Slag Shou Cultivating Manual - Chapter 100

Chapter 100: No Turning Back

Kong Huai sensed something amiss and once again used the Nine-Turn Gilded Shield to protect himself, but it was already too late. In less than the blink of an eye, Jiang Hanzheng’s sword tip was already before him. At this moment, the magical weapon in his hand had no defensive effect whatsoever.

Though powerful, this artifact only worked against cultivators below the Golden Core stage, and naturally, it could not hinder a cultivator of higher level. Could it be that the person before him had already reached the Golden Core stage? When did this happen? How had he not noticed?

Kong Huai retreated repeatedly, his eyes full of terror. To think his master had regarded Jiang Hanzheng as someone weak and easy to bully, who would have imagined such a transformation?

Seeing his opponent trapped in a predicament, Jiang Hanzheng’s sense of pleasure surged continuously. All the suppressed feelings of inferiority and bitterness turned into sadistic intentions. In this secret realm, anything was possible. If his senior brother were to meet an unfortunate end, falling prey to the claws of a Golden Core-level beast, wouldn’t that be plausible?

His master had always trusted him deeply. He was confident that his words would not be doubted. No matter what, his master would protect him.

As long as the person before him disappeared, there would be no one else to compete for his master’s attention. No one else would enjoy the same closeness he had with their master. Under their master’s tutelage, he would be the only one. The one and only.

With this thought, Jiang Hanzheng felt parched, his head buzzing. A rush of unprecedented excitement made him tremble, his blood surging as if, by killing Kong Huai, all his desires would finally be realized.

The power within the core he had absorbed was now largely digested. While controlling such immense strength, his meridians began to ache faintly, as though they might tear at any moment, causing severe damage to his vitality. Yet, he was too intoxicated by this newfound power to care about the discomfort, immersing himself in this transformed version of himself.

The person before him had become even more deranged, though he himself was unaware. Kong Huai’s forehead was drenched in cold sweat, yet he forced himself to calm down. He knew clearly that if he continued entangling with Jiang Hanzheng, he might truly meet his demise here.

If he resorted to using a lethal move, both of them would end up severely injured, and there was no guarantee his master wouldn’t blame him. In any case, there was no way he could escape unscathed. It was better to retreat now.

For the first time, Kong Huai found himself in such a wretched state, pursued relentlessly by a junior he had always looked down upon. Jiang Hanzheng was relentless, even abandoning the legacy behind him, seemingly intent solely on killing him. The pursuit drove Kong Huai all the way to the entrance.

Kong Huai came to an abrupt halt, his eyes catching sight of the large stone pillars supporting the entrance. A flash of inspiration struck him, and he quickly retreated several steps before leaping out of the cave and striking the pillars with all his might.

This legacy cave had existed for a thousand years and was already somewhat unstable. Their earlier fight had caused damage to several parts of it. Now, with Kong Huai deliberately destroying the supporting pillars, the entrance became even more precarious.

As the stone pillars collapsed with a thunderous sound, the entrance caved in immediately, burying Jiang Hanzheng’s figure beneath a heap of rubble, leaving no sign of life.

Kong Huai breathed a sigh of relief, staring uneasily at the massive pile of stones.

But when he recalled Jiang Hanzheng’s eerie, cruel demeanor and thirst for blood, he felt there was nothing to pity. Especially since the other had clearly harbored killing intent toward him earlier. Kong Huai wasn’t sure whether Jiang Hanzheng had fallen into a state of qi deviation or had been possessed, but he was certain he was a dangerous existence. If he truly perished, it would only be what he deserved.

Kong Huai’s gaze grew colder as he ultimately chose to leave.

…

When countless giant stones fell from above, Jiang Hanzheng was startled and immediately activated spiritual energy to protect his body. He managed to shield his vital areas, but his shoulders and limbs were scraped by debris. The pain brought clarity to his mind, and he suddenly became aware of everything that had just occurred.

He had entered the legacy cave, intent on killing his senior brother. He had pursued relentlessly, only to be outmaneuvered and trapped beneath the rubble.

Everything had unfolded naturally, yet recalling it made his heart race. Jiang Hanzheng wasn’t unaware that his thoughts were becoming increasingly extreme. He vaguely realized that the power granted by the core was changing him, but he was unwilling to stop now.

If he had to return to being mild-mannered, watching others covet his master, he would rather embrace this new, bold version of himself and do as he pleased.

Before him was endless darkness, his ears ringing with noise. It felt as though he had fallen into a silent abyss, beyond salvation. Familiar fear and confusion once again surrounded him.

The earlier battle had drained too much of his spiritual energy. Now, exhausted and wounded, he could feel warm liquid trickling down his forehead.

He still held on to hope, but as he struggled desperately, the situation worsened.

This cave wasn’t simple. To protect the legacy, it was filled with countless traps. Everything had been fine when he entered, but the collapse had triggered them. In the cramped space filled with debris, sharp arrows shot out, making defense nearly impossible.

In the darkness, with poor visibility, Jiang Hanzheng did his best to evade, but he didn’t expect the arrows to be poisoned. Within the time it took to burn one incense stick, the toxin had paralyzed his nerves, rendering him immobile. His vision blurred, and even his spiritual energy failed him.

Was this the end?

Jiang Hanzheng collapsed to the ground, stars dancing before his eyes as his vitality ebbed away.

Unyielding resentment made him clench his fist tightly. No, this can’t be…

He had just gained power that others envied, yet he hadn’t had the chance to showcase his brilliance to the world. How could it end like this?

Especially when his master was still waiting for him to return home.

Jiang Hanzheng bit down hard on his tongue, the sharp pain jolting him awake. He told himself that if he gave up now, this truly would be the end.

His master had saved him back then and given him a new lease on life. How could he let it all end here?

A strong desire to survive pushed him to shove aside the hundred-pound stone pressing on his shoulder. In the narrow, jagged crevices, there was barely enough space for a grown man to move. He crawled on all fours, searching for the legacy platform he had seen before.

Since there was no turning back, no room for regret, all he could do was gamble everything. He had to win. He had to survive. He wanted everything his master could offer.

He refused to remain alone, as he was now, trapped in darkness, powerless, waiting for divine mercy.

…

At Tianshan Sect, a group of people gathered around the secret realm’s entrance, watching expectantly. Two disciples had already returned, and with Kong Huai’s safe arrival, all three participants had come back, albeit empty-handed. Still, they were unharmed.

The problem was that the secret realm was only open for a limited time. With half an hour remaining before it closed, Master He Lang had been restless since the first disciple returned, repeatedly attempting to contact Jiang Hanzheng inside.

Due to the competition’s strict rules, He Lang, as a true cultivator, couldn’t enter. Messages sent via spirit cranes received no reply. Seeing Kong Huai return while Jiang Hanzheng was still missing, his expression darkened.

“Where’s Zheng’er?!”

Kong Huai gazed at him, hesitating to speak.

He Lang refused to dwell on the dark look in Kong Huai’s eyes, assuming he simply didn’t want to explain. Without further inquiry, He Lang prepared to enter the secret realm himself.

The competition’s overseer, Bai Lingzhi, grabbed his arm, her delicate brows furrowed. “Master! The secret realm is about to close. With spiritual energy in turmoil, even you may not return unscathed! This trip will be a one-way journey!”

He Lang brushed her off with a wave of his sleeve, letting out a low sigh. He turned resolutely and declared, “Then so be it.”

If Jiang Hanzheng truly suffered an untimely fate, his world would have to start over. He might as well take a risk—there might still be a sliver of hope.

With those words, he decisively stepped into the secret realm, leaving behind exclamations and attempts to stop him.

The turbulence inside the secret realm grew stronger by the minute. The longer He Lang lingered, the more perilous it became. Traversing the entrance, he arrived at unfamiliar surroundings, riding his sword as he activated a tracking artifact to guide him. Using his disciple’s belongings, he quickly pinpointed a direction.

However, what he found was a pile of jagged rubble that resembled ruins more than a place where someone might be alive.

Had something gone wrong?

He Lang’s eyes narrowed as he observed the massive stone heap before him. The overturned, still-damp soil around it indicated that the collapse had occurred recently. Approaching cautiously, he noted the increased trembling of his artifact, confirming his suspicions.

It seemed his disciple truly lay beneath this rubble. But was he still alive? He Lang didn’t dare dwell on the thought. His temples throbbed, and his vision darkened. Even as he held onto hope for his disciple, it was hard not to worry. Was this collapse caused by an earthquake or some other incident?

After repeatedly verifying with the artifact that Jiang Hanzheng was still alive, He Lang finally felt a glimmer of reassurance, though his anxiety remained.

Suddenly, a familiar figure broke through the air like lightning, leaping gracefully through the sky before landing lightly in front of him.

It was none other than Jiang Hanzheng, seemingly having survived against all odds and undergone a significant transformation through the legacy’s power.

At this moment, he appeared stronger than ever, radiating a commanding aura that even He Lang felt faint pressure from.

However, though Jiang Hanzheng looked radiant, his eyes betrayed exhaustion, creating a strange contradiction.

He Lang studied him for a second. Despite his questions, he pushed them aside and let out a deep sigh of relief, pulling his lost disciple into a tight embrace.

Jiang Hanzheng was startled by the sudden hug, frozen in He Lang’s arms for a few seconds. His heart felt like it was frying in hot oil, his mind buzzing uncontrollably, until a faint smile curled his lips. He returned the embrace more tightly, clinging to his master.

By all rights, a true cultivator should not interfere in the secret realm’s competition. Yet, why had his master appeared? The answer was self-evident.

As he inhaled the cool scent lingering on He Lang, his tense spirit finally relaxed. His mind vividly conjured the image of his master overcoming countless obstacles and stubbornly entering the secret realm. Naturally, he didn’t forget to imagine the resolute expression on his master’s face that captivated him so.

His master had indeed come to save him, just as he had years ago.