Chapter 56: The Might of the Golden Radiance Needle
Chapter 56: Chapter 56: The Might of the Golden Radiance Needle
Xu Chang’an sensed the pursuing aura behind him and glanced at Jin Ling’Er, who had fallen into a daze.
"Elder, rest easy.
We’ll get away!"
Xu Chang’an placed his hand on Jin Ling’Er’s forehead, channeling his Demon Power as he gently stroked downwards.
Jin Ling’Er felt a wave of comfort, and her beautiful eyes immediately closed.
’Hei Wu!’
A cold glint flashed in Xu Chang’an’s eyes.
The Earth Escape Talisman was powerful, but it was still just a Middle-Grade Demon Talisman.
After burrowing for several miles, its effect began to fade.
Instead of wasting power underground, Xu Chang’an terminated the Earth Escape Talisman’s effect early and emerged with Jin Ling’Er.
"HEH HEH HEH, where do you think you’re going!"
Hei Wu followed their scent through the sky, riding his Magical Artifact.
The moment Xu Chang’an and Jin Ling’Er emerged, he spotted them.
Calm and unhurried, Xu Chang’an observed his surroundings.
Not far off, there was a small canyon.
Without hesitation, Xu Chang’an ran toward the canyon, carrying Jin Ling’Er.
As soon as he entered the canyon, he placed Jin Ling’Er behind a large boulder.
Then he turned, his face devoid of expression, and waited for Hei Wu’s arrival.
"Little mouse, you’ve found a fine place to die!"
Hei Wu landed on the ground and laughed as he surveyed the area.
Jin Ling’Er, the only one who could have put up a fight, was already unconscious.
The Mouse Demon before him was merely at the Qi Refining Fourth Layer. What could he possibly use to stop him?
"Die!"
Hei Wu had no intention of wasting any more time here.
His Demon Power flared, and the feather Magical Artifact transformed into a streak of light, blasting toward Xu Chang’an.
He held nothing back with this strike!
’With this one strike, the Mouse Demon will be dead for sure!’
An ingot gold coin, glowing with golden light, suddenly appeared and swelled to an immense size in an instant.
BOOM!
The feather Magical Artifact and the Yuanbao Seal collided violently.
’What?!’
Hei Wu’s expression changed drastically.
Before he could process what had happened, a piercing pain lanced through his head.
Waves of Demonic Sound swirled around him, and he instantly fell into a daze.
An incredibly sharp, fine golden needle suddenly appeared, radiating a piercing aura as it shot forward.
"This is..."
Hei Wu struggled to break free from the interference of the Demonic Sound.
From the Golden Needle before him, he sensed an aura that made his heart tremble.
He subconsciously moved to play his trump card, taking out a High-Grade Defense Demon Talisman.
However, a golden light flashed, and his consciousness blurred once more.
Then, when he regained consciousness again...
...all he could see was the small Mouse Demon before him, his expression cold and stern.
His Demon Body toppled backward stiffly.
THUD~
’I... I’m dead...’
Filled with confusion and terror, Hei Wu sank into an endless darkness.
’Hei Wu, you are the first Demon to witness the power of the Golden Radiance Needle! You can be proud of that!’
Looking at Hei Wu, who was deader than dead with a hole pierced between his brows, Xu Chang’an was perfectly calm.
The Demonic Sound from the Illusory Bell and the disorienting flash of the Golden Radiance Needle had given Hei Wu no chance to react before he was killed by the needle itself.
Xu Chang’an quickly cleaned up the scene, looting everything of value from Hei Wu’s corpse.
Then, he used Magic to destroy the body and eliminate all traces.
’This is the grave I chose for you,’ Xu Chang’an thought coolly.
After tying up all loose ends, he quickly departed with Jin Ling’Er.
As he neared the main peak of Langlang Mountain, he found the mountain bustling with unusual activity.
’Hmm?!’
Xu Chang’an frowned slightly.
’What’s going on?!’
Not daring to be careless, he placed Jin Ling’Er in a secluded spot, concealed his aura, and stealthily made his way up the mountain.
About fifteen minutes later, Xu Chang’an returned to the same spot.
’Jin Yuanba successfully broke through the siege and has returned!’
Jin Yuanba’s return had put all the Demons at ease.
The mountain was now buzzing with excitement.
He hadn’t learned the full details.
It wouldn’t be too late to find out after he was back on the mountain proper.
’But...’
’I was going to have to put some effort into fabricating a story. But now...’
Xu Chang’an’s eyes gleamed as he quickly changed his plan.
Halfway up Langlang Mountain, a Guardian Little Demon discovered the Grey Rat Standard-Bearer of the Alchemy Hall returning, covered in injuries and carrying the unconscious Young Miss.
The Little Demon immediately reported the news up the mountain.
Afterward, Xu Chang’an and Jin Ling’Er were escorted up the mountain by the Little Demons and taken directly to the Golden Yuan Cave.
「Inside the Golden Yuan Cave.」
Jin Ling’Er let out a soft groan and slowly opened her eyes.
"I... Where am I...?"
"Young Miss, this is the Golden Yuan Cave."
The Third Elder’s face appeared in Jin Ling’Er’s field of vision.
"Third Elder..."
As Jin Ling’Er’s consciousness slowly cleared, she felt her own weakness. She scanned her surroundings and gradually pieced together what had happened.
"Weren’t we being hunted by Hei Wu? How am I here...?"
"Ling’er, your injuries are too severe. Don’t talk right now!"
A deep, powerful voice rang out. It was none other than the King of Langlang Mountain, the Foundation Establishment Great Demon, Jin Yuanba.
Xu Chang’an stood to the side, watching quietly with a slightly panicked look on his face.
His injuries had also been treated.
He had been brought to the Golden Yuan Cave as soon as he reached the top of the mountain.
This was the first time he had ever entered the Golden Yuan Cave.
With Jin Ling’Er injured and unconscious, Jin Yuanba and the Elders naturally gave the matter their utmost attention.
They immediately began to question Xu Chang’an.
Xu Chang’an, having already prepared his story, recounted the entire sequence of events from beginning to end.
"Grey Rat Standard-Bearer, according to your story, the Young Miss was marked with Hei Wu’s scent. You shouldn’t have been able to escape. So how...?" the Third Elder asked.
"I’m not entirely sure myself."
Xu Chang’an put on a look of confusion at just the right moment.
’Sometimes, it’s better not to explain something if you can’t do it clearly.’
’The more lies one tells, the sooner they are exposed.’
’It was perfectly normal for someone with a meager Qi Refining Fourth Layer Cultivation like him not to understand the reason why.’
’It would be far stranger if he started speaking eloquently, analyzing everything with perfect logic.’
’The situation was so urgent. How could an Alchemy Little Demon like him, someone unskilled in Magical Combat, have possibly remained calm at all times?!’
"It must be that Hei Wu sensed the King’s return to Langlang Mountain and didn’t dare pursue you any further!"
One of the Elders offered this explanation.
That did seem plausible enough.
"Grey Rat Standard-Bearer, you have performed a great service by protecting the Young Miss.
By rights, you should be rewarded!
However, the situation on Langlang Mountain is currently unstable. You are dismissed for now. Once things have settled, rewards will be given out to all."
The Third Elder said to Xu Chang’an, forcing a smile onto his grim face.
"Understood, Third Elder."
Looking at the expressions of the Third Elder and the surrounding Elders, Xu Chang’an knew this matter was far from over.
’So many of the Elders are gone!
Have they not yet returned, or have they...’
Leaving the Golden Yuan Cave, Xu Chang’an’s mind drifted as he replayed the scene inside.
’If Jin Yuanba broke through with the other Demons, Xiong Da should have made it back too, right?’
...
"Lujiao Mountain throws its weight around, showing a complete disregard for the rules.
Black Crow Mountain and our Langlang Mountain have been enemies for years.
We could tolerate Lujiao Mountain stepping in to mediate for them.
But for them to be unwilling to pay any price at all is to show our Langlang Mountain complete and utter disrespect!
And another thing...
As for Wild Boar Mountain and Cyan Snake Mountain... those two bastards...
Treacherous, cowardly, and afraid of their own shadows!"
Jin Yuanba’s face was grim, his anger barely contained.