Volume 5 Chapter 49

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Volume 5 Chapter 49: Zhang Yi

When the Zhong family determined their future search direction, Zhang Xusheng and "Xuan" carried the unconscious "Zhang Yi" and landed in another direction far away.

In a clearing, "Xuan" didn’t rush to interrogate "Zhang Yi". Instead, he asked Zhang Xusheng doubtfully, "Haven’t you longed to destroy the Zhong family? Many experts and intricate traps are in the Valley of the Dead, along with powerful zombies refined over the years by the Zhong family, making it challenging to act. Yet, Zhong Kui just left the Valley of the Dead, with only ‘Hong’ as a nuisance to us, while we were two. It was the perfect opportunity to eliminate him, so why did you signal me not to take action? Without Zhong Kui, the Zhong family’s strength would be significantly weakened."

Zhang Xusheng smiled calmly and responded, "Xuan, you still don’t grasp my thinking. Killing Zhong Kui is easy, as is annihilating the entire Zhong family, but these things don’t intrigue me. The Zhong family aims to return to power in the cultivation world, relying on their accumulated strength. Only by destroying them when they are near their goal can I truly feel excitement. Besides, the current cultivation world is too peaceful. Just having ‘Ming’ isn’t enough to create the chaos that should exist. If the Zhong family returns too, it will be just right. Interesting events are more fascinating when they happen together."

As he spoke, a broader smile appeared on Zhang Xusheng’s face, as if he were envisioning some future scenario. He murmured, "The final and largest catastrophe organized by the ‘Underworld’, the ultimate goals of the ‘Tian’ and ‘Di’ elders, the return of the Zhong family, the battle between the Righteous Alliance and the ‘Underworld’, and even young Feng Qingtian gradually gaining influence. Once everything is over, how many living beings will remain in the entire cultivation world or the whole Shenzhou Continent?"

Looking at the light smile on Zhang Xusheng’s face and his elegant demeanor, it seemed as though he was merely discussing trivial matters. Yet, in reality, he was talking about terrifying events, like wiping out entire families and the future crisis of the entire cultivation world. Coupled with his smile and demeanor, he appeared even more dangerously charming and terrifying.

‘Xuan’ remained expressionless, as if what Zhang Xusheng said had nothing to do with him. He just calmly said, "Now that Zhong Kui’s strength rivals yours, combined with those powerful zombies he’s crafted, when the Zhong family makes a comeback, presumably the ‘Purgatory Staff’ will be restored. At that time, even the ‘Heaven’ and ‘Earth’ elders may only fight him to a draw. And what will you use to destroy the entire Zhong family?"

Hearing Xuan’s words, Zhang Xusheng’s smile remained unchanged. He just calmly said, "That only makes it more interesting, doesn’t it?"

‘Xuan’ slightly frowned, seemingly pondering something. After a moment, he slowly asked, "’Huang’, why do you continuously nurture your enemies and treat organizations far stronger than you as opponents, constantly leading the entire cultivation world into chaos? What is your true purpose?"

It was evident that Zhang Xusheng’s relationship with ‘Xuan’ differed from that with others. Only when with ‘Xuan’ did the dangerous and captivating aura around Zhang Xusheng slightly subside, and there seemed to be a sense of friendship between the two.

Upon hearing Xuan’s question, Zhang Xusheng’s eyes slightly focused. Shaking his head, he smiled and said, "Before you, Nalan asked me the same question, which made me think about it for the first time. But no matter how much I thought, I couldn’t understand. Maybe I’m just a madman."

Pausing for a moment, Zhang Xusheng’s smile faded, his tone growing more certain as he slowly said, "A madman’s actions are always inscrutable, even to himself, isn’t that so?"

Looking at Zhang Xusheng’s clear eyes, there was no trace of madness. Who in the entire cultivation world would see Zhang Xusheng as a madman?

Perhaps Zhang Xusheng is indeed a madman, but he is a rational and powerful madman, and history has shown that such madmen are more terrifying, causing even greater destruction.

Zhang Xusheng seemed uninterested in discussing his problems further. After speaking, he looked at the unconscious "Zhang Yi" on the ground beside him and asked "Xuan," "Have you found the whereabouts of the ‘World Defying Sword’?"

"Xuan" shook his head and said, "This girl is very stubborn, no matter how we ask, she just won’t say."

Zhang Xusheng nodded and with a wave of his hand, "Zhang Yi" groaned and slowly regained consciousness. During this time, she had been roaming across the entire Shenzhou Continent, searching for Xu Qingfan’s trace to seize back the "World Defying Sword" that could kill Zhang Xusheng, but to no avail. Xu Qingfan’s whereabouts remained elusive, and every time she heard a clue about Xu Qingfan, by the time she arrived, the trail was already cold. Thus, "Zhang Yi" had wandered the entire Shenzhou Continent for nearly four years, with fatigue and weariness clearly etched on her face.

On this particular day, "Zhang Yi" was once again seeking information about Xu Qingfan, as it seemed that someone resembling him had appeared in a recent market. However, before she could reach the market, everything went dark before her eyes, and she knew nothing more.

To be honest, "Zhang Yi’s" face was not the standard beauty shape like an oval or heart-shaped face; instead, it was slightly wider. Her nose was straight and sturdy, carrying a hint of masculinity. Her hair barely reached her ears. Based solely on these features, "Zhang Yi" might appear to be just a tomboy with a strong personality.

But in truth, while "Zhang Yi" wasn’t perfect, she still left a stunning impression on others, and the reason for this lay in her eyes and lips.

"Zhang Yi’s" eyes were a rare shape, large and long, bright and sharp, with slightly upturned corners. Though her expression was often serious, her eyes sparkled like a shimmering spring stream under the willow branches, carrying a hint of allure. As cliché as it may sound, they were not just eyes but pools of spring water. Even in the coldest of places, they gave one the impression of being surrounded by the warmth of spring.

And though "Zhang Yi’s" lips were not small and delicate, they curved naturally into a slight smile. Her face, though marked by fatigue and hardship, still bore lips that were rosy and captivating, reflecting a mesmerizing glow in the night.

All these elements combined gave "Zhang Yi" a unique, enchanting charm.

Perhaps because she was usually a decisive and strong-willed person, or because of her identity within the ‘Ming’ organization, everyone who interacted with "Zhang Yi" intentionally or unintentionally overlooked the fact that she was a beautiful woman.

But Zhang Xusheng was clearly an exception. When "Zhang Yi" groaned softly and slowly opened her eyes, Zhang Xusheng’s face showed obvious admiration, as if he was appreciating a perfect piece of art. After a moment, he turned to "Xuan" and said, "I hadn’t noticed before that there was such an outstanding person under that leader’s command."

"Xuan" frowned slightly but said nothing, knowing that Zhang Xusheng had an almost obsessive fondness for destroying beautiful things, such as hope or perfection.

Meanwhile, "Zhang Yi" finally became fully aware, but the first sight she beheld was of her enemy Zhang Xusheng. Her eyes filled with fury and killing intent, and her body struggled as if trying to attack Zhang Xusheng. However, whatever constraint "Xuan" placed on her left her unable to move, even unable to use her Divine Sense.

Zhang Xusheng saw the hatred in "Zhang Yi’s" eyes but merely smiled slightly and softly asked, "The whereabouts of the ‘World Defying Sword’—I suppose you won’t tell me, will you?"

"Zhang Yi’s" eyes were still full of hatred, glaring fiercely at Zhang Xusheng as if trying to turn her stare into swords to cut him into pieces.

Zhang Xusheng nodded slightly and said slowly, "Understood."

As he spoke, Zhang Xusheng still wore a smile, but suddenly, without warning, he struck "Zhang Yi" on the head with a palm radiating green light, using the "Art of Searching Souls." This was a technique to forcibly search a cultivator’s Divine Sense and memories. Under this technique, the past, experiences, and thoughts of the person being searched were laid bare to the practitioner.

However, even for a cultivator, after being subjected to the "Art of Searching Souls," the Divine Sense suffers immense damage; in severe cases, it collapses leading to death, and in milder cases, one loses their intelligence, becoming dazed and confused like an idiot.

A moment later, Zhang Xusheng slowly withdrew his hand from Zhang Yi’s head, and as he did, Zhang Yi collapsed limply to the ground, uncertain whether he was alive or dead.

"Any results?" Xuan asked, showing no concern for Zhang Yi’s fate.

"Xu Fan, isn’t he the one who killed Little Thirteen of the Zhong family? This guy really knows how to cause trouble, and he took the ‘World Defying Sword’ with him." Zhang Xusheng still wore a faint smile, seemingly very interested in Xu Fan.

Just then, Zhang Yi, who had collapsed on the ground, suddenly trembled and slowly opened his eyes again.

Contrary to Zhang Xusheng’s expectations, Zhang Yi’s eyes didn’t lose their clarity and intelligence; they remained sharp and awake.

Zhang Xusheng couldn’t help but utter a small sound of surprise and carefully examined Zhang Yi for a moment before realizing the reason. Zhang Yi had practiced the "Art of Annihilation," which made his Divine Sense stronger than that of other cultivators. Moreover, Zhang Xusheng had not used his full strength earlier, so his "Art of Searching Souls" had not caused Zhang Yi to collapse.

After understanding this, Zhang Xusheng cheerfully asked Zhang Yi, who still looked at him with eyes full of hatred.

"Do you still want to seek revenge on me?"