“Bang!”

A muffled sound!

The instant that figure appeared, the light from the Six Meridians Spirit-Dividing Mirror struck this person without reservation. It was exactly like a mouse just popping out of a hole only to be hammered down.

The phantom light, carrying a ethereal aura, sharp as a blade’s edge, actually wedged straight into this person’s heart!

“Pop, pop, pop!”

Six rapid ejection sounds in succession.

Six dark golden threads, like traces cut by sharp knives, spread from the wound on his chest toward six different directions!

“Ah!”

Immediately came a miserable scream.

The next moment, this figure that had suddenly appeared in the cave actually fell from midair, crashing down with a “bang,” water splashing everywhere, deep white blood flowing across the ground.

Fu Chaosheng sat in place without any reaction.

Only Jian Chou suddenly frowned, letting out a surprised “eh,” feeling this person seemed somewhat familiar—

An ordinary face covered with fierce black qi.

Especially on his neck, there were several black holes, as if something nail-like had been driven in, with patch after patch of talisman-like dark patterns spreading from these wounds toward various parts of his body.

A black robe had long since become grimy and unrecognizable…

Though his appearance seemed changed and no longer carried his previous arrogance, Jian Chou finally recognized him: “Xing Fei?”

A cultivator of the Impermanence clan.

She still remembered hearing the Xing brothers mocking her “worried about everyone she sees” in the plaza, and before entering the eighteen levels of hell, they had a conflict and confrontation at the Eighteen Underground Floors.

If not for Lihan, or rather Fu Chaosheng, suddenly turning against them, who knew what the situation would have become.

Even so, this Xing Fei had also attacked her with a Soul-Hooking Rope when opening the passage to the eighteen levels of hell.

Unfortunately, her reaction was quick, and she countered with the “Mountain-Striking Guide” talisman instead.

Afterward, she had never seen the several Impermanence clan members again on her journey.

Unexpectedly, now at the seventh level, in this mysterious space, she encountered them again.

Xing Fei had long lost any human appearance, his face ashen. At this moment lying on the ground, he wore an expression of complete disbelief, his eyes staring deadly at Jian Chou.

One hand covered with talismans raised up, trembling as it pointed at her.

“You, you…”

That was a voice mixed with pain and hatred, even disbelief.

Though Xing Fei’s strength was poor, his eyesight remained. He could tell Jian Chou’s current realm at a glance—how was this possible? How could such a female cultivator have reached the Jade Nirvana realm?

And this strike that had pierced his chest…

Crack!

Before he could utter a complete sentence, those six dark golden thread-like lights finally reached the edges of his body.

Like pulling a wire taut, his entire body was placed under this wire and instantly cut!

“Splash!”

Like tearing open a bloated sack, Xing Fei’s entire body shell actually opened like a lotus flower from the chest where Jian Chou’s strike had concentrated, spreading toward six directions.

Ten balls of light, three bright and seven dim, actually rose from within this opened shell.

But these ten balls of light only rose to the stalactites above this rocky cave before dissipating into nothingness…

Xing Fei’s original body instantly deflated.

Like removing the stuffing from a person’s body, in the blink of an eye only a broken sack remained, suddenly collapsing back onto the water surface.

A wash from the cold underground river water, and it turned to ash.

Xing Fei—

Killed in one strike!

Jian Chou sat across from Fu Chaosheng, unable to speak at this moment.

Her brow was deeply furrowed.

But in this silence, several light chuckles rang out, carrying some amusement: “Ah, it seems luck was truly good. Fellow Daoist Jian Chou actually killed an enemy. This person harbored evil intentions when entering the eighteen levels of hell and even ambushed you. Dying here isn’t unjust.”

The words were calm, as if what died before him was merely a tiny ant.

No.

Perhaps in Fu Chaosheng’s view, an ant’s death was far more important than a cultivator’s death.

Jian Chou couldn’t describe her feelings, but that scene kept replaying in her mind: those ten balls of light that flew out…

Made her involuntarily recall some old things.

Those were a person’s three souls and seven spirits.

Six Meridians Spirit-Dividing Mirror…

The so-called “spirit-dividing” was actually cutting open the “body” and releasing the soul and spirit. Thus, with soul and spirit scattered, the so-called “person” no longer existed in the world.

“Don’t you think something’s wrong?”

Jian Chou slowly turned her gaze back, but her hand gripping the Six Meridians Spirit-Dividing Mirror had pale knuckles and hadn’t loosened.

Her hands were naturally not unstained by blood now.

When killing, her emotions would certainly be touched, but because the dead were mostly not innocent, she felt no guilt.

Now, she just suspected certain things.

“‘Mountain-Striking Guide’ is a talisman I prepared for this Tripod Contest. Once this talisman pierces in, it can brand more talismans on a person’s divine soul. If not removed early, not to mention the unbearable pain, one’s strength would be reduced by half. In these eighteen levels of hell, one would almost certainly die.”

Fu Chaosheng listened and looked up at her, but didn’t respond.

Jian Chou continued: “Xing Fei being able to reach here, even entering our rocky cave, proves he safely passed through the previous seven levels. The Xing brothers were hostile to our group but had numbers on their side. Logically, they absolutely had the power to remove the talismans. How is it that after so much time has passed, Xing Fei still has talismans on his neck?”

This was her confusion, but she had a vaguely uncomfortable feeling.

Fu Chaosheng’s gaze became strange.

In his glass-blue eyes was a hint of probing, with a natural malice faintly breeding: “Does my old friend think the Xing brothers, or other companions, were willing to remove his talismans?”

“…”

Jian Chou said nothing.

Fu Chaosheng thus chuckled softly again.

He truly knew many things about this world, especially regarding the word “evil”—one could say he was naturally gifted. Though he didn’t understand why this was so.

“It seems Fellow Daoist Jian Chou has also thought of it: removing talismans requires great effort. In this competitive Tripod Contest, who would be willing to pay such a price for a potential opponent?”

“Perhaps saving him would mean the next to die would be oneself.”

“Thus, it’s better to barely keep him alive. When this moment comes, he serves a purpose—”

Fu Chaosheng glanced at where Xing Fei had just fallen, then looked toward the void, as if he could see through this space to the people outside and their expressions.

“Xing Fei was merely thrown down by them to test the waters.”

To put it harshly, cannon fodder.

This meaning was clear enough.

Each of Fu Chaosheng’s words seemed casual, but they always carried a thrilling undertone.

Jian Chou suddenly realized that the current Fu Chaosheng differed somewhat from the Fu Chaosheng in her previous understanding. This was a side he had never shown…

A side that understood malice.

Fu Chaosheng’s slender fingers rested on his knees, his body never swaying from beginning to end.

He watched Jian Chou, seemingly able to read her expression.

Thus, his smile deepened: “Precisely because I know of others’ manifold evils, whenever I recall Fellow Daoist Jian Chou, I treasure it all the more.”

“…”

These words were uncomfortable to hear.

Jian Chou frowned and didn’t respond, only saying: “If what you say is true, then our next opponent may well be worth deep consideration.”

Because Xing Fei’s death would give everyone a warning.

One only needed to sink consciousness into the tripod ring to easily discover that the statue belonging to Xing Fei had already thunderously dissipated from the scroll…

Seventh level, Animal Path, Bull Pit Hell.

The battle had ended at some point.

“Burp!”

Little Marten, having returned to its foot-long size, landed back on the compass platform of the Kunwu Five Capital War Chariot, burping contentedly.

Its soft belly was now round and full, as if it had eaten something.

Zhang Tang and the others, also back on the war chariot, all stared at it with changing expressions, clearly displeased.

Their bodies bore various wounds.

Even Zhang Tang, the strongest fighter among them, had a blood-red mark on his cheek—not blood, but more like damage from some strange magical artifact.

Nearby, Gu Ling sat on the deck, holding the collapsed old woman in her arms, letting out suppressed, sobbing cries: “Grandma, grandma, how are you… does it hurt? It’s all my fault, all my fault…”

“Cough, cough, silly girl…”

The old woman leaned in Gu Ling’s embrace, her face a weary, ashen color.

Her chest was already stained with deep white blood, looking terrifyingly ghastly, but her lips slowly curved into a smile: “Just a little injury, nothing serious, nothing serious.”

Though she said this, with each word she spoke, visible soul power leaked from her wound.

Whether Chen Tingyan, Zhang Tang, or others scattered elsewhere in the pit, seeing this scene, all knew this old woman wouldn’t live long.

The current pit was extremely quiet.

Most people’s gazes fell on Little Marten on the Kunwu Five Capital War Chariot, most eyes harboring a fear that wanted to flee.

But they ultimately didn’t escape.

No one could forget the scene just now…

Whether Sima Languan, that mysterious red-dressed female cultivator, or the wounded Xing Zhan, Xing Wu and others here.

This little marten had grabbed the Kui Ox, which had lost resistance in battle, with one claw, brought it to its mouth, and—

Swallowed it whole!

That was simply a nightmare scene!

With such a terrifying little marten present, did they really need to continue resisting?

Everyone’s hearts wavered.

But soon they gained some hope: after eating the Kui Ox, Little Marten lazily curled up on the compass platform, seemingly digesting, with no intention of interfering in the battle.

Even so, no one dared move carelessly.

Little Marten was one reason; Xing Fei who had gone down was another.

At this moment, Xing Zhan in his tight outfit had a fierce, cold expression, bulging muscles on his arms making him seem on the verge of explosion.

“It’s over, it’s over, how did Xing Fei die?”

A fearful, panicked voice came from beside Xing Zhan.

The chubby Xing An swallowed hard, looking at his tripod ring: “We clearly saw that Lihan go in, and he’s still on the Star Cloud Scroll, not disappeared. How did Xing Fei disappear as soon as he went in?”

Could this black hole below actually eat people?

Xing An’s voice could be heard by everyone.

But they all remained silent, only their expressions varying.

Sima Languan, holding his human skin lantern, stood far from the red-skirted female cultivator, his gaze falling into that black hole. Recalling how his strike had been blocked by Lihan, he couldn’t help but feel chilled.

Too strong.

Even at the seventh level now, even with all his killing moves, he might not be able to kill this person quickly.

Jian Chou had disappeared without trace, and he didn’t know if she was below.

The beauty skin had naturally also lost its whereabouts.

For him, staying here had lost value.

Several glints flashed in Sima Languan’s eyes. Without hesitation, he turned and leaped upward from the pit, leaving this place!

The red-dressed female cultivator watched his figure and frowned slightly.

But she immediately understood the reason: this pit wasn’t the seventh level’s Prison Division, it was just a possible shortcut to the eighth level. Sima Languan should be heading directly to the original route, to the Prison Division.

Understanding this, she still stood in place without moving.

Black winds blew up from the pit bottom, lifting her red skirt somewhat, revealing those snow-white, straight long legs—quite a sight.

Nearby Xing An saw this and nearly lost his soul.

He had once fallen with Jian Chou onto that Ice Peak of the first level Ice Prison, witnessing this red-dressed female cultivator fighting with Ghost King clan’s Zhong Lanling, naturally knowing her strength.

How could he not be afraid seeing this?

Fortunately, they still had quite a few people, barely counting as strength in numbers.

Several people from Wangsi City remained alive, standing behind Xing Zhan.

Seeing Xing Zhan seemingly contemplating Xing Fei’s matter, someone couldn’t help saying: “That Lihan went down without incident, so below must be the shortcut to the eighth level. Xing Fei had problems surely because of those talismans. He had no cultivation left to begin with, so any accident would kill him. I think we still need to explore below, otherwise who knows who’ll get there first!”

Hearing this, everyone couldn’t help but look toward the distant Kunwu Five Capital War Chariot.

Four people and one marten, all over there.

The two groups had already formed enmity in Wangsi City, completely incompatible. If not for the powerfully skilled Lihan joining earlier, they would have killed Zhang Tang and others long ago.

Now with an added marten, they really didn’t dare act.

But this didn’t mean they should lose to these weaklings and let them gain advantage!

In the Tripod Contest, one step behind meant total loss!

Xing Zhan frowned deeply, staring at that cave entrance with hidden suspicions, then a vicious plan emerged: “I remember the Wasp clan has a technique called ‘Thousand Wasp Poisonous Stings’ that can counter Ghost King clan methods?”

The Wasp clan cultivator was a man in brown robes, appearing extremely thin.

Hearing Xing Zhan’s words, he nodded: “Indeed there is. But… what do you mean?”

“That Lihan might not be dead. Below, he might be the one causing trouble.”

Xing Zhan didn’t believe Xing Fei had died so mysteriously.

No one knew the situation below.

Who said Lihan had definitely reached the eighth level? If he were lying in ambush there…

Xing Zhan’s expression grew increasingly ugly as he reached into his sleeve, actually producing an array disc and handing it to the Wasp clan cultivator.

“Though Lihan’s combat power is shocking, he’s just at Jade Nirvana, no essential difference from us.”

“Once he loses Ghost King clan methods, he’s nothing. You just need to go down and immediately activate Thousand Wasp Poisonous Stings while opening this Bone-Capturing Array, definitely trapping him.”

“Xing Fei died two breaths after going down. If you’re fine after two breaths, we’ll immediately come down to support.”

His voice was decisive, brooking no argument.

The Wasp clan cultivator’s expression changed, almost immediately wanting to refuse, but at that moment, looking up, he only saw Xing Zhan’s cold gaze.

…No choice.

The Wasp clan cultivator suddenly realized this, looking back to see everyone watching him with similar expressions.

“…Fine, I’ll go.”

A voice mixed with fear and anxiety.

Refusing them meant death, being killed by Lihan also meant death.

The former would be surrounded and attacked because they needed a scout; the latter was single combat against Lihan with a thread of survival hope…

This cultivator took the array disc, gritted his teeth, and suddenly roared.

Yellow and black patterns actually appeared on his face, with a vague shadow covering his entire body. A thousand purple poisonous stings floated around him like phantom cow-hair needles.

Zhang Tang and others stood on the Kunwu Five Capital War Chariot, watching expressionlessly.

They saw this Wasp clan cultivator leap and howl as he charged toward the Black Wind Cave!

Swoosh!

He vanished into the cave entrance in a blink.

Everyone’s consciousness immediately split a strand into their tripod rings.

The brilliant Star Cloud Scroll unfolded in their minds.

In the entire pit, besides wind sounds, no other sound could be heard—

One breath!

Two breaths!

“Go!”

Xing Zhan’s eyes lit up, immediately knowing the Wasp clan cultivator was fine. He shouted to rally everyone to charge into the Black Wind Cave!

Suddenly, several figures rose together, all diving toward the pit bottom!

But just as they reached the pit bottom’s edge, the Star Cloud Scroll in their tripod rings suddenly trembled, followed by a “crash”!

The statue belonging to the Wasp clan cultivator thunderously shattered!

The Wasp clan cultivator—instantly annihilated!

Brilliant starlight surged out, even creating ripples across the entire scroll.

Everyone was instantly terrified.

Some couldn’t help screaming, breaking out in cold sweat!

Those quick to react managed to stop their momentum in time; but some, in great shock, forgot or couldn’t stop in time.

In just a blink, three more cultivators screamed as they plunged into the cave.

One breath—

Boom!

Statue shattered!

Two breaths—

Boom!

Statue shattered!

Three breaths—

Boom!

Statue shattered!

In just three breaths, three more statues completely crumbled on the Star Cloud Scroll, returning to stardust and starlight as if they had never existed.

Xing Zhan and others standing at the Black Wind Cave’s edge felt complete ice-cold terror!

How was this possible!

How could they die so fast?

Xing Fei, already severely wounded, was essentially a waste.

Dying so quickly was understandable.

But whether the Wasp clan cultivator or the three who followed, their strength was considerable.

Yet their death speed grew faster each time!

What was below?

Was it Lihan?

Or some other monster?

Fear slowly rose from their hearts, making their hands and feet cold, momentarily not knowing what to do next.

Zhang Tang on the Kunwu Five Capital War Chariot had been watching them for a long time.

Originally they had nine people.

Now five had died at once…

Only three remained.

Zhang Tang’s gaze was cold, solemn, with a hint of severity. The silver crown binding his hair gleamed coldly in the light.

His finger turned slightly, and a silver thin blade appeared in his fingers.

Chen Tingyan beside him immediately noticed.

Zhang Tang turned to look at him. Chen Tingyan’s lips slowly curved into a bloody smile—

Strike while they’re down!

Earlier, Xing Zhan and others had given them plenty of trouble!

Now with five dead, their strength was greatly weakened.

Zhang Tang possessed shocking combat power, plus Chen Tingyan with his magical artifacts—if they could fight quickly, it wouldn’t be a problem!

Lihan had gone down without dying.

Jian Chou had mysteriously disappeared.

Both were their companions—how could they not guess what happened below?

Immediately, both transformed into lightning, shooting out directly toward Xing Zhan and others below!

They had already experienced Zhang Tang’s terror.

At this moment, having just lost several companions with minds in chaos, even the usually ruthless Xing Zhan hadn’t recovered.

The survivors were just the three Xing brothers.

Xing Zhan, Xing Wu, and Xing An.

Xing Zhan thought they still had fighting power, never expecting that seeing Zhang Tang’s attack, the life-fearing Xing An directly screamed and ran without regard for his companions’ lives!

A flash of light shot from the pit bottom, heading straight for the original Prison Division direction.

Xing Zhan cursed furiously.

In haste, he could only fight Zhang Tang with his iron fists, extremely embarrassed.

But worse was yet to come.

Chen Tingyan chose to fight Xing Wu, the one who had ambushed Jian Chou but was injured by her instead. He thought he could vent his anger, but after a few moves, Xing Wu’s eyes flashed as he powerfully deflected his attacks and turned—

He also ran!

This development was incredible!

Not just Chen Tingyan, even the red-skirted female cultivator who hadn’t acted showed surprise, then burst into laughter.

“The Impermanence clan, how unexpectedly… interesting…”

Xing Zhan was extremely unlucky.

Not only had his companions suffered heavy casualties in a blink, but the two remaining were completely unreliable. Xing An was cowardly and wouldn’t risk his life to help fight; Xing Wu needn’t be mentioned—he was ostracized in the Impermanence clan and never accepted by Xing Zhan and others.

Life-and-death brotherhood?

Impossible!

So Xing An chose to flee, Xing Wu chose self-preservation.

Thus, after bitter fighting, the isolated Xing Zhan being precisely and coldly pierced through the throat by Zhang Tang’s blade was unsurprising.

“Drip.”

Pale blood dripped from his blade’s strange curved tip.

Xing Zhan made unclear sounds in his throat, but his unwilling eyes quickly vanished with his body’s dissolution.

Boom.

One less person on the Star Cloud Scroll!

Chen Tingyan stood nearby holding his golden iron fan, his gaze somewhat subtle.

“Worthy of a stern official—even killing is so beautiful.”

Some who skin people possess a beauty beyond ordinary reach.

Perhaps this described Zhang Tang.

But Zhang Tang ignored him.

Taking out a snow-white handkerchief, he slowly wiped the blood from his blade, his gaze turning to the lonely red-skirted female cultivator standing high in the pit.

“Giggle giggle…”

The female cultivator laughed bone-meltingly, winking at Zhang Tang.

“Oh my, I haven’t seen such a capable male cultivator in ages. Want to dual cultivate?”

She seemed to have no intention of fighting.

Zhang Tang’s brow didn’t move. The blade rolled and disappeared from his fingertips. Next moment, his wide sleeves billowed as he raised his hand toward the nearby Kunwu Five Capital War Chariot—

“Buzz!”

The previously motionless war chariot suddenly glowed with white light.

The crane wings on both sides moved, and the chariot flew straight toward them!

It looked as if the Kunwu Five Capital War Chariot could also be commanded by him!

“Impossible!”

Chen Tingyan nearly bit his tongue.

“This chariot was soul-bonded to Jian Chou—how could it listen to you—wait, could you possibly?!”

A soul-bonded chariot naturally wouldn’t obey others.

But if the commander carried the chariot owner’s soul mark, that was different. Meaning… Jian Chou had given him her soul mark?!

Chen Tingyan immediately glared at Zhang Tang with extreme anger.

Zhang Tang remained unmoved, looking at him like an idiot. Next moment his figure flickered, appearing directly on the war chariot.

Little Marten occupied the compass platform.

Zhang Tang grabbed it by the scruff like lifting a kitten and put it down!

“Aowuuu!”

Who the hell do you think you are, daring to treat your Marten Grandpa like this!

The digesting Little Marten was immediately furious, roaring at Zhang Tang and waving its claws.

Zhang Tang didn’t even glance at it, seemingly unafraid of its abilities.

He pushed the handle previously blocked by Little Marten. The Kunwu Five Capital War Chariot suddenly moved, changing direction toward the Black Wind Cave.

“Hey hey hey! Wait!”

Chen Tingyan almost didn’t make it, fortunately fast enough to leap onto the chariot at the last moment.

The Black Wind Cave was enormous, but the chariot instantly shrank.

Like diving into a deep lake, creating ripples before vanishing.

Inside the mysterious rocky cave, a massive object immediately appeared.

The Kunwu Five Capital War Chariot’s thirty-six white flying wheels underneath touched the underground river’s surface. Zhang Tang and others seemed able to touch the stalactites overhead with raised heads.

Jian Chou stood not far ahead, face bearing a slight smile as she watched them.

“Finally here.”

“I knew it had to be you all down here colluding—ah no—what’s that saying, one man guards the pass, ten thousand cannot force through!”

Chen Tingyan saw Jian Chou and immediately flew down, talking excitedly.

“That Xing Fei was really unlucky, haha. When I saw him disappear from the Star Cloud Scroll, I wondered whether you acted or that—”

His voice suddenly stopped.

Because he thought of Lihan.

Chen Tingyan looked around, only then noticing that “Lihan” seemed completely unconcerned about their arrival, leisurely rising from the ground, flicking his sleeves as he looked toward them.

That gaze naturally passed over him, finally settling on the Kunwu Five Capital War Chariot.

Zhang Tang was covered in pale blood with a red wound on his face.

But despite this, he remained formally dressed in official robes.

When Fu Chaosheng looked at him, he also looked toward Fu Chaosheng.

For some reason, at this moment Zhang Tang suddenly detected a hint of demonic aura from that “Lihan’s” gaze…

That aura that had once appeared on the National Advisor.

This moment made him very uncomfortable.

But in a blink, this feeling vanished without trace.

Fu Chaosheng withdrew his gaze, eyes hiding unreadable amusement and sharpness as he walked to stand beside Jian Chou, saying lightly: “It seems Fellow Daoist Jian Chou’s instincts were accurate—this last time, you actually didn’t act…”

Between them, they had naturally continued their earlier game.

Fu Chaosheng called enemy or friend, Jian Chou acted.

But the last time, he still said “enemy,” yet Jian Chou only smiled at him without any intention of attacking the arrivals.

So he couldn’t help pondering a question:

Zhang Tang, who could control the Kunwu Five Capital War Chariot, must have received Jian Chou’s soul mark, and ultimately Jian Chou hadn’t believed his word “enemy.”

Did this prove that this stern official from the Human Isolated Island earned more trust from this old friend?

Fu Chaosheng couldn’t help but contemplate.

But Jian Chou ignored this, surveying the situation. She noticed the still-weeping Gu Ling and naturally saw the old woman’s poor condition.

“We don’t know who else might come down. Now that we’re all here, let’s go to the next level first.”

Finished speaking, she walked directly toward the cave’s only fist-sized spring and struck down with her palm!

“We go first!”