Chapter Forty-One: You Really Are a Good-for-Nothing

Chapter 41: You Really Are a Piece of Trash

On the bluestone steps, several figures were locked in a fierce battle. Mu Qingfeng and the Aunt of the Flower Realm were being relentlessly pushed back by Ghost Shadow and Ghost Sorrow, who wielded the Spears of Hell.

"What do we do!" A group of young women cried out in utter desperation, not knowing how to proceed.

The power of the Ghost Shadow Asura and the Spears of Hell had exceeded everyone's wildest imagination. Even with both Mu Qingfeng and the Aunt of the Flower Realm joining forces, they were no match. Below the steps, the crowd grew anxious. Initially, given the strength of Ghost Shadow and Ghost Sorrow, Mu Qingfeng and the old woman should have been able to handle them without much trouble. But against all expectations, the two villains had mastered a synchronized combat technique—the Ghost Shadow Asura and the Spears of Hell—which only the true Ghost Asura and Ghost Shadow could manifest. With this, the defeat of Mu Qingfeng and the old woman was sealed, and their lives were in grave danger.

"Ghost Shadow Asura, stop your insolence! This young master is here!"

From the depths of the void, a figure arrived in an instant. With a wave of his hand, a ripple of water surged forth, knocking the demonic flowers on the steps away. His palm transformed into a blade, cleaving through the barrier, and he plunged into the fray. He struck with his great blade, lashing out at Ghost Sorrow and Ghost Shadow with cold, ruthless, and seasoned precision, showing no mercy.

"Shui Shen?" Ghost Shadow, clutching his Spear of Hell, looked at the newcomer with suspicion. Rumor had it that the eldest son of the Shui family had been inconsolable since that day, becoming the laughingstock of the entire Southern Region and earning the title of a coward. Why would he suddenly appear here? This was the second question crossing Ghost Shadow's mind.

However, no one answered him. Instead, he was met with the man's violent, sweeping blade.

"A piece of trash like you wants to fight me? How laughable." Ghost Shadow thrust his spear forward to block the wild blade, then switched tactics, sweeping horizontally to blast his opponent back.

Ghost Sorrow and Ghost Shadow, wielding the Spears of Hell, had attained a state of perfect telepathic connection through the weapon's power. Ghost Sorrow seemed to know exactly what Ghost Shadow was thinking. After Ghost Shadow sent Shui Shen flying, Ghost Sorrow struck with his own weapon, forcing the old woman and Mu Qingfeng back. With a sudden movement, he unleashed a retaliatory spear strike.

Boom!

With a violent thud, the spear instantly pierced through Shui Shen's chest.

"That damned Duan Liuxiang was already dealt with; I didn't expect you to come and stir up trouble again. It seems you people really aren't any good," Ghost Sorrow said, his magical energy surging as he blasted Shui Shen off the bluestone steps. He looked down coldly and added, "When people called you trash, I didn't believe it. I never expected you to be such a complete and utter failure."

From the moment Shui Shen entered the fight until he was blasted away, only a few moves had passed. Lying on the ground, Shui Shen's eyes were filled with fury. What was he now? Once the next successor of his family, the center of all attention, he had been ruined by that damned Ghost Asura and his spear. His dantian had been pierced, his cultivation foundation destroyed, and from then on, his power had only regressed. The woman he loved most had been stolen away, only to fall in love with that wretch. He was cursed to this lowly fate, held in contempt by everyone.

How hateful! Since you all look down on me, I will make you despise me. I am already in this state; I don't care about a few more slurs to my name.

Lying on the ground, Shui Shen’s eyes were vacant; he had no lingering attachment to this world. Years ago, his family had already abandoned him and chosen another heir. Looking back, he felt nothing but regret and hatred. He regretted not having the resolve to forget the past and move on after Duan Liuxiang was taken. He hated that for the sake of love, he had been abandoned by his family, pierced by his enemy, and left with a lifetime of infamy.

Life holds no longing; death holds no reconciliation!

Liuxiang! If there is an afterlife, would you be willing to wander with me, far away from the chaos of this world?

Boom!

A thunderous explosion shook the entire Panlong Mountain. The bluestone steps vibrated, though they remained structurally sound. The mountain itself stood firm, treating the blast like a mere echo. Tragically, the cultivators standing on the ground were almost entirely wiped out by Shui Shen’s self-destruction.

*Cough, cough, cough!*

Hua Youyou climbed up from the ground, coughing. Her ears were ringing, and she could hear nothing, as if she had been struck by a massive force. Beside her, a young man lay unconscious, blood flowing from his mouth and ears. Hua Youyou glanced at the boy but said nothing. She stood up, swaying, looking for the others. She did not want any involvement with him; their previous bout had merely been to prepare for humiliating him, and she never expected such obstacles to arise. If he was willing to take that fatal blow for her, that was his own business, unrelated to her. Besides, given her status as Hua Youyou, his sacrifice was his own good fortune. She would not be grateful, nor would she have anything to do with him because of it. Even if he gave his life for her, she wouldn't care. In this life, she never needed flattery; she only sought the pinnacle of strength.

"Youyou, are you alright?" The survivors from the Flower Realm were few now. Qiu Yehong and the others had also pulled themselves up from the ground; she had used a precious sect talisman at the last moment to protect her disciples. After checking on her fellow brothers and sisters to ensure they were safe, her heart finally settled.

In the distance, several figures approached, their expressions tense. They were disciples from the three great families of Dongyang County: Ning Hongluan, Ning Kun, and the second young master, Ning Huangyan. They were searching the area as if looking for something. Elsewhere, Shangguan Yue was also leading her group in a carpet search. Most eye-catching of all was a small, chubby boy with a silly, innocent look on his face, who was also leading a group in an endless search. No one knew what they were looking for.

Until a voice cried out: "Second brother, I found him!"

The groups stopped searching and rushed toward Ning Hongluan. Hua Youyou’s expression shifted as she saw them standing exactly where she and the boy had been lying. In particular, Ning Hongluan was cradling the boy, whose face was covered in blood and whose ears were still bleeding, in her arms. This sight made Hua Youyou feel extremely uncomfortable. Her hands clenched, joints popping.

"Mo Fan!" Ning Hongluan kept calling out, trying to wake the boy, but there was no response.

Shangguan Yue gripped her curved blade tightly, her heart in turmoil. Her family had ordered that if she encountered Mo Fan, she was to kill him without question—it didn't matter if he was dead or alive, they only wanted his head. But she couldn't bring herself to do it. Since the incident at Undead Peak, she hadn't been able to bring herself to harm that exceptionally talented youth.

"Hmph!" The silly chubby boy snorted, his large fists clenched. Ignoring everyone else, he lunged forward, snatched the boy from Ning Hongluan’s arms, and delivered a fierce punch.

"Wang Baobao, you!" Ning Kun was enraged. His great sword flew from his back, slashing toward the fool, Wang Baobao.

"You're courting death!" Behind Wang Baobao, several figures moved instantly, attacking the three members of the Ning family simultaneously. The Shangguan family also intervened without hesitation. The death of Shangguan Wudi was a knot in their hearts that would never be untied. Shangguan Yue felt helpless; she felt a sense of mutual appreciation for Mo Fan, but she could not abandon her family or the vengeance for her kin. Thus, in agony, she drew her curved blade.

A massive battle unfolded in the forest. The Ning family fought against the combined might of two major clans, one man against a crowd.

"Wah!" A figure, whose small face was blackened by the explosion, spat out a mouthful of blood, which mingled with the blood Mo Fan had spilled on the ground. In an instant, the girl felt a leap in her heart, a sensation she had never experienced before.