Volume One: The Emperor's Sword Chapter 85: Worse Than Beasts

The Gu Master's revealed insect form brought with it a suffocating sense of oppression.

It was not only the terrifying aura of a fourth-rank demon beast—the ghastly, repulsive insect body was enough to give anyone nightmares with a single glance.

Luo Xiaoyu and Yi Hongwen were so frightened their legs went weak, while Mu Qingyao, like Zhou Yuanliang, was as pale as a sheet.

At the tenth level of Qi Refining, one could barely contend with a second-rank demon beast and stood almost no chance against a third-rank one. Now, facing a monster equivalent to a fourth-rank demon beast, aided by dozens of barbarian warriors, even if they joined forces, hope was slim.

Especially after such a prolonged and brutal battle—most of their spiritual energy was spent, and they had little strength remaining.

Mu Wan, hiding in the corner, was also badly shaken by the Gu Master's insect form.

He pressed himself against the wall, inching away in hopes of escaping the danger. But before he could get far, one of the Gu Master's guards spotted him; the man strode over and stationed himself nearby, ostensibly to protect Mu Wan, but in truth to keep him under watch.

As for the Gu Master's true form, Yun Que was not particularly surprised. He’d long suspected the man had a scorpion’s tail—his true body was bound to be revolting. Yun Que’s attention, however, was mostly fixed on the corpse-eating insects.

These creatures were swarming over a pile of bones, crawling over one another in a tangle. Whether they were sated or cowed by the Gu Master's aura was unclear.

Seeing this, Yun Que immediately activated the spirit beast space in his storage ring. With a sweep of his arm, he collected all the corpse-eating insects.

Next, he drew the Thousand-Leaf Sword—a most unusual treasure, formed of a thousand green leaves. It could coalesce into a sword to slay enemies or scatter into a thousand miniature green-leaf swords to attack.

Alone, each green-leaf sword was not particularly powerful, akin to a low-grade magic weapon, but together their might was formidable.

Yun Que channeled his spiritual energy, sending a dozen green leaves swirling out to pierce the ground, pinning ten black scorpions instantly.

Unlike ordinary flying swords, the number of green leaves the Thousand-Leaf Sword could produce was not limited by cultivation realm. As long as the user's spiritual energy and swordsmanship sufficed, unleashing all thousand leaves at once was possible.

Ten black scorpions were slain in an instant, each emitting a shrill screech as they died. The Gu Master's true body shuddered violently.

Another ten black scorpions perished under the green leaves.

With a taunting flourish, Yun Que scattered hundreds of green leaves, and in the blink of an eye, over a hundred black scorpions lay dead.

The Gu Master's fury surged. To slaughter his black scorpions right under his nose—this was courting death!

From his distant hiding place, Mu Wan's eyes burned with greed at the sight of the Thousand-Leaf Sword. If he could seize these two treasures, it wouldn't matter if every other member of the Mu clan perished—he would become the rightful head and found a new Mu clan, one belonging to him alone!

"With mere Qi Refining cultivation, how long do you think you can wield treasures like these?" the Gu Master sneered, his hideous form crawling forward, scorpion tail raised high.

Faced with such a foe, everyone's nerves were stretched taut.

Mu Qingyao mustered her remaining spiritual energy, gripping the Flower Spirit Sword with resolve for a final stand.

Zhou Yuanliang swallowed two spirit pills in quick succession; his spiritual energy surged, and four flying swords gathered before him, ready for the ultimate battle.

Luo Xiaoyu had exhausted her scant reserves of spiritual power. She gripped the dagger Yun Que had given her with both hands, locking her gaze on the approaching behemoth.

Even Yi Hongwen, with what little feeling remained in one hand, clutched his longsword in despair, bracing for the end.

Only Yun Que did something wholly unexpected.

He beckoned to Mu Qingyao, saying, "Hand me the Flower Spirit Sword. I'll keep it safe for now."

Mu Qingyao hesitated, momentarily puzzled by his intent. But she trusted Yun Que must have a plan, so without a second thought, she handed over the Flower Spirit Sword.

"Dual blades, united!"

With a great, heroic shout, Yun Que spun around and ran, leaping up the sides of the pit in a few bounds and vanishing into the upper tunnel.

Gone without a trace…

The rest, left behind in the pit, stared at one another in stunned bewilderment.

Even the Gu Master had not foreseen this and froze momentarily.

Yi Hongwen was first to wail, "Despicable wretch! He's using us as bait!"

From afar, Mu Wan shouted anxiously, "Stop him! Both treasures are in his hands!"

But even without Mu Wan's cry, the Gu Master, snapping out of his daze, moved at once. Claws hooking the earth, he scrambled out of the pit and into the mine tunnel in hot pursuit of Yun Que.

"Such a man must never be your husband, cousin!" Yi Hongwen bewailed, "Not only did he abandon us, he took away our Mu family treasures—he's a beast! No, worse than a beast!"

Zhou Yuanliang cast him a look of pity and said, "He also drew the Gu Master away, don't you see? Yun Que is saving us, bearing all the danger himself. Yet here you are, whining. Truly, you have no sense."

Only then did Yi Hongwen realize that only a few burly barbarian warriors and a scattering of black scorpions remained in the pit. The situation had clarified—this was their best chance to escape!

"So he’s a good man after all! I’ll burn incense for him when we get home!" Yi Hongwen struggled to his feet, limping toward the tunnel above.

Luo Xiaoyu, impatient with his slowness, stepped on his shoulder to climb out first, making Yi Hongwen yelp in pain.

Mu Qingyao did not leave immediately. She fixed her gaze on the distant Mu Wan.

That traitor must be captured, or the Mu clan's elders and children would never escape this prison.

"I’ll deal with the remaining barbarians. Leave him to you," Zhou Yuanliang said, sending his flying swords at the barbarian warriors, quickly dispatching several.

With the Gu Master gone, the black scorpion puppets grew sluggish, their corpse-stitching slowed to a crawl, and for a while, not a single corpse rose.

Seeing the tide turn, Mu Wan broke out in a cold sweat. He pleaded, "Qingyao! Dearest niece, let me explain! Your uncle had no choice—if I hadn’t allied with the barbarians, what hope would our Mu clan have had? Think about it—the Mu clan is a fat prize in the emperor’s eyes. For the sake of forging the Emperor’s Sword, he’s gone mad; he’d never let us go! I was forced into this!"

He pleaded as he retreated, seizing the moment when his barbarian guard was distracted by Mu Qingyao to make a desperate dash for the exit.

But before he could climb out, the sound of splitting flesh came from behind—his guard had been cleaved in two and crashed to the ground.

Mu Wan turned ashen, scrambling up the pit, only to look up into Mu Qingyao’s cold, impassive face.

"Don’t kill me! Ah—!"

He was struck down by a single blow, his head bloodied, and lost consciousness.

Mu Qingyao had not used lethal force—the blow was with the sword’s scabbard. Mu Wan was still useful; he had to be brought back alive.

Dragging him like a dead dog, she joined Luo Xiaoyu and Yi Hongwen, and together they retreated down the tunnel.

Zhou Yuanliang covered the rear. As he withdrew into the tunnel, several barbarian warriors pursued. Zhou Yuanliang used two flying swords to nail the first two pursuers at the tunnel mouth, using their bodies as a barricade to block the way, slowing the rest.

He abandoned those swords and quickly fled.

The four of them, dragging the unconscious Mu Wan, fled a great distance and finally reached a fork in the tunnel.

Just then, thunderous rumbling echoed from deep in the mine. The ground trembled and sand and stones rained from overhead.

The mine was collapsing!

Daring not to linger, they raced onward.

Yet, to their confusion, Yun Que and the Gu Master were nowhere to be seen.

As they ran, Mu Qingyao suddenly looked back, staring into the pitch darkness of the left-hand tunnel.

She finally realized where Yun Que had fled—

To the place where the tree demon slumbered!