Chapter Forty-One: The Titans

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The moment this surge of energy appeared and suppressed everyone present, Chen Jiu felt a foreboding dread. He had thought the true mastermind behind everything would be, at most, someone at the First Tier of Immortal, but never expected a powerhouse of the Second Tier to show up…

In this world, cultivation was an arduous path. To reach the First Tier of Immortal was already a stroke of immense fortune—living for centuries, witnessing the rise and fall of dynasties. But those who attained the Second Tier were pillars among cultivators, often leaders of great sects or reclusive masters of Daoist or Buddhist lineages.

At this moment, both Chen Jiu and An Huayuan understood clearly that events had taken a turn toward the unpredictable.

Within a few breaths, the night sky burst into a radiance of emerald light, and countless green leaves began to drift down from above.

“Hand over the bamboo slip, and I’ll let your bodies remain intact.”

Moments later, an elderly Daoist appeared, floating in midair. He wore a robe of vivid green, a golden coronet atop his head, and held a horsetail whisk in hand. The green leaves circled him joyously as if welcoming an old friend.

He hovered effortlessly, without relying on magical tools or incantations—an ability only those at the Second Tier of Immortal could wield, flying by their own power.

“Senior, I am An Huayuan, Left Envoy of the Office of Public Welfare,” An Huayuan declared, revealing his rank. Surely, no one would dare so brazenly threaten an Envoy of that office?

After all, the Office of Public Welfare was the foremost cultivation force under the imperial family of the Great Jin Dynasty. Its ranks were filled with elite talents from Daoist temples and Buddhist monasteries; their foundation was profound, and they bore the imperial family’s support. Within the cultivation world, it was a leader among giants.

But the old Daoist only sneered, his voice turning icy. “I am Withered Wood the Old Fiend. Do I need to consider a man’s station before I kill him?”

An Huayuan’s heart sank. Clearly, they had stumbled upon someone with nothing left to lose.

Chen Jiu was even more alarmed. He remembered, when he first arrived in this world, encountering a weasel spirit sent by this very Withered Wood. By chance, he had released the purple fox Withered Wood sought, and ended up killing the weasel spirit as well… Truly, enemies are fated to meet.

Now they were in dire straits.

An Huayuan snapped angrily, “If you lay a finger on us, do you think you’ll ever leave Jingyang County alive?”

Withered Wood flicked his whisk, summoning a howling wind around them. His words carried a sinister edge: “I have pursued this bamboo slip from Yunmeng Province to here… If that office of yours learns the truth behind it, you’ll understand what it means to be condemned for possessing a treasure.”

The chill in An Huayuan’s heart deepened.

The bamboo slip had been passed down through his family; when chaos engulfed Yunmeng Province, his father had brought it to this remote Jingyang County. Who would have thought that a slip simply inscribed with the words “Yunmeng” would attract such terrifying pursuers…

“Senior, I am willing to hand over the bamboo slip, but you must swear an oath not to harm even a single hair on us,” An Huayuan called out loudly.

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But Withered Wood leered. “An oath? That’s a crutch for the weak. Do I need to beg permission before I kill?”

A cold gleam flashed across his aged features, and his sharp gaze fixed upon Chen Jiu. “Hand it over.”

He flicked his whisk, and an overwhelming force crashed down upon Chen Jiu.

Chen Jiu panicked. The bamboo slip was on him, making him the immediate target. The pressure was so immense it felt as if his very bones would shatter. Desperate, he thought to hurl the slip away.

At that instant, a streak of golden sword-light flashed across the sky.

Swish!

The sword radiance flared and vanished in a heartbeat, severing the power bearing down on Chen Jiu and dissolving it like mist in sunlight.

Withered Wood’s eyes widened in shock. He stared into the void, instantly on guard.

Chen Jiu, feeling as if he had escaped death, was about to seize the chance to flee when he found himself rooted to the spot, unable to move.

He had been immobilized!

Then, from the night sky, a hearty laugh rang out. “Ha ha ha ha! Withered Wood, once you were a force to be reckoned with in Yunmeng Province, your reputation resounding far and wide. Now you bully a mere junior? How imposing you have become.”

Hearing the mocking tone, Withered Wood flicked his whisk and retorted coldly, “So it’s you, Yan Chixia. Truly, a maggot clinging to the bone.”

Yan Chixia?!

As soon as Chen Jiu heard the name, he stiffened as if struck by lightning.

Wasn’t this the character from “Nie Xiaoqian of Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio”? In the original, he was a swordsman—a scholar with high cultivation, fiercely righteous and upright, with a generous spirit.

Moments later, golden light shone from the northeast sky, and a figure approached, riding a sword.

His features were handsome and refined, dressed in a robe of moonlit white, a free-spirited scarf upon his brow, and standing atop a three-foot-long sword. He rode the wind, his sleeves billowing, embodying the very image of a sword immortal beneath the moon—ethereal and elegant.

So this was the legendary Yan Chixia? He hardly matched the rugged hero Chen Jiu had imagined, but this version was not without its own appeal.

Just then, a gentle voice echoed in Chen Jiu’s mind: “If you want to survive, do not act rashly.”

Yan Chixia was sending him a message directly to his thoughts!

Chen Jiu’s heart finally steadied.

Yan Chixia was a man of honor, righteous and valiant. His presence here surely had much to do with Withered Wood.

Withered Wood’s brow furrowed, and he demanded, “Since you’re here, where is Old Red-Brow?”

No sooner had he spoken than a wild, boisterous laugh split the air.

“Ha ha ha! What’s this? Not seen me in a few months and you already miss me?”

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After the laughter faded, another figure materialized in the sky.

This man was clad in a fiery red robe, a wine gourd hanging at his waist, his face flushed with drink—clearly arriving in high spirits. But what drew the most attention were the two crimson brows blazing above his eyes!

No wonder he was called Old Red-Brow.

Chen Jiu and An Huayuan were both startled—yet another cultivator of the Jade Elixir Realm! Tonight, three such mighty figures had gathered in one place!

An Huayuan finally let out a faint sigh of relief. With such overwhelming energy swirling through the air, the Office of Public Welfare would surely soon take notice. It would not be long before their reinforcements arrived…

Withered Wood’s expression darkened as he faced the two newcomers. “What? You two have chased me for months and still won’t give up?”

“Yan Chixia, you always claimed to be carefree and unattached. How have you also been tempted by this Yunmeng bamboo slip?”

Yan Chixia placed his hands behind his back and glanced at Old Red-Brow. “Senior Red-Brow once did me a great kindness. Now that he asks for my help, I cannot simply stand by.”

Withered Wood burst out laughing, “How harmonious you two are! It seems we are destined for a fight to the death.”

Old Red-Brow nodded. “Indeed. That Yunmeng bamboo slip—I am determined to have it.”

Withered Wood’s eyes narrowed to slits. Suddenly, he struck out at Chen Jiu.

His great hand pressed downward, sending a torrent of green light surging toward Chen Jiu.

Yan Chixia remained unfazed. He swept his broad sleeve and formed an incantation. “Movement of Heaven and Stars!”

In a flash of golden light, Chen Jiu—face stricken with terror—vanished from the spot!

The green light slammed into empty air, shattering the earth where Chen Jiu had stood and sending dust swirling high.

An Huayuan was caught in the shockwave and thrown to the ground.

Yan Chixia frowned. “This is no place for battle. Let us take this elsewhere!”

With another sweep of his sleeve, he vanished, taking Old Red-Brow with him.

Withered Wood’s face grew even more sinister. Two against one—his chances were slim, but this was his last opportunity to seize the bamboo slip. He had no choice but to fight!

With a furious roar, green light enveloped him, and he too disappeared into the sky.

Once again, the once-terrifying valley returned to silence.

An Huayuan staggered to his feet, still shaken. He stared at the spot where Chen Jiu had vanished, his expression uncertain…