Chapter 119: Thousand Illusions, Devilish Sound

Chapter 119: Thousand Illusions, Devilish Sound

He Xuan just couldn't understand why everyone from the Demon Sect was so poor.

It was frustrating for him to even try and make a fortune off them.

"I've helped you kill another Grandmaster. Don't you think it's time to raise the price? A thousand spirit crystals for the life of a Grandmaster—it's almost an insult."

He Xuan looked at Du Yuying with a serious expression.

Yan Kuan, inside the carriage, was questioning his life choices at that moment.

When did it become so easy to kill a Grandmaster? This guy was swatting them like mosquitoes! Where did this monster come from? He was a Grandmaster himself, having endured countless hardships and dangers over the course of his hundred years of cultivation to attain this revered status, yet now he realized that Grandmasters seemed to have such little value, disposable for a mere thousand spirit crystals.

Even the wounds on his body didn't seem to hurt as much anymore.

Du Yuying looked at He Xuan, his face earnest, and nodded. "Three thousand spirit crystals. How about that?"

As He Xuan took the spirit tickets from Cui'er, he said, "I think that Grandmasters are not just cabbages that you can buy cheaply. They have their own strengths, and it's not easy for me to kill them. It's hard work."

Du Yuying and the others exchanged bizarre glances. Swatting mosquitoes? That was how he described his effortless kills?

"Using spirit crystals to measure the value of a Grandmaster is truly an insult to their status. I can't bear to do it," He Xuan sighed.

Yan Kuan secretly nodded in agreement. Indeed, using spirit crystals as a measure did not do justice to the prestige of a Grandmaster.

Before encountering this young man, there had never been a Grandmaster who was killed for a mere thousand spirit crystals!

"Then, what does the young master suggest?" Du Yuying asked thoughtfully.

"Do you have a storage bag? Give it to me, and I promise to protect you no matter how many Grandmasters come our way!" He Xuan looked at Du Yuying expectantly.

This young lady had an extraordinary identity, and with Demon Sect masters attacking one after another, she might just have a storage bag.

Ever since he learned about the existence of storage bags, he had been longing to get his hands on one.

Du Yuying and her companions were stunned. A storage bag? That was a treasure that even Grandmasters might not possess! He really dared to ask for it directly!

"Is that too difficult?" He Xuan asked, seeing the expressions on their faces.

"It's not just difficult; it's extremely rare. Many Grandmasters don't even have one," Du Yuying sighed. "Although it's unpleasant to say, the truth is that the life of a Grandmaster is not worth a storage bag!"

He Xuan's eyes widened. So, a storage bag was even more precious than the life of a Grandmaster?

"I think you're in big trouble," He Xuan said. "We've already encountered two Grandmaster warriors. Have you somehow offended the Demon Sect? A few thousand spirit crystals are not enough for me to deal with Grandmasters. It's just not enough!"

Not long after entering the Inner Realm, he had already killed two Demon Sect masters. He Xuan suspected that in this realm, Grandmasters were as common as dirt and didn't really belong to the top tier of warriors.

Du Yuying fell silent. She had been pleasantly surprised to strike a deal with He Xuan for his protection on her journey home, never expecting him to be so powerful, swatting Grandmasters like mosquitoes. Moreover, the attackers turned out to be Grandmasters from the Demon Sect, indicating that something unusual was going on.

If not for He Xuan's protection, she might have already fallen into the hands of the Demon Sect.

"What does the young master mean?" Du Yuying asked.

"Spirit herbs! I need spirit herbs!" He Xuan had figured it out. He had already earned quite a lot of spirit crystals, and the purpose of earning those crystals was to buy spirit herbs.

So, why not ask for spirit herbs as a reward directly?

"Please speak, young master!" Du Yuying felt relieved. Spirit herbs were, after all, something that could be bought with spirit crystals.

"One sixth-grade spirit herb for one Grandmaster!" He Xuan raised a finger.

"Sixth-grade spirit herbs are rare. Even the Tianbao Pavilion in a typical county city may not have one in stock. They are hard to come by, to be honest. I don't have any sixth-grade spirit herbs," Du Yuying said helplessly.

He Xuan was surprised. So, sixth-grade spirit herbs were that scarce and precious? This was beyond his expectations. After thinking for a moment, he said, "Then, a seventh-grade spirit herb for a Grandmaster. One herb, no less. You have to understand that they are Grandmasters!"

"Alright!" Du Yuying nodded in agreement.

After the terms were settled, He Xuan was delighted. He didn't bother to ask Du Yuying about her background or how she had offended the Demon Sect's Grandmaster warriors.

Once the escort mission was completed and he received his payment, it was uncertain if they would ever meet again. He Xuan wasn't that curious.

The next day, they continued their journey.

Half a day later, several black-clad men attacked, but they were only third- and second-rate warriors. He Xuan didn't bother to lift a finger, as these men were obviously like dead warriors, and they were unlikely to have any spirit crystals on them.

Du Yuying's guards took care of the attackers, including the first-rate coachman, who joined in to ensure their safety.

On the third day after leaving Tiexian County, they entered a county town to resupply. Du Yuying, as usual, went to the Tianbao Pavilion to look for healing spirit herbs for Yan Kuan.

However, the Tianbao Pavilion in the county town did not have the herbs she needed.

They left the town and continued their journey.

In the evening, a figure stood in the middle of the road.

The aura of a Grandmaster warrior was unmistakable. A pair of cold eyes and a sinister aura surrounded him—another Demon Sect Grandmaster! Du Yuying's eyebrows furrowed as she fell into deep thought.

Yan Kuan's expression also turned solemn. One or two Demon Sect masters attacking was one thing, but why were they all Grandmasters?

The formidable enemy they had anticipated did not appear.

Before He Xuan could make a move, Yan Kuan stepped out of the carriage and said in a deep voice, "My Du family has no grudge with the Demon Sect. Why are you here? Which Demon Lord do you serve?"

"Yan Kuan?" The Demon Sect master's voice was sharp and grating.

"Indeed!" Yan Kuan bowed.

"A third-rate Grandmaster has no right to speak in front of me!" the attacker sneered.

"You..." Yan Kuan's face turned purple with anger.

"Little brother, kill him for me, and I'll give you a seventh-grade spirit herb!" Yan Kuan fumed.

He Xuan's ears perked up at the mention of spirit herbs. He quickly agreed, worried that Yan Kuan might change his mind. "Okay, a seventh-grade spirit herb!"

"Arrogant!" The Demon Sect master ahead was furious.

As he moved, a sinister aura surged forth, transforming into sinister ghost claws that struck with deadly force!

He Xuan, of course, showed no mercy to the Demon Sect master.

The Demon Sect's killing techniques were no match for his own fierce and mighty Dragon Subduing Palm. Although this Demon Sect master was stronger than the previous two, he still couldn't withstand He Xuan's powerful palm strike.

Boom!

A golden dragon emerged, crushing all in its path. The sinister ghost claws were instantly destroyed, and in the blink of an eye, the attacker was overwhelmed by the fierce palm strike!

Boom! The Demon Sect master died on the spot.

If not for He Xuan's concern about destroying the spirit tickets the man carried, which would have resulted in a loss, this palm strike would have reduced the man to pieces.

"I helped you kill him. Remember, you owe me a seventh-grade spirit herb!" He Xuan happily walked forward to search the corpse.

"Peh! These Demon Sect masters are all poor ghosts!" He Xuan grumbled as he channeled his true energy, instantly turning the corpse to ash, ensuring the man's death.

Moreover, after killing his opponent, He Xuan casually scattered his ashes.

His practiced demeanor suggested that this was not his first time doing this.

"You're dead now. Let's see you look down on me!"

However, Yan Kuan felt a sense of relief. So what if you look down on me as a third-rate Grandmaster? How strong could you be? You're still just a man, easily killed with a single palm strike!

Xu Yan was delighted to have acquired two seventh-grade spirit herbs.

"The Inner Realm is truly exciting, and making money isn't difficult either. If I encounter a few more Grandmasters, I'll be able to afford all the spirit herbs I need."

Xu Yan was thrilled at the prospect.

As their journey continued, the attacks became more frequent, and their assailants were mostly third-rate warriors and above. Once, they were even attacked by six first-rate warriors.

Du Yuying's escorts were no match for them, and it was up to Xu Yan to intervene. With a single palm strike, he effortlessly swept them all away.

And then, another Grandmaster warrior appeared.

This time, the attacker was not from the Demon Sect but a renowned Grandmaster from Lanping County. Yan Kuan recognized him and called out his name.

The attacker dropped his disguise and openly mocked Yan Kuan, deriding him as a third-rate Grandmaster...

And so, Yan Kuan owed Xu Yan another seventh-grade spirit herb.

Along the way, they faced more and more attackers, and even encountered poison and traps, which slowed their progress.

Xu Yan remained vigilant, knowing he couldn't afford to be careless.

One day, the sound of galloping horses approached like a charging army, a dark mass of attackers rushing toward them.

"The Lanping County Guard!" Yan Kuan gritted his teeth.

Although the assailants were all dressed in black, it was clear to the discerning eye that they were indeed the Lanping County Guard.

Boom! A figure flew in from above the army, heading straight for Yan Kuan.

Evidently, he had come to deal with Yan Kuan, the Grandmaster.

"Young Master, 5,000 spirit crystals. Help us break through!" Du Yuying said, her face grim.

"No problem!" Xu Yan assured her.

Xu Yan was experienced in dealing with large armies, even those from the Inner Realm with their stronger capabilities. But his own strength had grown even more formidable.

As he channeled his true energy, a rumbling sound filled the air, and eighteen golden dragons roared forth.

They charged toward the oncoming army, sending men and horses flying in an instant. Du Yuying and her companions followed closely behind Xu Yan, while the attacking Grandmaster was swept away by Xu Yan's palm strike mid-air.

The entire army was laid low, and Yan Kuan and the others were left shaken by what they had witnessed. The image of the eighteen dragons sweeping across the land was forever etched in their minds.

"What kind of martial art is this? I've never heard of such a powerful technique in the Inner Realm!"

Yan Kuan was astonished. How could he, a Grandmaster, have never heard of such a formidable art existing in the Inner Realm?

Breaking through the encirclement, the group continued on their journey.

The Lanping County Guard lay on the ground, unable to get up for a long while. It was only after Xu Yan's party had disappeared from view that they staggered to their feet, their faces pale.

They had just witnessed something truly terrifying.

The image of the eighteen giant dragons sweeping across the land shook every guard to their core. Even the legends of Grand Masters in their prime might not compare to what they had just seen.

After leaving the territory of Lanping County, the group enjoyed several days without any attacks. Just as Du Yuying began to relax, thinking their journey would be smooth sailing from then on, a lone teahouse appeared on the road ahead.

Suddenly, a melodious flute melody drifted toward them.

The enchanting music captivated the listeners, stirring an irresistible urge to dance along.

Du Yuying's escorts, who had maintained a stoic and vigilant demeanor throughout the journey, found themselves swaying to the music, unable to resist its allure.

Cui'er opened the window of the carriage, her eyes glazed over.

"Not good!"

Yan Kuan shouted in alarm, his martial energy surging as he released his Grandmaster aura, instantly snapping the escorts and Cui'er out of their trance.

"It's the Thousand Illusions Devil Flute! Block your ears!"

Cui'er's face paled.

The escorts quickly tore off strips of cloth and rolled them into balls, plugging their ears.

Even Yan Kuan, a Grandmaster, wore a grave expression as he, too, tore off a piece of cloth and stuffed it into his ears.

"Little brother, block your ears! This is the Thousand Illusions Devilish Sound of the peak Grandmaster from the Demon Sect, the Thousand Illusions Devil Master!"

Seeing that Xu Yan, riding on his horse, seemed unaffected, they hastily reminded him.

"It's alright. This flute melody is quite pleasant," Xu Yan said, his interest piqued.

At that moment, however, his expression turned suspicious. While the flute music was enchanting, there was an underlying force within it—gentle as a breeze—that drifted into his ears, seemingly intent on bewitching him.

"A martial art that uses sound to kill... I never expected to encounter such a technique in the Inner Realm.

"My master was right. Just because the Inner Realm cultivates a false martial path doesn't mean there's nothing to gain from it. This Devilish Sound technique has its merits.

"Although it has no effect on me because I cultivate the True Martial Way, what if I were to comprehend a similar method of using sound to defeat my enemies?"

Xu Yan's interest was sparked.

Yan Kuan's face twisted with worry. "Little brother, block your ears!"

He mistook Xu Yan's fascination for being bewitched by the Devilish Sound and hastily channeled his martial energy, reminding him to protect himself.

Xu Yan turned to glance at him. "And here I thought you were a Grandmaster. Your mental fortitude is so weak that a mere song affects you this much."

Yan Kuan's face darkened.

"Little brother, please dispel this Devilish Sound!" Yan Kuan pleaded, his voice tight with urgency.

"I'll try to resist it," Yan Kuan added, taking a deep breath.

He felt like he was struggling to withstand the Thousand Illusions Devilish Sound, and illusions were beginning to form before his eyes.

"No, I haven't heard enough yet, and there doesn't seem to be any danger!"

Xu Yan firmly refused.

Yan Kuan could only return to the carriage, steeling himself to resist the Thousand Illusions Devilish Sound.

Du Yuying's escorts rode on, their faces flushed, swaying unsteadily in their seats as they continued toward the teahouse.

Inside the carriage, Cui'er's face was flushed, and she seemed to be experiencing her own illusions, softly calling out, "Young Master... sob... good young master..."

Du Yuying clasped her hands together, her breathing heavy, her chest heaving as she struggled to maintain her composure. Finally, she removed her veil, revealing her exquisite beauty.

Her delicate face was flushed.

The carriage came to a stop, and the group arrived at the teahouse.

Xu Yan watched with fascination as a white-robed figure played the flute within. For a moment, he couldn't tell if the flutist was male or female.

With delicate features, rouged cheeks, and red lips pressed to the flute, the flutist's eyes were slightly closed in concentration. Their body emanated a surging energy that flowed through the flute and filled the air.

The closer they got, the more powerful the Devilish Sound became.

Xu Yan observed quietly, absorbing and contemplating the technique.

Du Yuying had stepped out of the carriage.

Biting her lip, she approached Xu Yan and said, "Young Master, three seventh-grade spirit herbs. Please help me out of this predicament!"

Du Yuying had realized that as long as she offered enough spirit herbs, there was no problem that Xu Yan couldn't solve.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end