Chapter 19: A Reunion with Rootless Sheng

Almost entirely driven by instinct, Zhao Zhen directly tossed the severed head onto the ground.

What kind of dark magic was this? The head had been cut off, yet it was still alive. Even the Reverse Life Triple Technique of the Trinity Sect wouldn’t be this extreme if not practiced to its full extent.

As Zhao Zhen’s mind reeled in astonishment, the head rolled on the ground and then spoke again:

“I recognize you. You’re the disciple of Master Jin Guang, named Zhao Zhen, right?”

Frowning, Zhao Zhen remained silent and instead threw the dagger in his hand like a throwing knife through the air.

Swish!

The dagger pierced precisely into the forehead of the head, blood splattering instantly.

Surely this would kill it now, right?

“You little brat, don’t waste your efforts. This is merely a puppet crafted from a corpse,” the voice sneered.

A puppet? A corpse?

Zhao Zhen raised an eyebrow. If that were true, it would explain why this opponent was so hard to kill—they were essentially dealing with a dead body.

But the question was, if this fellow was truly just a corpse, why hadn’t he sensed it at all earlier?

“Who exactly are you?”

“Quan Xing, Liu Wanshan.”

At the mention of the name, a flash of understanding crossed Zhao Zhen’s eyes.

Liu Wanshan was originally an heir of the Corpse Driving Sect in Western Hunan, but after committing acts of rape and plunder, he was hunted by his own sect. With nowhere left to turn, he ultimately joined Quan Xing.

“So it’s you. No wonder I couldn’t detect that this was a corpse.”

“Why did you attack me? Because you saw me slaughter an entire village? Ha! I never expected Master Jin Guang’s disciple to be such a sanctimonious hypocrite!”

Having confirmed the opponent was indeed incapacitated, Zhao Zhen finally relaxed, stepping on the head to withdraw his dagger.

“Hardly a gentleman. I simply didn’t like you.”

“This damned world is filled with death every day. So what if others kill? Why can’t I? Though you’re not of my Quan Xing Sect, you should understand our philosophy—Quan Xing preserves authenticity, not bound by form.”

“In a world already in chaos, why suppress one’s nature? Why not live freely, as one wishes?”

Zhao Zhen glanced sideways at Liu Wanshan.

“To take a single hair but damage the world, I won’t do it. To pluck a hair for the world’s benefit, I also won’t. If ordinary cultivators like us can let go of the myriad temptations of this vast world, that alone is achievement. Your ancestor Yang Zhu’s goal was for the entire world to let go—that is true Quan Xing.”

“So stop with the nonsense about preserving authenticity. Don’t flatter yourselves!”

With that, Zhao Zhen suddenly kicked the head, sending it flying in a perfect arc into the blazing pyre where corpses were burning.

“You brat, remember this! I will settle this score with you sooner or later!”

The head landed in the flames, consumed entirely.

Afterward, Zhao Zhen repeated the process with the other two bodies dressed in black, tossing them into the fire to prevent any further surprises.

Just as he finished tidying the “battlefield” and was troubled over how to handle the now orphaned children, a sudden sound of applause rang out.

Zhao Zhen’s heart tightened; instinctively, he clenched the Golden Light Talisman in his grasp.

“Who’s there?!”

“Brother Zhao, don’t be so tense. It’s me.”

A figure named Wu Gen Sheng was slowly approaching the village along a narrow path outside, followed by a man with a slicked-back hairstyle and finely dressed appearance.

“It’s you, Wu Gen Sheng…”

Zhao Zhen narrowed his eyes as countless thoughts surged through his mind.

He had already changed direction several times—how had Wu Gen Sheng caught up?

And why was he pursuing him?

Could it be because Zhao Zhen had tricked him at the Yinghe Tower before?

It felt like this “troublemaker” had no good intentions. Better to keep a distance.

Just as Zhao Zhen prepared to activate his Golden Flight Technique to escape, Wu Gen Sheng suddenly spoke:

“Brother Zhao, don’t rush off. I’m not here to cause you trouble.”

Hearing this, Zhao Zhen paused, looking at Wu Gen Sheng with suspicion.

“Then what do you want from me?”

“No special reason, just want to get to know you better,” Wu Gen Sheng replied with a smile.

“Didn’t we already meet that day at Yinghe Tower?”

“Well, under those circumstances, making friends then would have been rather unfortunate.”

“Friends? I’m just a nobody, no fortune to be friends with the leader of Quan Xing.”

“Ha! Since Brother Zhao doesn’t want to be friends with the Quan Xing leader, how about just with me, Wu Gen Sheng? Interested?”

With a smile, Wu Gen Sheng stepped closer.

“Don’t come near me.”

Zhao Zhen frowned and warned firmly.

“Brother Zhao, didn’t you say at Yinghe Tower that you’re fond of my Quan Xing leader’s body? Now that I’m offering myself, why are you so resistant?”

Wu Gen Sheng teased, continuing forward without stopping.

Zhao Zhen’s frown deepened. If Wu Gen Sheng closed the distance any further, he wasn’t sure if he could still escape with his Golden Flight Technique.

Thinking this, Zhao Zhen quietly took a step back.

The moment Wu Gen Sheng saw this retreat, a sharp gleam flashed in his once harmless eyes.

“Sure enough, Brother Zhao, you know my methods, don’t you?”

Upon hearing this, both Zhao Zhen and the man behind Wu Gen Sheng’s pupils constricted sharply.

“After Yinghe Tower, I sensed something was off. If you wanted to escape using Golden Flight, there was no need to fake affection for me and keep me at a distance.”

“Today, I merely approached slightly, and you immediately backed off, wary. You must already know my technique well.”

Zhao Zhen fell silent.

Wu Gen Sheng appeared carefree but was actually meticulous. He had deduced that Zhao Zhen was aware of his divine spirit technique just from observing his behavior.

Such a temperament explained how he had once caused upheaval throughout the realm of spirits.

“Your technique is called Divine Spirit. It can disrupt and restore any qi-based magic, skill, or supernatural power to its original state. Am I right?”

The smile on Wu Gen Sheng’s face instantly stiffened at Zhao Zhen’s words.