Independent, Unlike the World

"Outrageous!"

Zhou Yang's expression darkened. The Fenghua Tree erupted with his aura, and in an instant, its branches brandished over a hundred treasured swords, like a hundred-armed god or devil, stabbing toward Xu Ying!

The treasured swords swooped up and down, some fast and some slow, so nimble that they dazzled the eyes!

Xu Ying had witnessed the swordsmanship of the giant deity. The giant deity could control four swords at once—one in each hand, while using his spirit to control two flying swords.

Its swordsmanship had caused Xu Ying to suffer repeatedly. He had even had his shoulder blade pierced and nearly lost his life!

However, compared to Zhou Yang's Zhou Tian Demon Slaying Sword, the giant deity's swordsmanship was hardly worth mentioning.

Once the Zhou Tian Demon Slaying Sword was unleashed, over a hundred treasured swords wove back and forth, each executing a different sword technique. It was as if a hundred deities capable of using the Flying Sword Technique were simultaneously attacking Xu Ying with different sword techniques!

If one had never studied swordsmanship, one would likely have had one's limbs and head severed in the very first exchange, with one's body stabbed until it was riddled with holes!

Xu Ying held a willow branch in his hand and moved his feet. Using the branch as a sword, he advanced instead of retreating, charging into the Zhou Tian Demon Slaying Sword formation amid the hundred treasured swords!

"Clang!"

His willow branch met the first treasured sword. The instant the branch knocked the sword away, sword light flared at its tip, severing the branch behind the sword hilt!

Xu Ying stepped forward, dodging the treasured sword attacking from behind. He swept his willow branch back to deflect another sword, and the Sword Qi skimmed across its branch. Another treasured sword fell to the ground.

Over twenty treasured swords attacked from different directions. Xu Ying immediately found himself in dire straits. No matter how exquisite his swordsmanship was, he was not a three-headed, six-armed monster who could deal with so many attacks at once.

Suddenly, the willow branch flew from his hand. It traced graceful arcs through the air, swift as shooting arrows, severing the dancing branches one after another!

"Flying Sword Technique!"

Zhou Yang was startled. In the blink of an eye, over thirty of the treasured swords attacking Xu Ying had been cut down. As Xu Ying moved, more and more treasured swords fell.

Xu Ying flipped through the air like a fish leaping over the Dragon Gate, passing between the treasured swords one after another. The willow branch whirled around him, and whenever a treasured sword entered a range of a little over ten feet, the willow branch severed the branch behind its hilt!

Without the branches supporting them, the treasured swords lost control and fell straight to the ground.

The clanging of metal rang out without end. The instant he landed, treasured swords lay scattered behind him, every one severed at the branch behind its hilt!

Zhou Yang sneered. The branches at the hilts of the fallen swords took root in the earth and grew rapidly. Each branch stretched longer and longer, nimble beyond compare, swinging its treasured sword from behind as it slaughtered toward Xu Ying!

"Xu Ying, you have no idea how formidable my Zhou Family's Zhou Tian Demon Slaying Sword is! Let alone a Demon King like you—even if a Demon God who enjoys incense offerings came, it would still meet a bitter end!"

After Xu Ying landed, he was only a few yards from Zhou Yang. He raised a hand and pointed. With a whoosh, the willow branch surged in speed and shot straight toward Zhou Yang!

Zhou Yang roared, "Indestructible Diamond Body!"

His body grew wildly, soon reaching a height of twelve feet. Golden light covered him from head to toe. His hands and feet grew broad, while a thin layer of golden aura spread across his palms as he reached out to meet the willow branch!

The instant his palm touched the willow branch, the sword light on the branch blazed. With a hiss, the Sword Qi pierced through the golden aura in his palm.

The next moment, the willow branch pressed against his palm and unleashed tremendous force. At the point where Zhou Yang's palm met the branch, light rippled like waves.

At the same time, Xu Ying broke through the layers of encircling treasured swords, seized the other end of the willow branch, and suddenly thrust it forward!

Zhou Yang shouted and sent his Magic Power surging. With a snap, the willow branch broke through the middle bone of his palm, pierced through the back of his hand, then tore free from Xu Ying's grasp and flew straight toward his brow!

Zhou Yang hurriedly retreated and swung out his other fist, smashing the willow branch to pieces. Suddenly, Xu Ying grabbed one of the fallen treasured swords and flicked it with a bent finger. The long sword whistled through the air, its Sword Qi surging as it slashed toward him!

Only then did Zhou Yang notice that over ten treasured swords were suspended behind Xu Ying, circling the youth as they blocked every treasured sword attacking from the Fenghua Tree!

These treasured swords were not magical artifacts. They could be controlled by Zhou Yang, and they could also be controlled by Xu Ying.

Zhou Yang reached out and grabbed one barehanded. Suddenly, pain shot through his palm, and all five fingers flew off!

Zhou Yang activated the Ni Wan Secret Treasury, and his severed fingers regenerated. At that moment, Xu Ying's fist came crashing over, with the Elephant King Divine Body appearing behind him as divine strength erupted.

The punch struck Zhou Yang in the head. His enormous body was sent flying backward!

"You corrupt official! When you treated the people of Lingling like fish on the chopping block, did you ever imagine this day would come?"

Xu Ying charged forward like a divine elephant crossing a river. Every time his feet struck the ground, it exploded beneath him, creating a terrifying momentum. Behind him, treasured swords shot out like streaks of light, containing the power of dragons and elephants as they stabbed toward Zhou Yang!

Shocked and enraged, Zhou Yang hurriedly shouted, "What are you waiting for? Come help me!"

The treasured swords arrived before him. He hurriedly raised his hands to block them, but just as he stopped three swords, Xu Ying turned and swept a foot across his face.

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

Zhou Yang tumbled and rolled into the mountain forest. Immediately, streaks of sword light shot into the woods, Sword Qi erupting and slicing in every direction, cutting down one great tree after another!

The officials of the Lingling County Office hurried over and shouted, "Criminal, don't run wild!"

Before his voice faded, green light flashed. A willow branch pierced through one man's head!

The green light was like a spirit serpent, darting rapidly through the air at such dizzying speed that it dazzled the eyes. The remaining twelve officials hurriedly activated their Nu Arts. Green vines danced all around them as they tried to block the green light.

The green light shot through the air with repeated whooshes, emitting strange shrieks. It moved incredibly fast, and wherever it passed, the green vines exploded one after another.

Suddenly, one official's head jerked to the side. The green light passed through his left temple and emerged from his right. The green vines around him instantly lost control, dancing wildly like mad serpents. Only after his brain died did the countless writhing vines finally exhaust their strength and collapse to the ground.

A blue-robed official heard movement on his left and turned to look. Suddenly, pain struck the back of his heart. The willow branch pierced through his back and emerged from his chest.

The blue-robed official's heart was blown apart by the Sword Qi surging through the willow branch. He vomited blood and collapsed.

The green light was like a summons from the god of death. It soon swept through the mountain forest once, while its sharp shriek gradually slowed. Its speed faded bit by bit until it approached Xu Ying from behind, neither hurried nor slow.

Behind Xu Ying, enormous green vines pierced through the mountain forest, growing and thrashing wildly before gradually exhausting themselves and collapsing.

Beneath the green vines lay the bodies of thirteen officials.

Ahead of Xu Ying, Zhou Yang was covered in blood, his body smashed against the cliff across from them by a single punch.

On the cliff, someone had written the characters "No Delusion."

"Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!"

Four treasured swords shot out and nailed Zhou Yang's limbs to the cliff.

Zhou Yang struggled desperately and roared, trying to break free.

"Magistrate Zhou, I used to envy officials like you very much."

Xu Ying's violent aura gradually calmed. Looking at Zhou Yang pinned to the cliff, he said evenly, "You rode fine horses in splendid clothes, high above everyone else, the parents and officials of the people. Wherever you passed, everyone knelt and paid their respects, fearing you as they feared the gods. With a single order or official document, you could make commoners offer up their family wealth, even hand over their wives and children! You lived more comfortably than the gods!"

Zhou Yang stopped struggling and laughed loudly. "Xu Ying, if you wanted to become an official, why didn't you say so sooner? I am a son of the Zhou clan. Arranging an official position for you would be effortless!"

His gaze flickered. The Fenghua Tree silently rolled up the scattered treasured swords with its branches. Just then, a streak of sword light cut the demon tree down by its roots.

Zhou Yang's expression darkened, and he dared not make any further move.

Xu Ying recalled his life at Jiangjiatian and said, "The gods merely sit behind offering tables, inside shrines, accepting people's bows and incense. They only eat two meals a month, on the first and fifteenth days. They must also receive the people's prayers, regulate wind and rain, and fulfill their wishes. But officials receive salaries from the imperial court, wear fine clothes, eat delicacies, and wherever they go, people kneel wherever they pass—far better than the gods! When I was little, you rode past in splendid clothes. I stood by the roadside, my face caked in mud, while the muddy water kicked up by your horses' hooves splashed across my face. I envied you so much. I once dreamed that I could become as imposing as you."

Zhou Yang secretly activated his Nu Art and smiled. "It isn't too late even now. My Zhou Family has no grudge against you. You merely have talent, so we intended to use force to compel you to submit. Since this was all a misunderstanding, why tear off all pretense? My Zhou Family can arrange an official position for you."

Xu Ying continued as if he had not heard him. "When I worked as a Snake Catcher with my godfather and grandfather, I could never sleep soundly at night. I was always jolting awake, hearing officials arresting people, women screaming in agony, children crying in the night, and old women leaping over walls to flee for their lives. During the day, I saw officials ride into villages, majestic and overbearing, plundering like bandits. Back then, I had a dream: I wanted to be as imposing as an official too."

Zhou Yang smiled. "You can. As long as you pledge loyalty, my Zhou Family will not mistreat you."

Xu Ying continued, "But the next day, I saw women throw themselves into wells and men hang themselves from their own gates. That was when I felt that becoming an official might not be so wonderful after all."

Zhou Yang sighed. "I often lament how difficult the people's lives are. Treacherous ministers seize power, until those below imitate those above. Xu Ying, since you wish to reform the abuses of government, you should become an official all the more. Once you hold great power, you can cast off the old and establish the new, govern the people's livelihood, and fulfill your ambitions. Would that not be worthwhile?"

Xu Ying's expression dimmed. "Later, my grandfather was bitten while catching snakes and died from the poison. My father then took responsibility for caring for me. He wasn't my biological father, yet he took excellent care of me. After working himself to the bone for several years, he saved a little silver and bought two acres of land. He told me, 'A Ying, stop catching snakes. If you keep doing it, sooner or later you'll die in a snake's jaws. Grow crops instead.' The day after he bought the land, an official came to collect the green-crop tax."

The corner of his mouth twitched. After a moment of silence, he said, "He had no money to pay, so the land was confiscated and sold to Steward Jiang."

Zhou Yang frowned slightly. "Paying taxes is the law of the kingdom. It has nothing to do with the officials of my Lingling."

Xu Ying said, "My godfather cried for a long time. He said the money used to buy the land had been exchanged for by my grandfather's life, and should have been kept for me, so that when I grew up I could marry a wife. He said he had failed me and my grandfather, and that he would earn the money back. Then he went into the mountains to catch Strange Snakes. He didn't come back for several days. Later, I found him. He was dead, poisoned to death. Even monsters wouldn't dare eat him. I carried him back and buried him together with my grandfather."

Zhou Yang said, "With such a tragic past, you should join my Zhou Family all the more and become an official. Once you become an official, you can prevent more people from suffering as you did."

"Master Zhou, you're mistaken. I told you all this not to sell my misery and beg for sympathy, hoping to get an official position."

Xu Ying raised his head and looked directly into his eyes. He said softly, "The reason I told you all this is that the villagers told me that when people die without knowing why, they become vengeful ghosts. And my good friend Yuan Qi told me that explaining yourself to a corpse is superfluous."

The willow branch slowly flew out from behind him.

"So, before killing you, I'm explaining clearly why I'm killing you."

Xu Ying turned around, and the willow branch became a streak of green rainbow that pierced through Zhou Yang's brow.

No delusion meant utmost sincerity.

The so-called no delusion was sincerity in one's heart.

Xu Ying had merely been sincere in his heart and swift in action. Since he had said Zhou Yang would die with his eyes closed, he would make sure Zhou Yang died with his eyes closed.

Zhou Yang's eyes bulged wide. He let out an earth-shaking roar and died unable to close his eyes.

Xu Ying looked back at his expression and shook his head. "The villagers were probably lying to me. I explained everything so clearly, yet he still died with his eyes open. From now on, it's safer to explain after killing someone."

At that moment, the Great Bell flew out from behind Xu Ying's head and said, "A Ying, do you know why your strength has increased so rapidly, allowing you to kill so many Nu Masters so quickly?"

Xu Ying was puzzled.

"Because you are a Qi Refiner."

The Great Bell spoke in a deep, distant voice. "Your Qi Gathering Stage has already reached the pinnacle. You have seen the mysterious gateway within your body, and you are about to knock on that gateway and connect to the Heaven-Connecting River. Once you reach that point and master divine abilities, you will be a true Qi Refiner."

"Once you take that step, you will stand apart from all others."