Chapter 63 — The Underworld King

Unexpectedly, Xiao Zhou only frowned, retreated a zhang backward into the air, and with his right hand rapidly formed hand seals while his left gripped his right wrist, as though holding a weight of a thousand jun, as though tracing wild cursive script. His fingers actually gave off a shrill whistling sound as they cut through the air, and in an instant he had drawn a Tai Chi diagram in the air before him.

At the sight, Zhang Qingyue and Tian Lingsu had no further doubt: this Xiao Zhou was indeed a disciple of the Canglan Sect. That technique just now was, at a glance, the Tai Chi Mystic Pure Way of the Canglan Sect!

In a flash, the Seven Stars Sword turned upward, its radiance blazing, and came to rest at the very center of the Tai Chi diagram, vibrating with a sharp "zheng, zheng, zheng, zheng" that would not cease. A moment later, the Seven Stars Sword shot forth like lightning, and around its blade a Tai Chi wheel of light flashed and spun, majestic and unstoppable.

In but a moment, the two magic treasures collided in midair with a thunderous boom!

"Rumble—"

Where the mighty sound passed, the halos of light thrown off by the collision of the two treasures rushed outward. The whole stone cave rumbled without cease, and the rock walls above could not withstand the tremendous impact; stones large and small came tumbling down in profusion.

Zhang Qingyue and Tian Lingsu felt the shaking around them and could scarcely keep their footing. In their hearts they were all the more astonished and filled with admiration: this Xiao Zhou's cultivation in the Tai Chi Mystic Pure Way was likely a notch or two stronger than that of any young disciple of the Canglan Sect he had ever seen.

In the field, the white wall of blossoms around Bili dimmed and vanished. Her face was slightly pale—clearly she had come off the worse. Zhang Qingyue had spent some time in her company and knew her temper; he thought, This is bad—she will never let it go. Sure enough, a flash of anger crossed Bili's face, the Heartbreak Flowers were drawn back in a flash, but her hand went to her waist and closed around that clear, lovely little golden bell.

Xiao Zhou frowned and focused his guard. This woman before him was young, but her cultivation was already beyond his expectations. Just now he had struck with ninety percent of his power and had only managed to give her a small setback—yet from her manner, she seemed to have an even stronger treasure. And what he feared most was still the man silently standing in the shadows, truly unfathomable—that was the real threat to his heart.

Then came the clear sound of a bell—"ding-ding-dang-dang"—ringing out, utterly incongruous in this cave steeped in killing intent. Bili stood lightly in midair, her hands gently brushing the air, and a little golden bell floated slowly before her, ringing crisply.

From where Zhang Qingyue stood, he saw the beautiful woman in midair, her hands soft as though boneless, gently dancing. The golden bell began slowly to turn between her hands, giving off its clear notes from time to time.

"Ding-dang," "ding-dang," "ding-dang."

Xiao Zhou suddenly shuddered, startled to realize that he had already lost himself, nearly forgetting that he stood at the brink of life and death. Had his Dao-heart not been firm these many years, his spirit would already have been lost. This tiny bell actually seemed to have the power to hook and snare a person's soul.

In that moment of hesitation, his mind was struck by another dull blow. Greatly alarmed, he dared not listen any longer, and shouted aloud, "Die, demon!"

This great shout shook the four walls and forced the "ding-dang" sound down for a moment. The Seven Stars Sword, like lightning, like light, came crashing over!

Bili's face paled slightly; she seemed to be struggling somewhat. Yet seeing the Seven Stars Sword shoot toward her, she did not retreat in the least. With a flick of her jade-white fingers she plucked outward, and the Joyous Union Bell went to meet it. With a sound, it struck the Seven Stars Sword in midair.

Xiao Zhou's body shook. He felt that demonic sound pierce his ears and eat into his bones, arriving through the air along the Seven Stars Sword itself, and in moments his whole body was trembling.

Zhang Qingyue and Tian Lingsu were greatly alarmed and were just about to rush out to the rescue when they saw Xiao Zhou's face suddenly grow calm. He gave a great shout, the Seven Stars Sword's radiance blazed anew, and he counterattacked. Bili, by contrast, had gone deathly pale, her gaze somewhat vacant, as though she had suddenly lost her spirit and had no strength to resist. It looked as though she would die beneath the Seven Stars Sword.

Zhang Qingyue's heart lurched; for a moment his mind went blank. Heedless of everything, he leaped out and cried out involuntarily, "No—"

Before his voice had died away, a shadow swept across the midair, and a flash of purple aura and cold light gleamed and was gone.

With a sound, Xiao Zhou was struck back bodily and crashed to the ground, blood at once seeping from the corner of his mouth. The Seven Stars Sword flew back and, with a sound, was driven by main force deep into the hard rock wall.

Zhang Qingyue and Tian Lingsu turned pale with fright and leaped to Xiao Zhou's side. Tian Lingsu was about to summon the Amber Red Silk when Xiao Zhou, forcing down his agony, seized them both and gasped hoarsely, "No—Junior Brother Zhang, Junior Sister Tian, that man—that man's cultivation is too high, you are no match for him!"

Zhang Qingyue was stunned. Beside him, Tian Lingsu could not help asking, "How do you know our names?"

Xiao Zhou hesitated, then looked ahead. The two sensed something and turned their heads together to look at Bili.

There in midair, a middle-aged man with his back to Zhang Qingyue and the others was supporting Bili as they descended together. He said calmly, "Yao'er, this Joyous Union Bell is a divine artifact left behind by Lady Golden Bell. Your cultivation is insufficient—to use it recklessly is to invite its backlash. Do not use it lightly in the future!"

Bili's face was gradually returning to normal. She said in a low voice:

Zhang Qingyue and the other two were struck dumb all at once. Xiao Zhou seemed somewhat better now; staring at the man's back, he said in a low voice, "Could you be none other than the Nether King, one of the four great Cult Masters of the Demonic Cult today?"

The middle-aged man smiled faintly and turned around, and Zhang Qingyue and the others saw his face clearly. He had fine brows and a square face, with elegant, refined features, utterly unlike the fierce, rough Demonic Cult adherents from before. But Zhang Qingyue was all the more astonished, and said in amazement, "It's you?"

This King of Hell, who wore the look of a middle-aged scholar, was none other than Wan Rengui—the very man who had told him, that day at the tea stall at the foot of Kongsang Mountain, the secret of the dark iron staff.