Ch46 - Smackdown

This time Qiu Chongyun laughed out loud and covered her mouth with her handkerchief, revealing nothing but her eyes and arched lashes.

“Daoist is so amusing. The Demonic Sect slaughtering its way here? You really overestimate us.”

“This poor daoist isn’t overestimating, it’s Miss who’s too modest,” Xie Zhiwei pointed in the direction of Ascension City outside the window. “Otherwise, what would that be?”

The formerly clear skies had suddenly amassed a thin layer of cloud cover over Ascension City, which was swirling and rapidly thickening. The center was especially black and pointed like an arrow towards One Step Cliff.

Qiu Chongyun’s fingers tightened on her handkerchief before she rose from the couch with another chuckle. “What, is this daoist going to blame bad weather on the Demonic Sect too?”

At last, Xie Zhiwei lost his temper. “Is this maiden too young and experienced, or is this poor daoist too old? Back then, your Demonic Sect besieged the righteous sects and released the exact same signal in the air…I expect the forces ambushed at the mountain base have already responded to Demon Lord Chi Yan’s summons to rush to Ascension City.”

Every word he spoke lightened the smile on Qiu Chongyun’s face until she was biting her lower lip by the end. Seeing this, Xie Zhiwei’s heart fell. He unsheathed Qingping Sword and prepared to leave.

“Wait!” Qiu Chongyun cried. “You can’t go back! You should know how dangerous it is right now and why my Demonic Sect came.”

Xie Zhiwei had already reached the door when he stopped. “This poor daoist only knows that I’ll have to disappoint this maiden’s kindness today.”

Since guessing her intentions, Xie Zhiwei could only curse Gallant Outlaw in his heart over a hundred times. Why the hell is the writing in this stallion novel so logical!!!

In the original novel, Qiu Chongyun had been secretly searching for Black Lotus during the Buddhist-Daoist Conference. It wasn’t until Xie Zhiwei died that the Demonic Sect came kicking down their doors for a smackdown. But thanks to various reasons, Qiu Chongyun had discovered the whereabouts of Black Lotus ahead of time. Although nothing came of it, Demon Lord Chi Yan did get news of the upcoming conference right after emerging from closed door cultivation and was now seizing the chance to break in.

And that was why Qiu Chongyun had gotten close to him.

Xie Zhiwei was the most capable fighter in the daoist sect and the person with the most unfathomable depths. The other side was more likely to win with him out of the picture. As to why the Demonic Sect was attacking ahead of schedule, much less know so many details about the daoist sect in the first place…

Xie Zhiwei sneered in his heart. Surnamed Bai, you freakin’ wait and see.

Here the logic flowed smoothly. Because his transmigration altered the original Xie Zhiwei’s fate and made him city lord of Summit City, he became a huge thorn in the side of Bai Yu and his father. Thus, the two secretly defected to the Demonic Sect so they could reap rewards from the latter’s slaughter. In the original novel, Demon Lord Chi Yan became the second most powerful figure in the novel after Xie Zhiwei’s death. He washed the righteous sects in blood and did whatever he wanted until he ran into the hero. But right now the protagonist was still a nobody without his wings. It was inconvenient for him to face off against a mighty foe like Chi Yan.

Therefore, Xie Zhiwei was the only one strong enough to take the role of hotshot today. He mentally pumped his fists and prepared to steal the show when he felt an oppressive resistance.

Someone had sealed the doors.

From behind him, Qiu Chongyun said, “Daoist cannot go back today. Nujia was ordered to stop you.”

Sure enough, it was all a set-up.

Xie Zhiwei looked ahead before waving his sleeves. Immediately, the two doors opened up.

“You…” Qiu Chongyun looked at his back and felt a trace of fear. She had used all her strength to make this seal, but it was dissolved in an instant …Is this the strength of Bixu zhenren?

I’m afraid it’s probably far more than that. Qiu Chongyun’s figure flickered before she was blocking the door with arms open, her eyes like death.

Xie Zhiwei only found it funny. When you look at me like that, people might assume I want to do this or that to you, girl…

Qiu Chongyun was fully justified. “There’s no harm in staying here a day, daoist. Why not enjoy the joys of the mortal realm?”

“Indeed, there’s no harm to this poor daoist, but it will hurt the daoist sect.” As Xie Zhiwei spoke, he suddenly raised his hand and weaved an incantation.

Qiu Chongyun’s face blanched. “You…!”

“Since this maiden enjoys standing, then stay for awhile. With this spell in place, you won’t feel very tired.”

“Hey, release me…you really can’t go! You still have—”

Xie Zhiwei sealed her lips as well, leaving silence in her wake. Unable to open her mouth, Qiu Chongyun could only make whimpering noises as her eyes widened in panic.

“I’m sorry, the spell will lift in two hours.” So speaking, Xie Zhiwei turned to head for the window.

Jumping out the window can be cool too. Why didn’t I think of that from the start?

He leaped and landed in the courtyard, but saw nobody next to the well. His senses probed for the willow branch bracelet on Mu He’s wrist and used Qingping Sword to fly directly towards the restroom. Mu He had just finished cleaning his hands when he felt Xie Zhiwei nearby. Realizing that something must have happened for shizun to find him directly, he quickly fastened his belt and rushed out, nearly colliding into his master in the process. His face was still red, but he didn’t forget to make up a casual excuse. “Just then disciple had a stomachache, so—”

“Get on,” Xie Zhiwei’s face was grave. He didn’t wait for an explanation, but pulled Mu He onto Qingping Sword and soared off.

Xie Zhiwei flew so quickly that the air currents ripped past their ears like knives. Mu He felt his face sting as the thin layer of sweat from his earlier actions all but evaporated in the wind. He had never seen Xie Zhiwei so serious and knew something major must have happened at the daoist sect. Currently, half of the cultivation world was gathered at Ascension City, including his own recently-acknowledged father. The dark clouds above the mountains alarmed him.

“Shizun, what’s happened to Ascension City?”

Xie Zhiwei rested a hand on his shoulder with a pat. “Don’t panic, it’s still fine.”

Mu He grew nervous because Xie Zhiwei’s tone was anything but relaxed. Since Xie Zhiwei had abandoned Qiu Chongyun mid-way, it was likely the changes in Ascension City were related to the Demonic Sect. As for their intentions…

Mu He’s eyes narrowed. His future path was long and both Black and White Lotus were important to him. No matter what, he wouldn’t let anyone take them away.

At this moment, Xie Zhiwei’s calm words rang in his ears. “Do you trust your Master?”

“Of course I trust shizun,” Mu He said without a thought. Then he grew puzzled. Why did shizun suddenly ask me this?

—

Soon enough, Ascension City was before them. At a glance, Xie Zhiwei could see it covered in the black figures of the Demonic Sect. They had to be at least forty to fifty thousand strong. Half of the tallest One Step Cliff was covered with their forces while the daoist sect and other conference participants were crowded on the opposite side. Some were sitting cross-legged while others had simply collapsed to the ground. Yan Zhifei forced himself upright, but stumbled and had to be supported by Chu Zhishi before he fell. He was saying something as if he’d rather die than give in. It looked pretty tragic and more or less matched the scene in the original book.

Xie Zhiwei remembered the novel had the Demonic Sect invading later on, soon after the original Xie Zhiwei’s death. By then Bai Jianzhu’s ambitions were out of control and he had poisoned Yan Zhifei while Xia Zhiqi was killed off earlier. There was no way for a single Chu Zhishi to hold off the invading hordes at Ascension City.

The current Xie Zhiwei was not only alive but showed signs of rising even further. Naturally, the Bai duo couldn’t afford to act rashly, which meant that Yan Zhifei and Xia Zhiqi had been spared for now. But why couldn’t they raise their heads against the Demonic Sects even with the help of other righteous sects members?

Thank goodness I came back in time. Otherwise, Ascension City would have succumbed to its original fate.

Xie Zhiwei quickly opened up the System and saw his four Presence Point stars gleaming steadily. This gave him enough room to bypass many behavioral restrictions. With no time to waste words, he simply left a message for Gallant Outlaw: Demonic Sect’s here to wreck shit, so I’m stepping up. Rest is up to you.

Then he shut off the System and brought Mu He to a corner of One Step Cliff.

Currently, Yan Zhifei was indignantly pointing a finger at the enemy side. “Although I don’t know what insidious means your Demonic Sect used to seal our spiritual power, Yujing Sect forbids such presumption even if we die.”

A low male voice echoed from all sides. “This Seat simply wants to find something. You’re all so petty.”

The owner of the voice had yet to reveal himself. Instead, a cluster of flames flew out of the Demonic Sect’s ranks straight at Yan Zhifei’s face.

“Sect Leader Senior Brother, watch out!” Chu Zhishi cried. But he had no spiritual energy and could only worry in vain. Seeing this, Xie Zhiwei snapped his fingers towards the flames. Then he grabbed the back of Mu He’s collar and rose in the air, Qingping Sword in his other hand. The two of them landed steadily in the center of One Step Cliff.

Chu Zhishi burst into exclamations as soon as he saw him. “Second senior brother!” He patted his chest and exhaled in relief. “If you came any later, you’d be burning paper money for our graves this day next year.”

Xie Zhiwei nodded slightly and blamed himself. “I’m sorry.”

Those who recognized Xie Zhiwei in the crowd also revealed expressions of joy, while the juniors who didn’t know him felt much better knowing a high-level master had appeared. In the end, all eyes from the righteous sects were fixated on Xie Zhiwei’s figure. He didn’t have time to greet them, but simply faced the Demonic Sect and said, “Since Demon Lord Chi Yan is here, why not show yourself?”

“Xie Zhiwei.” The voice slowly said the three words with concealed killing intent.

Xie Zhiwei’s gaze flickered before he soon found a figure that flashed from the crowds of the Demonic Sect.

It had to be said that the Demonic Sect had really ugly clothes. It was common sense to wear no more than three different colors at the same time, but the Demonic Sect thought that more colors were better and plastered themselves in all sorts of hues. Despite this, Demon Lord Chi Yan’s clothes were still enough to outshine them all.

He was wearing a shiny metal mask covered in a rainbow of colors, to say nothing of his cloak that glimmered with points of light. If anything, he looked like a mutant ladybug. The original novel had already described the Demonic Sect’s incredible fashion sense, but it was still something else to see it in person. Xie Zhiwei almost went blind.

He’s pretty imposing off screen, but now I’m having trouble staying serious.

Xie Zhiwei had no choice but to remain stern, however, because Demon Lord Chi Yan’s eyes were glaring fixedly at him from behind the mask. The original novel had mentioned that the previous sect leader led a siege that seriously injured Demon Lord Chi Yan, which was why he’d been forced into closed door cultivation. At that time, Xie Zhiwei was the former sect leader’s disciple and likely fought with all his strength. Demon Lord Chi Yan must have suffered lots of losses at his hands.

Meeting him now, Chi Yan probably wanted to kill him in any way he could.

—

Translator’s Note: Woot, who would’ve expected that plot twist? (>u<) Our Xie Zhiwei is super strong, ah~ Anyways, since we’re quickly approaching the end of our first story arc, please enjoy double chapter releases today and tomorrow!

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