First Entry into the Spirit Void Chapter 88: Killing with a Borrowed Knife

Qingyu Hua tightened her grip on Miss Bai's hand and said, “Don’t be afraid. This is your cousin Meng’s junior disciple; he’s the one who rescued you from the water dungeon.”

Hearing this, Miss Bai’s color returned, and she stopped trembling. She turned to the masked man and bowed, saying, “Thank you, great hero, for saving my life.”

The masked man shook his head and then raised his brush to write on the tablet, “Can you walk?”

Miss Bai nodded, “If I go slowly, I can manage.”

The masked man nodded in response, thinking, My senior sister truly has foresight. She arranged for me to hand Miss Bai over to her masked companion to escort her home. If not, with Miss Bai so frail and me unable to carry her, who knows how many days it would take to get her home!

Madam Shuang Yuxia, the seventh lady, came running from the other end of the Da Luo Hall, breathless and anxious. Seeing Qingyu Hua and the others, she called out as she ran, “Tenth Sister, hurry… hurry… the old devil has started fighting with them!”

Qingyu Hua glanced at the masked man and said, “Brother, the old devil is terribly skilled; those monks and priests won’t be able to handle him. Go and subdue him quickly before more people get hurt or killed. I’ll follow right after.”

The masked man nodded, reached out his right hand to bring Miss Bai along, and dashed toward the Da Luo Hall.

Meanwhile, the old monster of Yin and Yang, upon hearing the report from Chief Patrol Officer Guang Wenji, was so furious he nearly burst. After activating the traps and ensnaring everyone, he strode out of Da Luo Hall and rushed toward Beauty Cove, aiming to intercept the masked man and Qingyu Hua.

When he arrived at the Dragon’s Bane Ravine, he saw the fierce flames spraying from the jade tablet in the masked man's hand—so formidable that he dared not show himself and attack directly.

He hid in the shadows, carefully observing the masked man’s martial arts, searching for a way to counter him.

He had been fine not seeing the masked man in action, but once he witnessed him exchange blows with Yan Jianhong and his junior, he was stunned into immobility.

Yan Jianhong and his junior’s Flame Palm was a unique technique. Even his own Yin Yang Palm would struggle to withstand their power, and any force he pushed back would likely injure himself instead.

Seeing the situation, the old monster knew he couldn’t subdue the masked man without using traps and devices. He mused, No wonder all the sect leaders are helpless against him—he truly is a formidable young man.

He quickly changed his plan, instructing his men along the route to feign betrayal and cooperate with Qingyu Hua, so she’d lower her guard. He hoped to use a hidden trap in Beauty Cove to ensnare both the masked man and Qingyu Hua.

His plan worked, but he hadn’t counted on the masked man’s ability to break through inches of copper plating and escape Beauty Cove.

The old monster was cunning and calculating, not above capturing the masked man immediately and parading him in Da Luo Hall for public execution—killing two birds with one stone.

However, seeing the masked man’s unfathomable skills, he realized that trying to capture him by force would be like herding sheep into a tiger’s den—certain death.

To ensure total safety, he devised a deadly scheme: he ordered ten disciples to pile dry wood behind the steel plates and set it ablaze.

Once the trap in Beauty Cove was sprung, and with no ventilation, the fierce fire would heat the copper plates. Within half an hour, Qingyu Hua and the masked man would suffocate to death.

Satisfied, the old monster sped back toward Da Luo Hall. As he neared the corridor leading to the hall, he saw that everyone had escaped and was fighting the disciples guarding them.

He had no idea who had triggered the mechanism to free them. He stopped in shock; as it happened, Old Beggar had accidentally pressed the mechanism, causing the copper plates of Da Luo Hall to descend. Fortunately, a table caught the plate, preventing everyone from being crushed.

Of the seven men left in Da Luo Hall keeping watch, seeing Old Beggar unable to use his Dog Beating Staff, thought it was their chance. Wanting to avenge Guang Wenji and their comrade, they drew their swords and crawled toward Old Beggar, aiming to kill him.

Old Beggar, seeing these seven thieves trying to kick him when he's down, laughed heartily and shouted, “I may be a bit short, but I’m not about to be bitten by mad dogs!”

With a swift sweep of his palms behind him—even seated, he intended to teach the seven thieves a lesson. He unleashed his full strength, the force roaring like a hurricane, crashing toward them.

By coincidence, his palm’s residual force struck the hidden mechanism on the wall. A rumbling sound echoed, and the copper plate overhead immediately rose and returned to its original position.

The people trapped below rose up with it, and the shackles around their necks automatically loosened.

Miss Jie, who had suffered a setback, could hardly contain her fiery temper. She drew the precious sword from her back, her slender figure flashed, and she charged at the seven, attacking in silence.

Abbot Tianhong, several sect leaders, and Jie Zhenzi’s fellow disciples knew the seven weren’t responsible for the trap, so they didn’t intervene.

The Disheveled Scholar feared they wouldn’t fare well, so he followed, standing aside to observe.

Old Beggar saw him approach and laughed, “A parent's heart is truly unmatched. Afraid your goddaughter might lose, you come to provide backup.”

The Disheveled Scholar laughed, “Old Beggar, I adopted a goddaughter—you needn’t be jealous. I’ll introduce you to a godson someday, and we can become in-laws, two poor families united.”

Old Beggar quickly shook his head, “No way! No way! You’re such a drunkard, always coming to see your goddaughter as an excuse to drink. I can’t afford to keep up!”

The Disheveled Scholar replied, “If you do adopt a godson, you’ll be blessed—wine will come to you, but I doubt you’d live long enough to enjoy it before meeting the King of Hell.”

The old monster waited at the doorway, listening to their banter. Worried his men might suffer, he triggered the mechanism and strode into Da Luo Hall, shouting, “I told you not to be rude—why didn’t you listen, and started fighting the guests?”

The three pairs of combatants, hearing his shout, all leapt back and turned to look at him, seeing a crowd of people behind him, immediately scattering to stand around the hall.

Among the seven, one man stepped forward, bowed to the old monster, and said, “We weren’t the ones who started the fight.”

He paused, then continued, “Patrol Chief Guang and our comrade Hu were both knocked down by Old Beggar.”

The old monster snorted coldly, “If you get beaten, blame your lack of skill. Don’t complain—drag the corpses out at once.”

The Disheveled Scholar sneered and said to the old monster, “Have you caught the masked man? Bring him in for us to see, so we can congratulate the Yin Yang Sect Leader and shout ‘Long live the Alliance Leader!’ three times.”

The old monster was delighted by these words, laughed loudly, and said, “Don’t worry. Within half an hour, I’ll have him brought here for everyone to see. I, Lu, always keep my word—I never boast or deceive.”

Abbot Tianhong and the others, hearing his convincing words, felt their hearts tremble like frightened deer, thinking, Alas! I’ve been so foolish—how can I face my sect brothers and disciples?

Old Beggar raised his Dog Beating Staff and laughed, “Before we swear the oath of alliance, I’d like to ask for a demonstration of your unique skills.”

The old monster, seeing Old Beggar so spirited, thought, If I don’t curb this arrogant fellow’s pride, he’ll never know his place.

He smiled arrogantly, “Brother Fan wants to instruct me, so I won’t hold back. Please, show your moves!” He stepped forward boldly, his piercing gaze fixed on Old Beggar.

Old Beggar extended his right arm, placing the Dog Beating Staff behind his back, readying his palms, when suddenly a shadow flickered before his eyes—the Disheveled Scholar rushed ahead, laughing, “No, no, we agreed beforehand. There’s only one road to the Underworld, no need for pleasantries or connections.”

Yun Haoran, seeing their banter, immediately leaped forward with his sword, bowed, and said, “No need to fight over it, gentlemen. Let me first test a few moves against Sect Leader Lu.”

The Disheveled Scholar retreated two steps, pulling Old Beggar along, “Poor fellow, we may not care for each other, but we must respect the sect leaders’ honor.”

Old Beggar complained, “You troublemaker! I’ll have to wait one more step before reporting to the King of Hell.”

Just as Yun Haoran leaped forward, a man behind the old monster stepped out, bowed to him, and said, “Sect Leader, let me try a few moves against this sect leader first.”

The old monster saw it was Short King Kong Bao Sanqi and nodded, “Very well.”

Yun Haoran glanced at his opponent—a square face, wide mouth, bushy moustache, yellow teeth, and a stocky build. He was displeased, thinking, I’m a sect leader, yet a mere nobody is sent to face me—such disrespect!

Before the thought finished, the burly man stepped forward, drew his sword, and laughed, “Please! Bao Sanqi will accompany the sect leader for a few moves.”

Yun Haoran, already unhappy, grew even angrier at his arrogance. He snorted, “Take this!” and suddenly unleashed the move “Falling Petals,” a thousand cold rays descending upon Bao Sanqi.

Short King Kong, seeing the ferocious swordplay, quickly dodged and countered with “Gale Sweeps the Waves,” slashing fiercely at Yun Haoran’s legs.

Yun Haoran shouted and leaped, unleashing “Heavenly Maiden Scatters Flowers,” a flurry of cold light enveloping Short King Kong.

As Bao Sanqi and Yun Haoran began their duel, both realized the other’s swordsmanship was formidable. Neither underestimated the other, both employing their best techniques.

Yun Haoran pressed his attack for two moves, forcing Bao Sanqi onto the defensive, but unable to finish him. Feeling a surge of shame, he hardened his resolve. Once his feet touched the ground, he launched a rapid assault, stabbing three times in succession.

These three moves were his own creation, executed in one breath with terrifying force. His sword flashed like lightning and shot like a meteor across the sky.