Chapter Sixty-Eight: Mutation

Next, the proprietor presented Chu Youcai with fine wine and exquisite dishes, all manner of delicacies from mountains and seas. The innkeeper respectfully accompanied him in drinking, and Chu Youcai felt his spirits soar. After drinking twenty or thirty bowls of wine, Chu Youcai began to feel tipsy and decided to rest. Yet, as soon as he lay on the bed, he sensed the peak of the Snow Mountain within him absorbing all the effects of the wine. He leaned on the bed, silently cultivating, immersing himself in the myriad laws of the stars.

When midnight approached, Chu Youcai grew weary, but the innkeeper rushed in, flustered, to announce that the Lord of the Immortal Blade was about to arrive. Chu Youcai spoke in a low voice, "Prepare the banquet. I wish to drink with the Immortal Blade in the street." The innkeeper obeyed and set the feast outside. Not long after, the Immortal Blade indeed arrived, clothed in black, shrouded in darkness so deep that his visage could not be discerned, but a murderous aura surged from him.

Though there were still a few passersby nearby, they retreated at the sight of the Immortal Blade approaching. Chu Youcai raised his cup from afar and said, "I am new here, and hearing of your heroic deeds, I am filled with admiration. Let us drink three cups; Lord Immortal Blade, please yourself." Chu Youcai drank three cups in succession, draining each one. The Immortal Blade moved with a flash, landing before Chu Youcai, seized a cup, and likewise drank three.

Chu Youcai recalled how he had been wounded by the Immortal Blade several times, knowing he was far from a match. Yet now, facing him, his heart swelled with boldness, drinking cup after cup without a trace of fear.

The Immortal Blade stared at Chu Youcai, sensing a faint familiarity. He drank with Chu Youcai for several rounds, but suddenly smashed his cup and shouted, "No matter who you are, tell the innkeeper to bring out his daughter!"

The innkeeper’s face turned pale.

Chu Youcai glanced at the sky; midnight was near. He suddenly smashed the wine jug to the ground, scattering wine everywhere. The Immortal Blade, enraged, lunged forward, but Chu Youcai leaped into the air, brandishing the Fish-Scale Blade and unleashing the Dragon Technique, which could be used only once a day, casting a shadow that, in a split second, struck at the Immortal Blade.

The Immortal Blade roared, "It’s you!" Instantly, he summoned a cursed power to block Chu Youcai’s lethal blow.

Almost simultaneously, countless characters shot forth from the ground—the very "Disciple’s Rules" Chu Youcai had written during the day. Sensing the evil aura of the Immortal Blade, the words formed a massive prison, each character gleaming like pearls, trapping the Immortal Blade.

Having just used his power, the Immortal Blade was exhausted and unable to muster new strength. He was bound by the prison and could not move.

At that moment, Chu Youcai dashed at full speed toward the inner city. He soon reached the highest tower.

Atop the tower, Chu Youcai saw Lei Yinyang seated in meditation. Midnight had passed.

Chu Youcai felt his ability to wield the cursed artifact had returned. Lei Yinyang held the Blood Fox Fur and said calmly, "You resorted to clever tricks to trap my weapon, but beneath the Dao, all men are ants. You cannot cross this threshold."

A faint red glow emanated from Lei Yinyang, and a wave of demonic music filled the air, conjuring countless illusions.

Chu Youcai’s heart stirred. Lei Yinyang vanished before his eyes, replaced by Yun Cui Immortal.

Yun Cui Immortal was bound to the pillar behind, whispering, "My lord, save me!"

In this moment, she was heartbreakingly beautiful, her gaze filled with unspeakable sorrow. Chu Youcai stepped forward, approaching Yun Cui Immortal. Just as she gazed at him with boundless hope, he abruptly brought down the Fish-Scale Blade, splitting her in two.

The world blurred before Chu Youcai’s eyes. Lei Yinyang clutched his chest, blood seeping out, and spoke in a daze, "You hesitated not at all?"

Chu Youcai, his chest ablaze with wine and unrestrained spirit, declared loudly, "Knowing it is false, why show mercy?"

"You would kill even your kin, illusion or not? Are you not afraid of turning into a fiend, so cruel?" Lei Yinyang cried harshly.

"Because I hold fast to my Dao!" Chu Youcai replied coldly, without the slightest hesitation.

He remembered Yan Yunfei’s Dao—how Yan Yunfei’s family was slaughtered, and when he learned it was all a misunderstanding, he killed only the chief culprit. Even when hunted by the culprit’s descendants, he never fought back, for his heart was steadfast in the Dao, never doubting himself.

Just as Chu Youcai wrote among crowds, unafraid of ridicule; as he drank without losing his heroic heart; as he slew Yun Cui Immortal without worrying about damaging his Dao heart.

Lei Yinyang, unable to defeat Chu Youcai, suddenly transformed into a mighty eagle and lunged to devour him. Countless who lacked cultivation had perished by such slaughter.

In that instant, Chu Youcai’s hand flared with light—the Dragon Mountain River Pearl in his grasp. He unleashed the Dragon Technique and struck the eagle!

The curse erupted anew, a rebirth of its power after midnight. Lei Yinyang howled, "Impossible! You possess two cursed artifacts?" Yet he could not escape, already before Chu Youcai.

He summoned all his Dao, shining with light, shielding himself from the Dragon Mountain River Pearl.

The pearl struck Lei Yinyang’s chest and returned to Chu Youcai’s hand, while blood spurted from Lei Yinyang, his eagle wings shattered, rolling on the ground, nearly falling from the tower.

At the last moment, Lei Yinyang gripped the ground, forced himself upright, stared at Chu Youcai with hateful eyes, and spat, "Beneath the Dao, all men are ants. You possess cursed artifacts, but what of it?"

He stepped toward Chu Youcai, each step leaving trails of black blood.

Chu Youcai stared back. The opponent was shielded by Dao, and even the Dragon Technique could not kill him. Must he expend a year’s lifespan to use it again?

He realized how fortunate he was when he slew Lei Yinyang with the Time Reversal Technique, before Lei Yinyang could defend with Dao. The terror of the Time Reversal Technique was thus highlighted.

Yet Chu Youcai’s gaze revealed unwavering resolve.

He never doubted his Dao, willing to die, unafraid.

Facing Lei Yinyang, he threw a heavy punch—a fusion of countless techniques from his trials. Lei Yinyang, ferocious, unleashed Dao, emitting a blue light that collided with Chu Youcai’s blow.

Boom!

Dust flew, and the tower’s summit thundered.

A figure was hurled against the tower, crashing down—it was Chu Youcai.

Without Dao, even with its foundation, how could he be a match?

He hit the ground, feeling as if all his bones were shattered. Blood poured from him, soaking into the Dragon Mountain River Pearl he clutched.

Lei Yinyang advanced, step by step, each stride leading deeper into the abyss of death.

At that moment, Chu Youcai saw no escape, yet noticed his blood being absorbed by the pearl.

The more blood he shed, the faster the pearl absorbed it. He felt suffocated.

When Lei Yinyang was a yard away, the Dragon Mountain River Pearl suddenly released a warm energy, coursing through Chu Youcai.

His wounds began to heal rapidly.

It was like the time he entered this ghost city, struck by the Fish-Scale Blade and near death, only to recover inexplicably. That time, too, the pearl had absorbed his blood.

What was happening?

At that instant, Lei Yinyang reached Chu Youcai, his face twisted, unleashing all his power.

He shoved Chu Youcai from the towering edifice, intent on scattering his bones to oblivion!