Chapter 631 - 374: Raiding a Home by Imperial Decree
"You are... Jiang Zhenchuan?"
"What’s going on? Jiang Zhenchuan, could there be some misunderstanding?" Xia Jingrui was utterly bewildered by Jiang Wanzhao’s sudden appearance, especially given her accusatory demeanor.
In response, Jiang Wanzhao sneered. "Alright, cut the act. You know what you’ve done better than I do."
"I’ll give you two choices. First, surrender without a fight and come to the Pinnacle Celestial Immortal Sect for judgment. You might have a chance to live, repenting in the Demon Suppression Tower."
"Second, try to resist and be executed by me on the spot... Choose!"
Hearing this, Xia Jingrui still wore a baffled expression, but certain uncontrollable micro-expressions had already betrayed her.
It couldn’t be helped. Even a Golden Core Realm expert couldn’t possibly remain composed after realizing they’d been exposed and were about to perish.
Besides, arguing was useless. After all, if Xia Jingrui were innocent, she could simply agree to be judged at the Pinnacle Celestial Immortal Sect.
Under the Celestial Dao Cauldron’s comprehensive scrutiny, there was absolutely no possibility of her being wrongly accused.
But if she was unwilling to face judgment, it would be a confession in itself.
Moreover, Jiang Wanzhao had clearly come prepared. Xia Jingrui couldn’t even stall for time.
"I’ll count to three. If you don’t choose by then, I’ll choose for you..."
"One!"
Jiang Wanzhao was growing very impatient.
Before she could count to two, Xia Jingrui’s bewildered expression finally vanished, replaced by one of resignation.
"I choose the second option!"
Jiang Wanzhao raised an eyebrow. "So, you choose to be executed right here and now?"
At her words, Xia Jingrui’s eyes sharpened, and a peerlessly frenzied Qi Force erupted from her body. "That depends on whether you have the skill to do it!"
With that, Xia Jingrui roared, "My children, fight these bastards from the Pinnacle Celestial Immortal Sect! Fight your way out!"
Realizing she was exposed, Xia Jingrui could only try to resist, hoping more of her wolf cubs could break through the encirclement.
’As long as I can hold off or even defeat Jiang Wanzhao, the cubs might just have a chance to escape...’
"Isn’t it good to be alive? You had to court death by colluding with Tribulation Cultivators. You’ve not only doomed yourself, but your entire clan as well..." Jiang Wanzhao sighed, and a bell-like Magical Treasure appeared in her hand.
With a slight shake, the Bell chimed melodiously. It didn’t create a grand spectacle, but it caused Xia Jingrui to start swaying uncontrollably in the air...
The reason True Disciples of the Pinnacle Celestial Immortal Sect could often dominate self-taught Golden Core Realm Cultivators wasn’t just because they had survived a brutal, competitive environment.
It was also because of the sheer abundance of powerful resources available within the Pinnacle Celestial Immortal Sect.
Many Magical Treasures that self-taught Golden Core Realm Cultivators obtained with great difficulty or painstakingly refined would likely be considered low-grade junk that no one in the Pinnacle Celestial Immortal Sect would even glance at.
In contrast, a Magical Treasure casually produced by a True Disciple of the Pinnacle Celestial Immortal Sect could leave a self-taught Golden Core Realm Cultivator speechless with despair...
Fortunately, Xia Jingrui was no pushover of a Demon. She immediately used "Silver Wolf Howls at the Moon" to clear her head, then frantically swallowed several ominous-looking Elixirs, entering a frenzied state where she nearly lost all reason.
To survive, she went all out, recklessly overdrawing on her own power without a care for the consequences, unleashing her full combat strength...
Meanwhile, more than ten Wolf Demons were launching a suicidal charge toward Zou Feng.
The charge looked impressive, but only the two at the very front were at the Dao Foundation Realm; the rest were just there to pad the numbers.
Naturally, this posed no threat to Zou Feng.
Unfortunately, while it was said that most Wolf Demons were poisonous, the ones before him were not.
’If we’re talking about a real poison wolf...’
Zou Feng couldn’t help but look up at the sky, his gaze falling upon the figure locked in a frenzied battle with Jiang Wanzhao.
The moment Xia Jingrui had appeared, Zou Feng had sensed it: this Manor Master of Wind Singing Manor was a poison wolf of exceptionally high quality.
And just like the Resentful Soul Poison, the poison on Xia Jingrui was a type Zou Feng had never encountered before.
’Too bad the main course belongs to Jiang Wanzhao. It’s not my turn to get involved.’
’I’ll just have to see how the battle turns out. If Jiang Wanzhao doesn’t completely obliterate Xia Jingrui, then maybe I’ll have a chance to get a piece of the pie...’
A fierce wind howled as the Wolf Demons on their suicide charge were about to reach Zou Feng.
Only then did Zou Feng pull back from his thoughts and casually begin to perform the Flower Hand.
The phantom image of an incomparably holy Golden Lotus slowly materialized.
Upon seeing this "Golden Lotus," the charging Wolf Demons, who had been brimming with murderous, frenzied intent, all shuddered in unison and froze on the spot.
The violence in their hearts seemed to be purified by the Golden Lotus in an instant, rapidly dissipating into nothing.
Once their frenzied killing intent was gone and their composure returned, the only thing that flooded the Wolf Demons’ minds was the fear of death.
It couldn’t be helped. Having lost even the ferocity to fight their way out, all that awaited them was complete annihilation.
Zou Feng had dealt with more than ten Wolf Demons so casually in large part thanks to the Resentful Soul Poison he had refined earlier.
The Resentful Soul Poison had elevated the spiritual aspect of the toxicity of his Great Universal Hand and Five Poison Holy Lotus Skill to another level.
"Great Universal Hand (Unity of Heaven and Man), Progress: 26%"
"Five Poison Holy Lotus Skill (Unity of Heaven and Man), Progress: 65%"
After these two Cultivation Skills advanced to the Unity of Heaven and Man Realm, every single percentage point of progress brought an exaggerated increase in power.
In short, the Lotus that Zou Feng conjured now truly had a "purification"-like effect.
After "purifying" the dozen or so Wolf Demons before him, Zou Feng certainly didn’t hold back. In a few flashes, he struck them all dead.
Jiang Wanzhao hadn’t said to leave any survivors.
The Pinnacle Celestial Immortal Sect had always suppressed rebellions from vassal forces with thunderous might.
’This pack of Wolf Demons has probably lived a comfortable life for too long, forgetting the terror of being dominated by the Pinnacle Celestial Immortal Sect.’
’I really can’t figure it out. What were these guys after?’
’Judging by Xia Jingrui’s behavior, it doesn’t seem like she was mentally controlled by the Yama Underworld or the Ninefold Celestial Court.’
’They were truly just courting death...’
The most likely reason for such a suicidal choice was probably personal greed.
Most likely, Xia Jingrui had lost hope of advancing further in her cultivation and was thus enticed by the Tribulation Cultivators, wanting to find an alternative path to break through her bottleneck.
With his side handled so easily, and the two Golden Core Realm Cultivators still fighting fiercely in the sky, Zou Feng couldn’t just stand around idly.
After all, just because he had it easy didn’t mean his fellow disciples in other parts of the encirclement did.
’Especially since I need to go support Su Qingyu first, and see if there are any decent poison wolves over on her side...’
The rest of the encirclement operation proceeded without any surprises, exactly as predicted: an overwhelming crush that ended in a bloodbath at Wind Singing Manor.
As Jiang Wanzhao shattered Xia Jingrui’s skull with a single palm strike, the one-sided slaughter came to a close.
However, the Life Force of a Golden Core Realm Great Demon was truly tenacious. Despite her grievous injuries, including a shattered skull, she did not die immediately.
Held in Jiang Wanzhao’s grasp, Xia Jingrui still stared at her with eyes full of hatred. Along with extreme unwillingness, they were also filled with the helplessness of one who had finally been forced to accept reality.
Jiang Wanzhao had clearly left her alive on purpose for the moment.
"I’m really curious. What exactly did the Ninefold Celestial Court and the Yama Underworld offer you that made you willing to go from a wolf to a dog?" Jiang Wanzhao stared directly into Xia Jingrui’s eyes.
Xia Jingrui knew that no matter what she said, death was still inevitable. She held no hope and had no intention of wasting her breath.
"Trying to self-destruct your Golden Core?" Jiang Wanzhao had already anticipated this move. A peerlessly powerful torrent of Spiritual Qi instantly sealed all of Xia Jingrui’s acupoints.
Yet even though she couldn’t even self-destruct her Golden Core, Xia Jingrui still managed a venomous, vicious grin. "And how are you any different, being a dog for the Pinnacle Celestial Immortal Sect? Your end is near, Jiang! I’ll be waiting for you in the Underworld..."
Before her words could fade, a power that did not belong to Xia Jingrui suddenly surged out from her sea of consciousness, helping her detonate her Golden Core in an instant...