"Worthless dog…"
"Dog…"
"Oh~"
The mocking words echoed incessantly in Kui Leihan's mind, leaving a far deeper mark than the physical blow delivered by the Divine Puppet. For decades, ever since his emergence into the world, few had dared to challenge him. His reputation, while not built on a myriad of battles, was untainted—he had never been defeated.
The term "worthless dog" could apply to many—Dao Qiongcang, that wolf in sheep's clothing, or Gou Wuyue, not even worthy of mention by name. But for Kui Leihan, such an insult felt like wearing ill-fitting armor—it chafed and gnawed at his pride.
Who in the Five Regions, in all the years he had been secluded, would dare curse him so? Not even Bei Huai or You Yuan had shown such audacity.
Yet today, this insignificant puppet dared to utter those words?
Kui Leihan's eyes narrowed as he reached down, gripping the Divine Puppet's array wheel head with a twist and a pull. With a powerful tug, he tore the Puppet's lower body apart.
"Bang!"
The slender figure of the Divine Puppet crumpled under his hands, its ancient mechanisms creaking as they gave way. With a single squeeze of his hand, Kui Leihan crushed everything—the tendrils, the severed arm, the ancient weapons embedded within the Puppet's body.
"Crack, crack, crack."
In moments, the entire Divine Puppet had been reduced to a twisted, crushed disk of iron in Kui Leihan's grip. His strength was incomprehensible—an embodiment of ancient, unstoppable might.
Jin Ren's spiritual senses, trapped in the array wheel head, were horrified. He had known that Kui Leihan's physical body was formidable, but witnessing it firsthand was terrifying. Even Elder Sang, who was frail but capable of unlocking devastating techniques, seemed weak in comparison to Kui Leihan's brute power and mastery over the God Punishment Tribulation.
Kui Leihan's hand flexed, and with one final crushing blow, the iron disk crumbled into fragments, scattering like dust in the wind.
"You should consider yourself lucky," Kui Leihan's voice was cold, his tone devoid of rage. "I have four no-kills—elderly, weak, women, and children."
"And among them, you occupy two."
The insinuation was clear. He was calling Jin Ren weak and pitiful, hardly worthy of being an opponent.
Jin Ren's remaining spiritual senses trembled, but despite the suffocating presence of Kui Leihan, he couldn't hold his tongue. Mockery escaped his lips:
"So, you're a reincarnation of Buddha? A saint in this mortal world?"
He sneered, the bitter sarcasm dripping from his words. "You're so benevolent—why haven't you achieved sainthood yet? Is it because you don't want to?"
Kui Leihan's eyes flashed dangerously, purple lightning flickering within his pupils. Suddenly, the skies over Changde Town erupted with a deafening boom. Dark clouds gathered, stretching for miles, blotting out the sun. Lightning crackled ominously across the heavens as if responding to Kui Leihan's mounting fury.
Heavenly punishment? Jin Ren thought, a mocking smile on his lips.
"Come on, kill me," Jin Ren goaded, his voice tinged with both madness and defiance. "If you can find my true body, this Tower Master will even gift you a demi-saint to assist in your sanctification. How about that?"
Kui Leihan stood tall, his cloak billowing in the wind as his massive figure rose. The power radiating from him rippled through the air, causing the very streets to tremble. He gazed down at the array wheel head in his hand, tightening his grip.
"Boom, boom, boom."
Power exploded outward from Kui Leihan's fist, crushing the very space around him. Buildings nearby crumbled into dust, but not a single person—those who had collapsed on beds or stairs—was harmed. His control over his strength was terrifyingly precise.
Jin Ren's voice rose again, laced with derision. "Ah, impressive, truly a saint!"
"In comparison, I am the villain. I have four must-kills—the elderly, the geniuses, the arrogant women, the remnants of my enemies."
"I am filthy, and you are holy," Jin Ren continued, his laughter filled with madness. "The robe of justice flutters behind you, so why not strike me down? What are you waiting for, Kui Leihan?"
His mocking voice echoed louder than thunder, even though it didn't travel beyond the confines of their standoff. It rang incessantly in Kui Leihan's mind, a taunting refrain that tested his patience.
Kui Leihan's fingers trembled slightly. The array wheel head, still in his grasp, creaked under the pressure. Sparks of electricity danced across its surface, as if Jin Ren's spiritual presence could barely hang on.
"Kill… me…" Jin Ren whispered again, even in the face of his own destruction, utterly fearless.
Aunt Xiang, who had fallen earlier, was now awake, trembling beneath the thunderous roars that filled the skies. Her eyelashes fluttered in fear, but she was too terrified to open her eyes.
The madness of it all.
How had it come to this? How had Jin Ren, Xu Xiaoshou, and Kui Leihan all ended up in such a chaotic confrontation?
Kui Leihan's cold gaze fixed upon the array wheel head. His voice, though low, carried an unmistakable weight.
"Those who insult me rise above these four."
"After I kill you, I will find your main body. Even if you are but a clone, I will track you down through your spiritual senses."
"And if I find you, will you still be so unafraid of death?"
The winds howled fiercely as Kui Leihan's voice hung in the air. Though he was poised to strike, his rage was tempered by a calm, deadly resolve.
"On account of Bazhun'an's token, I'll spare you," Kui Leihan said, his voice cold and final.
"Don't push your luck, kid."
"Hahaha…" Jin Ren erupted in laughter, undeterred, his arrogance fully on display as he taunted Kui Leihan. "Are you offering me a way out?"
"You grovel before Dao Qiongcang and yet fear Bazhun'an, swaying like grass in the wind, bowing to both sides. Why persist in this nauseating pretense of hypocrisy?"
But Jin Ren wasn't finished. He continued his tirade with unrelenting venom:
"For thirty years, you've secluded yourself, wrapping yourself in your so-called hermit-like dignity. But are you truly bound by these walls, or are you just too afraid to venture out?"
"Do you think of yourself as a crouching dragon destined to soar? You're deluding yourself!"
"You had your chance today, but you dare not seize it. I came to invite you personally, yet you tremble in fear."
"You even fear Dao Qiongcang… Bazhun'an must be blind if he sent me to find you!"
Nearby, Aunt Xiang lay paralyzed, overwhelmed by Jin Ren's audacity. She tried to block out the chaos, playing dead as best she could, her nerves on edge. Jin Ren's words felt like they transcended mere insults; they were a relentless assault on Kui Leihan's pride.
Kui Leihan was a figure known for his lack of patience, especially among lightning-type Spiritual Cultivators, who were often either impetuous or explosive. The weight of Jin Ren's words cut deep, each insult landing like a dagger.
"As expected…" Kui Leihan's patience snapped.
"Insolence!!!"
The moment his rage was unleashed, the earth beneath Changde Town cracked violently. Torrents of lightning burst from the fissures, spreading destruction throughout the town. The nine weapon prohibition orders around Kui Leihan's neck swayed dangerously, on the verge of shattering.
"Boom!"
The sky was consumed by a monstrous cloud of calamity, dark and foreboding. It seemed as if Kui Leihan was on the cusp of facing a saintly tribulation—his thirty-year meditation threatened to unravel.
"Get lost!!!"
Before the calamity cloud could fully form, the God Punishment Tribulation, a torrent of blue-purple lightning, surged from Kui Leihan's body, racing skyward.
"Sizzle…"
"Bang!"
The thunderous light that filled the sky was overwhelming. Then, as if in response to Kui Leihan's fury, the calamity cloud collapsed, disintegrating into countless fragments of spiritual energy, dissipating into the void.
Had Kui Leihan shattered the saint calamity with nothing more than a glance?
Jin Ren, hidden within the Ran Ming ruins, drew a sharp breath, overwhelmed by the display of power. His spiritual senses, housed within the array wheel, remained stubbornly defiant, refusing to show weakness.
The thunderstorm raged on, purple lightning crackling across the sky, while Kui Leihan's gaze remained lethal and focused on the array wheel head.
The oppressive force of Kui Leihan's gaze was unparalleled, even surpassing the behemoths Jin Ren had faced in the Swallow the Mountains and Rivers realm. It was a contemptuous and domineering presence that dwarfed everything else.
One breath!
Three breaths!
Ten breaths!
"Hahahaha…"
After ten breaths of unrelenting tension, Kui Leihan's anger seemed to dissipate. He looked up at the sky, and the thunderstorm began to abate, the energy streams flowing back into his body. The formidable aura he had exuded vanished.
Instead of the expected killing blow, Kui Leihan sat cross-legged, resuming his previous meditative posture as if the tumult had never occurred.
His anger, it seemed, was merely a facade. His murderous intent had vanished.
"No!" Jin Ren thought, certainty gripping him. He knew that Kui Leihan's anger had been real, perhaps even driving him to the edge. Kui Leihan's desire to kill seemed more intense than his fear of Dao Qiongcang.
"Oh? You've backed down again like a coward?" Jin Ren taunted, seizing the opportunity to push Kui Leihan further.
Kui Leihan's towering form shook with barely contained fury. His attempt at a relaxed smile turned awkward and forced.
"You've got guts, kid. I'll give you that!" Kui Leihan's voice was strained, his eyes blazing with anger. "But who do you think you are to judge me?"
He managed a strained grin, his eyes almost bursting with rage. "Bazhun'an shouldn't have sent you here. Changde Town is in great danger. You shouldn't have come, let alone brought this yourself."
Aunt Xiang, unable to maintain her pretense, got up from the ground abruptly. She looked around, her expression one of confusion and recognition as she faced Kui Leihan.
"You…" she stammered, unsure of how to respond.
"Elder Dao is watching. Treating you with kindness means risking my son's safety," Kui Leihan's gaze was intense as he regarded Aunt Xiang.
Despite the calmness in Kui Leihan's voice, a chill ran through Jin Ren. The sudden shift in demeanor left him perplexed. What was this change?
"Why are you speaking normally now?" Jin Ren demanded, his voice laced with sarcasm. "And what danger is Changde Town facing?"
Kui Leihan's gaze remained fixed on the array wheel, his expression troubled. "I don't know," he admitted, his voice strained. "I'm not sure why you've been sent or what danger lies ahead. It's been a while since you hurled Elder Dao away, and only now do you start speaking."
Jin Ren pressed further, pushing the boundaries of Kui Leihan's patience. "And what was your intention in trying to kill me earlier?"
"Earlier, I…" Kui Leihan began, but his voice faltered, struggling to find the right words.
He had been living under the shadow of Qingyuan Mountain, aware of the fame surrounding "Saint Servant Lord Shou." Xu Xiaoshou, a figure of extraordinary reputation in the realm of spiritual cultivation, had become a legend almost overshadowing Kui Leihan himself. The appearance of this peerless genius was an opportunity for Kui Leihan to test the authenticity of the "Lord Shou" title.
To his surprise, the unrelenting provocations from Jin Ren had nearly caused him to lose his composure and reveal his true feelings. The encounter had been like a casual greeting followed by a vicious stab to the heart—unexpected and deeply wounding.
"You don't need to speak!" Kui Leihan finally interrupted, regaining his composure. He turned to Aunt Xiang. "Regardless of what you say, I will not leave this town. Unless absolutely necessary, I will remain here."
"If you need help, head towards Qingyuan Mountain. Don't ask me why or what to do there… I can't say more."
Jin Ren, baffled and increasingly uncomfortable, could not make sense of Kui Leihan's erratic behavior. "Why can't you say more?"
"Shut up," Kui Leihan snapped, unable to mask his irritation. "I'm not afraid of death. If you want to kill or torture me, go ahead. It's just a spiritual sense…"
"Shut up!" Kui Leihan's tone grew even heavier, his patience exhausted. He shoved the array wheel into Aunt Xiang's arms. "Make him shut up!"
Aunt Xiang, struggling to contain her amusement, took the array wheel, but her professional demeanor prevented her from laughing. She pointed to the weapon prohibition order hanging around her neck. "Help me take this off."
Kui Leihan, appearing increasingly agitated, shook his head. "No."
"Why not?" Aunt Xiang asked, though the array wheel's head began emitting a faint light, accompanied by its voice.
"You shut up!" Kui Leihan glared at the array wheel. His frustration was palpable.
Aunt Xiang remained silent, observing the situation with growing insight.
Jin Ren, analyzing Kui Leihan's peculiar behavior, speculated about the root of his anxiety. "It seems I truly struck a nerve," he mused. "His current predicament… is he really just trying to maintain a balance?"
Jin Ren's reflections revealed a truth about Kui Leihan's actions—he had indeed chosen to preserve a certain balance by not fully aligning with any side. He had only crushed the body of Jin Ren's Divine Puppet, refusing to kill anyone, which suggested a deliberate attempt to avoid making a definitive enemy.
Aunt Xiang, equally puzzled, showed no inclination to break the silence. Jin Ren's next question broke the quiet. "What are you afraid of?"
"Afraid?" Kui Leihan's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "Am I afraid?"
"Drop the act, Cao Yihan. If this isn't fear, what is it?" Jin Ren's sneer was sharp. "You're extremely afraid!"
Aunt Xiang's heart raced as she listened. She knew better than to voice her thoughts about Kui Leihan's fear, having witnessed his terrifying rage before.
Kui Leihan's expression became a complicated mix of resignation and nostalgia. The once indomitable figure now seemed overwhelmed by a deep-seated fear, a fear that went beyond his personal strength. He looked at the destruction around Changde Town, the fallen and unconscious people, and the sky above, his thoughts a turbulent sea of regret and longing for his former self.
Just as Kui Leihan was about to speak, his gaze was caught by a figure appearing in the distant sky.
"Have you settled it?" Dao Qiongcang grinned, his teeth shining brightly in the sunlight.
Kui Leihan's expression softened. All his pent-up emotions were swallowed back. He chuckled quietly, the anger dissipating.
Afraid… Yes, he was. Times had changed. He was no longer just Kui Leihan or Cao Yihan. He was a father, dealing with the complexities of family and personal dilemmas.
With renewed anger, Kui Leihan's lips twisted into a fierce scowl. He turned to the array wheel and Aunt Xiang, his voice booming with rage:
"How dare you insult me, you bastard?!"
With a thunderous roar, Kui Leihan's eyes blazed with lightning. The space around them exploded, and Jin Ren, Aunt Xiang, Ah Yao, and Zhu Yike were swept away by the tempest of thunder and lightning.
"Get out of here!!!" Kui Leihan's voice rang out once more, commanding and authoritative.
Changde Town was engulfed in a sea of thunder. The white-clothed people, wandering spirits, and even Elder Dao, who had just appeared in the sky, were blasted away.
"Everyone, leave!"
"Leave immediately!"
"If you want to fight, go elsewhere!"
"If you want to play, go elsewhere!"
"Changde Town must remain peaceful and undisturbed. Chaos shall not be tolerated!"