being seen, of being seen by Sister Ning?”

Madam Wang said with a reproachful pout.

”What is there to fear? Once we return to the mountain, I will have you explain the situation to Junior Sister.”

Ning Yuan held Madam Wang’s hand, and seeing her dark hair in disarray, he couldn’t help but be moved.

”Madam, come, let your husband clean up.”

Ning Yuan pressed Madam Wang beneath him without further ado. Soon, Ning Yuan showed an expression of relief.

When Ning Yuan left Madam Wang’s room and saw Ning Zhongze, Ning Zhongze couldn’t help but glance at him.

”Senior Brother, there are many eyes and ears here; you must be careful.”

Ning Zhongze couldn’t help but remind him.

She actually didn’t want to share, but she couldn’t handle him alone and had to tacitly allow it. After all, if she stopped him and saw how uncomfortable her Senior Brother was, she would feel ashamed.

She was just worried that if things came to light, her Senior Brother’s reputation would be damaged, so she could only remind him.

Some things could only be done in secret.

”Rest assured, Junior Sister.”

Ning Yuan comforted her softly.

”As long as Senior Brother understands. After all, you have just become the Five Mountains Alliance Chief, and too many people are watching you. Zuo Lengchan, in particular, will not let any clue slip by in his attempt to bring you down.”

”Before, he slandered you wildly without any evidence. If he had evidence, I fear his offensive would be even more ferocious.”

Ning Zhongze said worriedly.

”Junior Sister is right. Only you are so considerate of me.”

Ning Yuan held Ning Zhongze’s hand and said affectionately.

Ning Zhongze’s cheeks blushed slightly.

”We are husband and wife; this is what I should do.”

Near noon, just as Ning Yuan and the various sects were preparing to depart and return to their respective mountains, someone suddenly ran in from outside the city.

”Report!”

A Disciple carrying the command flag of the Five Mountains Sword Sect arrived at the Huashan Inn on horseback and suddenly knelt on the ground.

”Reporting to the Alliance Chief, the, the, the bodies of Sect Leader Zuo and a group of Mount Song Disciples have been discovered outside the city.”

Once these words were spoken, everyone was immediately shocked.

”What? What did you say happened to Zuo Lengchan?”

Ning Yuan walked out of the inn with a serious face.

”Reporting to the Alliance Chief, Sect Leader Zuo—is dead!”

The Disciple lowered his head, his face full of grief.

”This is impossible!”

Ning Yuan flatly denied.

”Zuo Lengchan’s martial arts are superb, second only to me. Even though he was injured from his battle with me earlier, there are no more than a handful of people in this Jianghu who could kill him. How could he suddenly die?”

”Alliance Chief, I am not lying; this is what I saw with my own eyes.”

The reporting Disciple quickly explained.

At this moment, people from Mount Heng, Mount Heng, Shaolin, and Wudang also gathered around. Clearly, they had heard the news too.

”Zuo Lengchan is dead?”

”What on earth happened?”

Everyone asked with solemn expressions.

”Let’s go!”

Ning Yuan’s expression also became solemn. He waved his hand and said, ”Let us go and see together.”

”Indeed, we will know once we go there.”

Fang Zheng also had a solemn expression.

Zuo Lengchan had been the nominal leader of the Righteous Path.

Now that he had suddenly been killed outside Luoyang city, it naturally put everyone on high alert.