I Pick up a Lost Godhood

Chapter 300 - 289: Mingren’s Smile

Lim Yun’Er held the clear advantage. With her Twenty-Ninth Layer Elemental Power and over five years of cultivation experience, there was no way this Mingren could be her match. Besides, her specialty was dealing with men, which was why she’d been chosen to face Mingren, the former Senior of Lingyin Hall.

The Ten Thousand Demons Sect was a motley crew, and Lim Yun’Er had also cultivated such unorthodox techniques. In her eyes, it was just that simple for a woman to deal with a man.

"Die!"

—Array of Demonic Soul Stealing!

Lim Yun’Er was done playing around. She had her triggers, and Mingren had just pulled one. He had to die!

An area a hundred meters across was instantly enveloped by Lim Yun’Er’s array technique. A blood-red Ghost Head Banner appeared in her hand. Anyone caught within the array would become her puppet, eventually turning into a part of the array itself. To be honest, Lim Yun’Er didn’t like these uninspiring puppets, but Mingren was just too obtuse.

Mingren struggled for a moment, but he was relentlessly bound by the ghostly spirits from within the array. At last, his eyes grew vacant.

Only then did Lim Yun’Er sway her hips as she walked over, gently stroking Mingren’s face. "Why bother? You chose to do this the hard way. What a waste of your excellent aptitude."

"Not a waste at all."

SHING...

Mingren’s sword pierced through Lim Yun’Er’s Sea of Fate, swift and precise.

Lim Yun’Er stumbled back in disbelief. "This... is impossible. You..."

Mingren snatched the Ghost Head Banner. "Not bad. Over a hundred souls in here. You’ve been quite diligent."

"You are..." Lim Yun’Er stared at Mingren, her expression one of utter disbelief.

Mingren’s smile was as gentle as ever.

"I am... what?" Mingren blinked.

"Des...picable."

Lim Yun’Er truly could not rest in peace. Not even a disciple of the Ten Thousand Demons Sect had ever died in such a frustrating manner. She wanted to curse him more, but then she realized her head was already flying through the air.

Mingren’s sword was incredibly fast and incredibly cold, without a hint of mercy. It was only when he was killing that Mingren’s smile seemed a bit more genuine.

Judging by Ma Tian’Er’s complexion, she would be fine. She had also taken a Pill, and from its color and fragrance, it was clearly not the crudely-made junk Wang Meng produced. After swallowing the Pill, the color gradually returned to Ma Tian’Er’s face, but the needle wound would likely still require a period of recovery.

"Tian’Er, you were too careless. You need to be more ruthless when facing enemies in the future."

With Ma Tian’Er injured, Wang Meng didn’t dare wander about.

Wang Meng didn’t bring up what had happened during her treatment. Ma Tian’Er looked at her own disheveled clothes and understood that desperate times called for desperate measures. She was magnanimous enough not to say anything, which put Wang Meng somewhat at ease. He had been afraid she might brood over it. This little lady was usually so gentle, but she could be truly terrifying when she got worked up.

"Now we just have to wait for Mingren. Judging by the time, there should be a result by now. Let’s just wait here."

Wang Meng said.

Ma Tian’Er nodded. She had no combat strength left and didn’t dare be careless. As for Wang Meng’s advice, it went in one ear and out the other. ’I don’t even hate that Goguryeo cultivator anymore. If it weren’t for his treachery, how could he have created this opportunity for Wang Meng?’

At this thought, Ma Tian’Er couldn’t help but blush. When one hovers between life and death, the mind is not always as firm as it is in times of calm.

"Senior, your strength seems to have grown even greater than before."

"Haha, you think everyone else can improve while I go backward?" Wang Meng chuckled. It was true that at the Cultivation Academy, he wasn’t as domineering as he had been in the Holy Hall. It wasn’t that he didn’t want to be, but the time wasn’t right. ’Acting tough without the power to back it up will get you killed long before any heavenly tribulation arrives.’

"Not at all. I’ve never doubted your strength," Ma Tian’Er said.

"You should rest and regulate your breathing. We might have another fight on our hands soon."

Wang Meng said. Mingren’s strength was considerable, but it was hard to say what level he was at now. His opponent was strong, and also very treacherous.

"Wang Meng, you underestimate me. A mere lapdog from the Ten Thousand Demons Sect isn’t enough to cause me any trouble."

Mingren pushed aside some branches and walked out. Seeing Wang Meng and Ma Tian’Er, he broke into a smile. "It looks like we’ve scored a complete victory this time."

"Senior, I... I was saved by Senior Wang," Ma Tian’Er said, a little embarrassed.

"Haha, we’re all on the same side. You must have been too soft-hearted. You’ll need more practice in the future."

Mingren said. Ma Tian’Er nodded. Mingren always had a way with words that put people at ease, and much of her stress dissipated at once.

"Let’s go. We shouldn’t keep them waiting."

The state of the Elemental Qi in the Little Thousand World of Death Burial was extremely unfavorable for recovery. As soon as the three disciples of the Ten Thousand Demons Sect were eliminated, the Teleportation Array appeared.

At this moment, in the Hundred Battles Pavilion, Qi Feiyu and a group of Ten Thousand Demons Sect disciples were laughing and chatting as they waited for the results. The previous battles had carried a certain degree of risk, but this one was supposed to be the surest bet.

Hex Zui, Li Tianyi, Ning Zhiquan, and Tang Wei, on the other hand, wore grave expressions. All the pressure was on their side. The Teleportation Array materialized, and three figures appeared within its light.

Qian Fei let out a laugh. "Those three really took their sweet time."

Hex Zui and the others tensed up. When the three figures appeared, Hex Zui’s heart sank. ’It’s over this time,’ he thought. ’Even if our three could win, we’d probably lose one or two. For three to appear now... it probably means...’

As the light faded, everyone was stunned.

Qi Feiyu’s face immediately fell. The three people who appeared were all from the Holy Hall.

The Steward from the Hundred Battles Pavilion appeared. "The Holy Hall is victorious in this battle. The Goguryeo cultivator, Lim Yun’Er, and Zhuang Ren have been killed in action."

The members of the Ten Thousand Demons Sect simply could not believe this result and immediately burst into an uproar. How was this possible? They had made complete preparations before the battle. How could they have been completely annihilated by three rookies who had been at the academy for little more than a year!

The Hundred Battles Pavilion Steward paid no mind to their clamor. "My task is complete. The Ten Thousand Demons Sect’s challenge against the Holy Hall has failed. The Holy Hall retains the right to counterattack."

Qi Feiyu’s heart sank. The main sect had likely put a great deal of effort into launching this challenge, only for it to fall short at the final hurdle. Worse, it left the Holy Hall with the right to counterattack, meaning that if the Holy Hall so wished, they could launch a new round of challenges against the Ten Thousand Demons Sect’s disciples at the Cultivation Academy at any time.

Hex Zui glared fiercely at Qian Fei. "Sooner or later, we’ll make you pay back everything, with interest!"

The members of the Ten Thousand Demons Sect were seething as well, wishing they could exterminate the last remnants of the Holy Hall right then and there. But with a glance at the ice-cold Hundred Battles Pavilion Steward, they could only suppress the thought.

"Hmph, let’s go!"

Qi Feiyu snorted coldly and led his people away. Continuing a war of words would only bring them more shame.

Ning Zhiquan was the most ecstatic. "That was incredible! Junior Sister Ma, this is all thanks to you!"

Looking at the injured Ma Tian’Er, Ning Zhiquan naturally assumed she had played a pivotal role.

Ma Tian’Er quickly waved her hands. "Brother Ning, this was all thanks to Seniors Wang Meng and Mingren. I’m ashamed of my performance."

Mingren shrugged. "I didn’t do much. That kid Wang Meng was the real powerhouse. The Ten Thousand Demons Sect took a hard loss this time, so Qi Feiyu and his cronies won’t have it easy for a while. Still, we need to think of a way to deal with the Main Hall. Our own forces here are too thin."

Hex Zui nodded. Li Jing was dead, Mu Ziqing was dead. Even if Hex Zui wanted to avoid taking charge, he no longer had a choice.

"In any case, you three really opened my eyes today. We’ll discuss the other matters later. Let’s go to the Drunken Immortal Tower. It’s on me," Hex Zui said.

"Senior, can we really eat to our heart’s content?" Li Tianyi grinned.

"Eat your fill! It’ll be worth it even if I go bankrupt!" Hex Zui pumped his fist. Mu Ziqing’s death had indeed been a huge blow to Hex Zui, but it had also made him see many things in a new light. He and Mu Ziqing had always lived so cautiously, never slacking in their cultivation, never neglecting their relationships with those around them. But what was the result?

Mu Ziqing was dead, and he himself had come close. ’Since we all have to die sooner or later, why not live a little more freely while we can!’

"Haha, in that case, don’t mind if we do!"

Ning Zhiquan laughed as well. Although their situation was far from optimistic, their fighting spirit had been ignited. Fear was of no help.

Although Ma Tian’Er was injured, she still went along with them. The Drunken Immortal Tower was still just a place in a corner of the city, but for Hex Zui, treating them here was the most he could do.

Hex Zui got drunk, true to his name.

Ma Tian’Er didn’t drink, but at this moment, she felt as if she were back in the Thunderlight Hall, so comfortable and at ease. As for the dangers of the future, she wasn’t afraid.

One could only imagine Qi Feiyu’s fury. This failure would certainly leave a bad impression with the Sect Leader. He needed the Sect Leader’s full support to secure a position as a member of the Star Alliance, but to fail in a situation that was practically a sure thing would make him seem incompetent.

"Qian Fei, what the hell happened? Didn’t you say this was foolproof?!"

Qi Feiyu stared coldly at Qian Fei. ’If I’m done for, who stands to gain the most?’

Qian Fei broke out in a cold sweat. "Senior, this whole affair is bizarre. Our intel came from the Main Hall, and they swore it was completely accurate. We made our arrangements specifically to counter them, but..."

Qian Fei truly didn’t know; he was more baffled than anyone. Even without any special arrangements, the strength of their three fighters should have guaranteed a win against the Holy Hall. The Holy Hall had been in steady decline for years, to the point where it was nothing but a name. What could be so formidable about a few disciples they scrambled to send at the last minute? Only Ma Tian’Er was of any note, and she had been specifically countered. That Wood-Eroding Needle was no laughing matter.

"Ahem, Senior, could it be that we underestimated Ma Tian’Er’s strength? True, the Holy Hall couldn’t have given her much support, but there’s no guarantee the Empress Faction didn’t."

Qian Fei had suddenly thought of a crucial point.

Qi Feiyu froze. ...He had forgotten, too. Behind Ma Tian’Er stood the Empress Faction. The mere thought of the Empress made Qi Feiyu’s scalp tingle with fear. (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to come to Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for recommendations and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation.)