Black Wind Old Monster was a notorious Evil Cultivator in the Southern Domain. He was ruthless and had a particular fondness for harvesting yin to replenish yang. Countless female cultivators' blood stained his hands.
He was elusive and exceptionally swift with escape techniques. The great Aristocratic Clans had tried to hunt him down several times, but he always got away.
No one had expected him to intercept Zhang Family's wedding procession today.
Zhang Wu's expression changed dramatically. He stepped forward and blocked Zhang Chen, shouting sternly, "Black Wind Old Monster! Today is our Young Master's wedding day. If you know what's good for you, leave at once. Otherwise, our Zhang Family Old Ancestor will show you no mercy!"
"Show me mercy? Bah!"
Black Wind Old Monster spat a mouthful of phlegm, which sizzled as it landed on the defensive Light Screen. "That old bastard Zhang Tianzheng must be at the end of his rope by now, right?"
"You think you can scare me with the name of a dead man? You're not worthy!"
His lecherous, beady green eyes slid right past everyone, greedily fixing on the bright red bridal sedan. He licked his cracked lips. "I've heard that girl from the Lin Family has a Mutated Ice Spiritual Root!"
"Even though it's ruined, she still has her original yin."
"To make a useless brat like this your husband would be a crime against nature! Why not give her to me as a cultivation vessel and help me break through to Late Golden Core Stage? Hahahaha!"
"Impudent!"
Zhang Wu roared with fury. His greatsword shot from its sheath, transforming into a ten-zhang-long blade of flame that slashed viciously toward Black Wind Old Monster.
"Child's play."
Black Wind Old Monster gave a disdainful sneer. He didn't even bother using a magic treasure, merely flicking his sleeve.
Boom!
A black gale surged out of nowhere, filled with the wails of countless vengeful ghosts. In an instant, it shattered the flaming blade.
The tremendous force slammed into Zhang Wu's chest like a sledgehammer.
"Pfft—"
Zhang Wu vomited blood into the air. He flew backward like a kite with its string cut and crashed heavily onto the flying boat's deck, smashing a huge crater into the hard ironwood planks.
Just one move!
Zhang Wu, at Foundation Establishment Great Perfection, was before Black Wind Old Monster, at Mid Golden Core—
as fragile as an infant.
"Commander!"
The surrounding guards cried out in alarm and rushed over to him.
The wedding procession descended into chaos. The cultivators playing music were so frightened that they dropped their instruments into the sea, and the festive atmosphere vanished without a trace.
The onlookers below erupted into an uproar.
"It's over, it's over. Zhang Family has lost face this time."
"Black Wind Old Monster must have guessed that Zhang Family's Old Ancestor wouldn't dare leave seclusion lightly. He's going to snatch the bride in front of everyone!"
"Poor Lin Qingxue. Her life was already hard, and if she falls into the hands of an Evil Cultivator, she'll wish she were dead."
Inside the bridal sedan.
Lin Qingxue listened to the fighting outside and the filthy insults. Her already pale face had gone completely bloodless.
Her slender jade hands clutched her sleeves tightly.
Was this her fate?
To fall from the clouds into the dust, and now even have the right to live as an ordinary woman taken away from her?
She knew of Black Wind Old Monster's infamy.
If she fell into his hands, she truly would be unable to live or die in peace.
Lin Qingxue drew a deep breath, a trace of resolve flashing in her eyes.
A sharp dagger slipped from her sleeve.
It was the last of her dignity.
If it really came to that, she would rather take her own life than let her ruined body be defiled.
It was just a pity about her mother...
And Zhang Chen, who looked weak but had been willing to give her a home.
"Zhang Family brat, get out of my way!"
Seeing that no one could stop him, Black Wind Old Monster grew even more arrogant.
He stretched out his hand, conjuring a huge claw of Spiritual Power.
It reached straight for the bridal sedan.
"Beautiful one, come with me! Zhang Family can't protect you!"
As the black claw was about to shatter the sedan's defensive formation, Zhang Chen remained where he was, perfectly still.
He even straightened the hem of his robe, ruffled by the wind.
Just as everyone thought Lin Qingxue was doomed—
"Alas..."
An aged sigh seemed to travel here from the primordial past.
It echoed softly through the heavens and earth.
The voice was not loud, yet it slipped clearly into every person's ears and even reverberated directly through their souls.
The sea breeze stopped, the waves fell still, and even the black clouds churning across the sky—
seemed frozen in midair by that single sigh.
"Today is my great-grandson's wedding day. There should have been no bloodshed."
The voice sounded again, carrying an authority and age that none could resist. "But since you've chosen your own death, stay here and serve as a wedding gift."
The moment the sigh rang out, Black Wind Old Monster's arrogant laughter froze on his face.
That was... the dreadful might of a Nascent Soul Dao Lord!
"Zhang Tianzheng?! You're not dead?!"
Black Wind Old Monster shrieked.
He no longer cared about the beautiful bride or the cultivation vessel. He turned to burn his Essence Blood and flee with Blood Escape.
"Since you've come, why hurry to leave?"
At those calm words, the empty sky overhead abruptly twisted.
Above the nine heavens, boundless Spiritual Energy surged together, gathering wildly.
In an instant, it coalesced into a golden palm a hundred zhang across.
Its lines were clear, its form as solid as a real hand. Bearing the vast majesty of Heaven's Might, it descended slowly.
Beneath that giant palm...
The black mist shielding Black Wind Old Monster melted away in an instant, like snow beneath the sun.
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