This Counts as a Mutual Rush Toward Each Other

Diyi Era of the Zixuan Dynasty, July 30th.

Nothing much to write. Just wanted to note that today was the day I encountered Sword Disciple Mountain's Heaven's Chosen.

Mm, that bastard was shameless indeed. He came down the mountain with seven or eight protectors just to hack me to death.

And every one of them was no weaker than my benefactor, Blackheart Elder!

Inside the Sword-Overseeing Dao General Hall, Tan Shuchang wrote down today's diary entry. If that bastard hadn't brought so many protectors and kept a life-saving treasure on him, that Heaven's Chosen would have had to prepare to return to the mountain the moment he descended it.

In the Jia Five Realm, if an immortal cultivator perished away from home, they still needed to return to their roots like fallen leaves. Rogue Cultivators had their corpses sent back to their hometowns, while disciples of immortal sects returned to their mountains for burial.

After putting away his diary, Tan Shuchang had finally eased some of the stifled frustration in his heart. Yet he couldn't help murmuring, "Twenty-seven years of cultivation is still too easily limited. If I revealed my true form, then within Heavenly Wonder Pavilion, aside from Qiu Junlin's father, there probably aren't many who could make me wary in a one-on-one fight. But if they joined forces and carried some treasures with them..."

At that thought, Tan Shuchang's head began to ache.

Such treasures were undoubtedly precious and rare, but no matter how precious or rare they were, for a force like Sword Disciple Mountain, obtaining them only required some time and effort.

Therefore, the protectors around that Heaven's Chosen definitely carried similar life-preserving treasures.

Thus, when a pavilion attendant came in to report that someone wished to meet him alone over an urgent matter, Tan Shuchang, already in a foul mood, didn't waste a word before ordering the man thrown out.

"My lord, isn't that a little inappropriate? What if it really is urgent..." the attendant who had come to report asked hesitantly.

"If it were truly urgent, they shouldn't be telling me."

Tan Shuchang said.

He had already submitted his resignation letter, and they still expected him to work?

Besides, based on the experience he'd accumulated from observing things in his early years and from hearsay in his previous life, what important matter required a private meeting?

Usually, in such situations, it was either bribery or dividing the spoils.

He might have been a demonic cultivator, but he was a demonic cultivator who didn't like taking bribes.

After all, how could that compare to writing a letter, serving as a courier for the Upper Profound Seal, and making money quickly and easily?

Yet Tan Shuchang's action undoubtedly infuriated Shi Changkong.

Tan Shuchang had actually left long before the small banquet ended, so Shi Changkong, who had been waiting outside, found nothing but empty air. Fortunately, he had extensive connections within Heavenly Wonder Pavilion. The moment Tan Shuchang returned to the Dao General Hall, he learned of it.

So Shi Changkong hurried back.

Who could have expected that he wouldn't even get through the door before being thrown out?

"Brother Chu, did you just come out from inside? Tan Shuchang should be in there, right?" At that moment, a voice called out. It was Zhang Dongzhi, Manager Zhang of the Artifact Pavilion.

"Manager Zhang, I don't know about that. I wasn't able to see Dao General Tan before I was thrown out," Shi Changkong said, suppressing the fury in his heart and putting on a helpless expression.

Seeing this, Zhang Dongzhi immediately snorted. "This Tan Shuchang truly doesn't understand propriety! Fine, I happen to need to speak with him about a matter concerning the Artifact Pavilion. Come in with me!"

"Thank you, Manager Zhang!" Shi Changkong hurriedly said.

Zhang Dongzhi nodded, then strode straight to the entrance of the Dao General Hall and said to the two pavilion attendants on guard, "I won't make things difficult for you two. Step aside yourselves. I'll bear the consequences!"

"Thank you, Manager Zhang!" The two attendants immediately heaved sighs of relief and hurried to move aside.

Zhang Dongzhi walked in at once, with Shi Changkong close behind. But when the two reached the main hall of the Dao General Hall, they both froze.

Because there was no trace of Tan Shuchang there at all.

"Where did Tan Shuchang go?" Zhang Dongzhi immediately summoned the two guards. When the attendants entered and looked around, they too were stunned.

Especially the one who had come in earlier to report Shi Changkong's arrival. He had personally seen Tan Shuchang there.

"Manager Zhang, I don't know! When I came in earlier to report for Master Chu, Dao General Tan was right there!" The attendant hurriedly pointed to where Tan Shuchang had previously been sitting.

Meanwhile, Tan Shuchang had once again entered the instance dungeon. He directly took out the Impermanence Token and transported himself to Langshou Ghost City.

"Greetings, my lord."

The Ghost Scholar immediately came forward to greet him.

But unlike his usual fawning manner, that Baleful Intent-pale face of his was filled with alarm.

"City Lord, why don't you ask the Earth-Destroying King for a few reinforcements?" the Ghost Scholar said anxiously.

"Has something happened in the city?" Tan Shuchang asked.

"My lord, you cut down one of General Sophora's incarnations. Somehow, General Sophora learned of it not long ago. These past days, General Sophora has been shouting that you must give it an explanation! Otherwise, it refuses to let this debt go!"

The Ghost Scholar briefly explained what had happened.

Naturally, what came out of this dog's-head strategist's mouth had been edited somewhat. For example, General Sophora had merely been shouting for an explanation. As for all the vulgarities that inevitably came with that, the dog's-head strategist didn't mention a single word.

After all, mentioning them might increase Tan Shuchang's anger toward General Sophora, but it would also make the City Lord dislike his dog's-head strategist!

"An explanation? It wants me to give it an explanation? Then I'll give it one. Where is it now?" Tan Shuchang asked with a smile. He had actually anticipated this scene long ago.

Previously, merely refusing to meet General Sophora had already provoked boundless hostility from it.

How much more so after he had cut down one of its incarnations?

As for how this fierce ghost had learned his identity, Tan Shuchang had naturally allowed this Pseudo-Yin Deity-level fierce ghost to learn it on purpose.

"General Sophora has brought some ghost constables and surrounded the City Lord's Manor."

"Hm?" Upon hearing that General Sophora wasn't alone, Tan Shuchang immediately felt much better and hurried over.

Then, amid the gloomy mist that never dispersed from Langshou Ghost City, he saw an ancient locust tree as towering as the heavens, its roots and branches wrapping around the entire City Lord's Manor.

Dried corpses hung all over that ancient locust tree.

At first glance, they looked like decorations.

But in truth, those dried corpses were all ghost constables.

When Tan Shuchang saw the ancient locust tree, the tree also noticed him. At once, patches of old bark split open across its trunk and branches.

Some of the cracks turned into gaping, blood-red maws, while others formed eyes glowing with an eerie green light.

"You wretched Flesh-and-Blood Player! I tolerated you only out of respect for the Earth-Destroying King. Yet you keep pushing your luck, cutting down my incarnation. How can I tolerate you any longer? If I kill you now, even the Earth-Destroying King won't say anything!"

"General, you're confused. If you cannot tolerate me, how could I tolerate you? This counts as a mutual rush toward each other," Tan Shuchang said blandly. Then, as blood-colored light spread behind him, four scarlet sword phantoms slashed out in an instant.