Chapter 114: Enough Nonsense, Prepare to Die

Zhou Yi smiled.

He recalled that when Xu Shiqing returned to Qingcheng Mountain, he had also threatened with ice arrows, and they had even touched him—Yao Tianci and Xu Shiqing were unharmed.

But at the hands of the woman in the blue robe, just a single stab into the body had such a devastating effect.

She looked as though infected with some super virus, her entire being emptied out in an instant.

Considering his affinities with metal, space, and spirit elements, Zhou Yi seemed to grasp the truth.

Could it be that because his studies were diverse, his magic appeared singular but was actually a complex blend?

Damn it, compound formulas always outperform single ones—no arguments allowed.

“Curious about what magic I use, aren’t you?”

The old witch’s eyes, sharp as poison-tipped blades, fixed on Zhou Yi. Though silent, the question in her gaze was unmistakable.

“Cut the crap and speak plainly. You haven’t practiced long, nor taken any power-enhancing elixirs. By rights, you shouldn’t possess such abilities. Could that decrepit old bastard have passed on some secret or forbidden technique to you?”

Zhou Yi shook his head and brushed his hair aside.

In truth, he used the motion to glance around. Sophia had been gone a while now—why was there no sign of commotion outside?

Setting a fire wouldn’t take this long.

Could something have gone wrong for them?

He reached behind, feeling the pillar outside, only to be repelled as if struck by electricity. The old witch must have set up a barrier, and as things stood, he couldn’t escape.

This realization sent a pang of anxiety through Zhou Yi.

This world was a projection of his true self; to return, he had to teleport deliberately. Extracting energy from the base alone wouldn’t suffice.

In other words, he needed a flat, undisturbed place to complete the process. That was impossible now.

If something had befallen them, Zhou Yi would be trapped here.

He had to draw the attention of the two others. A fight was inevitable. He couldn’t show hesitation or fear.

Glancing sideways at the old witch, Zhou Yi smiled.

“I don’t know any forbidden techniques or secret arts. I just study a bit of everything. But this isn’t some undead soul-sucking trick or disgusting forbidden magic you old immortals cling to. These are all orthodox spells. Want to see for yourself?”

The old witch took a deep breath, seemingly restraining her anger.

She was indeed intrigued by Zhou Yi, but only because he was the heir of Master Yu of Qingcheng Mountain. That proud youth from back then, much like this boy now, had been utterly crushed.

Sending Ruoqing to Qingcheng Mountain was meant to control it, not to kill the heir. Yet he remained so stubborn.

Since she couldn’t see that person anymore, a duel with this kid would suffice.

“Fine, then let’s spar. Even Old Master Yu wouldn’t dare taunt me like this after all these years. Didn’t expect your skills to be so mediocre, but you’ve got guts.”

Zhou Yi chuckled.

The best way to stall was to babble nonsense; this fat old witch excelled at that, but Zhou Yi was no stranger to piercing conversation.

“Well, it’s just small matters. You probably miss the old sect leader when you see me. He was as handsome as I am, but he was driven to mutual destruction by some undead abomination you created.

“I know my own limits, so don’t try to scare me. We can spar if you want. I don’t know much, but slogans like ‘evil cannot overcome righteousness’ bore me. Bite me if you want—I’ll make you lose teeth!

“But don’t open your mouth to bite—I’m a bit of a neat freak and really hate dirt!”

The old witch laughed, her fury now at its peak.

Yet she had to admit Zhou Yi was telling the truth. Such magic was indeed vexing and harsh, potentially tearing flesh. But she had to deal with this brat.

“So defiant? Teeth can be fixed. Let me break your bones and pull out your teeth—I want to see if your bones are harder or my hands!”

She sprang down from the bone-strewn bed, her black feather cloak seeming to grow from her body. She spread it wide like wings, and her withered claws clawed toward Zhou Yi’s face.

Zhou Yi flipped, leapt down from the beam, and vaulted toward the bone bed, evading her claws.

But it was a feint. In midair, she twisted oddly like a snake around the pillar, chasing him.

By the time Zhou Yi landed, she was already close—her speed and agility far beyond his.

Turning, Zhou Yi clenched six or seven ice arrows in each hand.

These were gathered during their chase. He spread his arms wide and hurled six or seven ice arrows at the old witch, while another volley flew from his other hand toward the blue-robed woman.

Zhou Yi stood just beneath the bone bed.

The blue-robed woman lay two meters away at his feet. Attacked suddenly at close range, she couldn’t react—already gravely injured and powerless to resist.

“Ah!!!”

The blue-robed woman cried out, six ice arrows piercing her heart, throat, abdomen, and head. She was pinned to the ground, her body twitching spasmodically.

The old witch dodged the ice arrows deftly, still recalling vividly the damage the blue-robed woman suffered—a testament to the danger Zhou Yi brought.

Landing, the old witch glanced at the blue-robed woman.

Black miasma seeped from her, as if life had been drained from a withered branch. She shrank into a dried husk, knees bent, head thrown back, mouth agape. Though shriveled, her face still bore a terrified expression.

The old witch steadied herself and made no move to save her—it was too late.

She never expected Zhou Yi, so difficult to confront, to have deceived her by attacking the blue-robed woman as a distraction.

The gravely wounded blue-robed woman stood no chance against the ice arrows.

Her life force extinguished, her soul scattered.

“Such a vicious heart. Master Yu’s not supposed to be from a righteous sect. How did he teach you such things?”

The old witch raised her hand, summoning a swirling black mist that surged toward Zhou Yi. The closer it came, the darker it grew, buzzing ominously.

Zhou Yi had yet to master his shield. Unable to do anything else, he braced his back against the tearing mist, leapt up, and circled the pillar until the fog dispersed.

He rolled and scrambled, barely escaping the mist. His robe was shredded, his back felt as if smashed by a hammer, his chest tight and throat filled with a salty, metallic taste.

He coughed twice, wiping blood from his mouth.

Facing the furious old witch, Zhou Yi felt a strange sense of satisfaction despite wanting to cough more.

Without the ideal soul, this resurrection lacked the proper formula and couldn’t be completed quickly. He wondered if the Black-Robed National Advisor’s remnant soul could endure until everything was ready.

“Heh, angry now? Just a mere disciple of a disciple. You wanted to suck her soul, and I just gave her a little help—early death, early rebirth.

“Oh wait, for her this isn’t death—she’s not truly alive anymore. You’ve already turned her into an undead. Better that her soul dissipates now, so she won’t suffer being controlled. Right?”

The old witch kicked aside the withered remnants on the ground. They crumbled into dust with a clatter.

“No matter, destroying this cauldron means you’ll take its place. I’ll catch you and make you into an undead—I think you’ll be no worse than Ruoqing or the others.”

Zhou Yi shrank his neck.

Those words were truly chilling—dead yet restless, forced to be a puppet. Not a pleasant fate.

He shook his head vigorously, eyes locked on the witch’s feet, watching for any sudden moves, but kept up his verbal assault.

“No, good and evil cannot coexist. Though I don’t think myself a great man, compared to you and the deeds of Youming Mountain, I’m truly good. That’s the pain of comparison.

“You think letting the Black-Robed National Advisor control Emperor Liang means controlling Liang’s kingdom?

“You’re deluded. Before coming to Youming Mountain, I conferred with King Wu. We agreed publicly that upon Emperor Liang’s sudden death, I would immediately succeed him. How do you like that arrangement?”

Besides the deceased woman in blue and a bald vulture, only she knew of Emperor Liang’s fate. Zhou Yi’s words shook her to the core—her whole body trembled, her breath uneven.

“Enough nonsense—die now!”