But he did not make a sound. With his two eyeballs protruding out, his whole body was frozen like a stone statue.

Shen Qingqiu held his breath. Gurgling sounds could be heard from the Old Palace Masters throat and bloodshot veins crawled up his eyes.

But he could not move a single step.

Finally!

Hahahahahahahaha!

Was he so stupid and saintly that when beaten he would not fight back?!

Treating him like hes so weak he cant slap you back in the face while dragging another person?!

Qiu Haitang exclaimed, Whats wrong?

She moved to draw her sword but Shen Qingqiu interrupted, Lady Qiu, I advise that you do not draw your sword in vainunless, of course, you want to end up like him.

Suspicious, Qiu Haitang spun around to face the Old Master and screamed.

Between the deep folds of his wrinkles, the Old Masters face was mottled with green pustules and contorted in unbearable pain.

Qiu Haitang trembled. Shen Jiu.. you what have you done?

I didnt do anything, Shen Qingqiu said. Did you forget that we are in someone elses tomb? Do you think the Demons will not have any protection?

In fact, floating in the air like a blown dandelion were the spores of a demonic plant, QingSi. This plant uses the bodies of living beings to germinate and is attracted to people who radiate Qi, be it spiritual energy or demonic energy. This was also why Shen Qingqiu used martial arts instead of his Qi techniques earlier.

QingSi embeds itself into the bodies of its victims without any painexcept just maybe a slight itch. However, once it sprouts, it tears the flesh and digs into the blood vessels. The faster the Qi circulates, the faster it grows. If a cultivator unleashes his peak energy, it could germinate in an instant.

The Old Palace Master had been attacking with his roars, focusing his Qi around his head and throat. Not just his face, it was likely that the insides of his mouth and throat passages were choked with the sprouts of this demonic plant, with its fur-like surface tendrils and the roots sinking under the skin, reaching down deep into the nerves.

Shen Qingqiu tutted, The Old Palace Master must not yell again. Otherwise, it will grow without stopping until it reaches your brain; then truly, you will be dead.

Facing this terrifying and disgusting scene, Qiu Haitang clamped down on her mouth and tried to resist her dizziness but failed. Her eyes rolled into her skull and she fell into a dead faint.

With one person immobilized and the other knocked unconscious, this was truly a victory!

Shen Qingqiu sighed in relief and struggled to stand up with Luo Binghe in his arms. Muscles straining and through clenched teeth, the Old Palace Master vaguely said, Dont rejoice too early, you are no better off. His face twisted in pain and the sprouts on his face trembled as he said these few words.

Shen Qingqiu just huffed in reply.

From his right arm to right across his shoulders, a deep hysterical pain mercilessly stabbed his flesh and nerves. To block the two swords earlier, he was forced to use his Qi cultivation and now the spores were germinating.

But fortunately, and at the very least, Luo Binghe was safe.

Seeing Shen Qingqiu half dragging half carrying Luo Binghe away, the Old Palace Master choked out his cries and toppled down from the wheelchair in his urgency, dragging his limbless body through the flowers and grasses on the grounda piteous and terrifying scene.

The Old Palace Master wheezed: Dont go. Dont go.. Dont leave.

Shen Qingqiu hastened his steps but who knew that the Old Palace Masters face would suddenly turn violent and open his mouth to let out a roar?

He wanted to bring them down together with him to the grave!

Shen Qingqiu could not figure out if the Old Palace Master was unwilling to let them leave or if he just refused to let Luo Binghe live. Shen Qingqiu used the old scabbard to barely block the blow. His right hand trembled as pain ripped through his body from this movement which aggravated the blistering pustules, all the while shielding Luo Binghe protectively. In the agonizing haze, he turned towards the Old Palace Master and his blood surged, killing intention blazing in his eyes.

With just that one roar, even more pustules started to sprout from the Old Palace Masters skin, extending even to the corners of his eyes. However, he no longer seemed to feel pain as he laughed wildly, rolling on the ground like a pork sausage until he reached Qiu Haitang. Shouting loudly into her ear like a mad man, he said, Dont you want to kill Shen Qingqiu? He is right in front of your eyes! Quick, get up! Kill him! Kill them all!

Qiu Haitang groggily awoke after the Old Palace Master shouted at her. Opening her eyes to a face like a withered orange peel mottled with an unknown monstrosity, her blood drained. Screaming hysterically, she slashed down with her sword. Shen Qingqiu, afraid that she might agitate her Qi further, thus attracting the lingering spores, yelled: Calm down!

Undeterred, the Old Palace Master shouted, Quickly! Quickly! Did you not ask me to help? He is unable to hold on any longerdo it now!

Qiu Haitang met Shen Qingqius eyes, their gaze steady and unwavering. All in all, Shen Qingqiu did not hold any enmity for Qiu Haitang. She was after all the original Shen Qingqius victim. But if she insisted on blocking his way, he would not hesitate to retaliate.

Surprisingly, Qiu Haitang was not the indiscriminate killing machine of the past. Glancing between Shen Qingqiu and Luo Binghe who was held in his arms, she not only did not advance but retreated a few steps.

Her lips quivering, she said, It is not possible it is impossible.This is fake! It is all fake! This is not my brother. My brother is never wrong, its not big brother. You lied to me!

Whats going on?

She cried and screamed, I dont know. I didnt know it was like this. I didnt do anything, so just why did I have to endure so many years of suffering?!

Shen Qingqiu was astonished. Qiu Haitang had only fainted for a short while, so why was it that when she woke up, it was almost as if she was a different person?

Or maybe, it was because she saw something she couldnt accept and was terrified to the point where she went crazy.

Shen Qingqiu thought that there was something amiss and sternly said, Dont move.

Old Palace Master shouted, What are you waiting for?!

Qiu Haitang, having lost her sanity, held her head as she screamed at Shen Qingqiu, Exactly how do you feel when you look at me? Do you hate me? Pity me? Why do you want to torture me by keeping me in this world? Why didnt you kill me? Why dont you kill me?!

After being randomly screamed at, Shen Qingqiu was confused enough that Qiu Haitang seized the chance to run away. He called out at her back, Come back! If you run about in the Holy Mausoleum, you will definitely die!

But she had already run off into the distance and he did not have the time to chase after her. Shen Qingqiu inexplicably felt a sense of loss. In his heart, he lit a candlelight vigil for her and continued forward.

The Old Palace Master could only watch as she ran off into the distance. As Shen Qingqiu started to walk away too, the Old Palace Masters last shred of hope disappeared without a trace. He was on the ground, dazed, before he suddenly buried his head into the grass surrounding him and tore off a mouthful of vegetation.

The Old Palace Master continued to laugh uncontrollably. As he laughed, the sprouts on top of his head started to grow faster, longer, and denser. In an instant, his whole head looked as if it was wrapped up with vines. Not long afterward, he wasnt able to laugh anymore. Shen Qingqiu could almost hear the sounds of his skull being squeezed.

The Old Palace Master exhaled a few shaky breaths before his head crashed heavily onto the ground. He wouldnt ever lift it again.

Even though he was the head of a clan, he died in such a gruesome, horrifying way. It was enough to make people sigh with pity.

Before Shen Qingqiu was able to take more than a few steps, an echoing voice sounded next to his ear. It seemed to come from every direction. Tianlang-Juns voice held traces of amusement: Peak Master Shen was able to play such a great game of hide-and-seek. Why dont you guess how long it would take until we meet again?

Shen Qingqiu broke out in cold sweat as he reached down to run his hand against his leg and encountered a foreign object. The QingSi had already followed the blood vessels to grow on his legs.

Tianlang-Juns voice was sent over again: You have been heading east the whole time. Is it because you want to go back to the hole in the protective barrier to escape the Holy Mausoleum?

This bastard actually knows where hes heading. Shen Qingqiu tried to suppress his shock before lowering his head to look at his leg. If he let the QingSi on his legs take root, when the time came, he wouldnt be able to leave even if he wanted to. Shen Qingqiu gritted his teeth and took a glance at Luo Binghe. Then he hardened his heart, ripped open the helm on his robes, grabbed a handful of sprouts, and viciously yanked.

His brain seemed to have conjured up several dozens of seconds of blankness. The pain felt like he was tearing out a part of his flesh.

Shen Qingqiu gave a series of labored pants and slowly came back to himself before he realized that the sounds that he made as he panted was like he was trying to choke down sobs.

At the moment, he wasnt able to even reach up to wipe his face. There was just no way. This reallyhurt way too fucking much!

Although his blood was flowing like a river, at least he could finally walk again. Before, he thought that Luo Binghe looked to be in a pitiful state. Now, who could have thought that his appearance at the moment is what really should be considered 120% miserable?

Since Tianlang-Jun knew where he was, he would definitely go where Shen Qingqiu was. If he continued to bring Luo Binghe with him and head east, they would definitely directly meet Luo Binghes nice relatives. Shen Qingqiu left the ancient forest-esque tomb and went past a couple of other rooms in the tombs. Swiftly, he picked a stone coffin that could be considered clean and comfortable and, protecting Luo Binghes head, carefully placed his unconscious disciple inside. He reached up and placed the back of his hand against Luo Binghes forehead. It was still hot enough to burn his hand. At the center of Luo Binghes forehead, the Demon Mark emitted a bright red light.

Shen Qingqiu placed the Heart Devil sword under Luo Binghes hands. He gathered his composure before finally sealing the coffin.

Tianlang-Jun walked unhurriedly in the front while Zhuzhi-Lang followed closely behind. As the stone road turned, they saw Shen Qingqiu standing in the middle of a tomb with the Xiu Ya sword in his hand. He was watching them coldly, looking as if he had been waiting for their arrival for a while.

Half of his light green robes was dyed scarlet. Blood flowed over the dried blood tracks on his left hand and dripped onto the floor. His lips seemed as pale as his face. Tianlang-Jun was astonished. It has only been a short while since our previous interaction. How is it that Peak Master Shen is this battered?

Shen Qingqiu looked back at him. He was clearly swallowed whole by a flaming magma pillar in that Anger Tomb. But now, you couldnt even smell the scent of roasted mushrooms from Tianlang-Juns body. The only sign of the adversity was the burned crisp at the edge of his black clothes. Where was the logic?

Tianlang-Jun asked, Where is Peak Master Shens beloved disciple?

Shen Qingqiu said, He left.

Tianlang-Jun laughed, If Peak Master Shen is still here, how is it possible that he would leave?

Shen Qingqiu also started to laugh with him. As they continued to laugh with one another, Tianlang-Jun suddenly wasnt able to laugh anymore.

Because he realized that he wasnt able to take another step forward.

He lowered his head to see the obstacle. He hadnt noticed that he was frozen by a thick, solid layer of crystalline ice from the soles of his feet to his waist. The area that it was covering continued to climb up his body. Zhuzhi-Lang was in a worse condition than him. Both of his legs and one of his arms was already frozen in place.

Tianlang-Jun finally noticed that the tomb he was in was extremely cold. He sullenly said, Mobei-Jun.

This tomb hall really was created by Mobei-Juns ancestors. They have a natural, unique affinity towards controlling ice in the demon race. Therefore, the tomb hall behind them was also inextricably linked to ice.

In the Holy Mausoleum, there were arenas and props everywhere to be used. Even if he didnt personally engage in conflict, there were other things that could be used to contain the opponent. Shen Qingqiu remembered that in the original novel, as soon as there was something with a temperature higher than the air in the tomb hall, it would immediately be frozen into an ice sculpture. After 2-3 days, it would then shatter into ice shards. So, before he went inside, he circulated his spiritual energy to decrease his own body temperature as low as possible. That was why he appeared to be so pale.

In the effort it took to say a single sentence, the solid ice had already climbed up to Tianlang-Juns chest. His expression didnt change. Even with his hand covered in demonic energy, he still wasnt able to break the ice crystal that covered his fist. The effect that it had was minimal. Even if the ice was not able to freeze him in place forever, it could at least buy around an hours worth of time.

Tianlang-Jun said, It looks like it wasnt my misperception. Peak Master Shen really does seem to know the demons forbidden area like the back of his hands.

Shen Qingqiu didnt reply. He gave them a wave before he turned and walked away. Tianlang-Jun gave Zhuzhi-Lang a glance and calmly said, I told you before, if you really intend to bring Peak Master Shen to the Demon Realm, you have to promise that he wont cause any problems. You know what you should do.

Zhuzhi-Lang quietly said, This subordinate understands.

After listening to their interaction, Shen Qingqiu suddenly felt as if he forgot or didnt take something very important into account.