Chapter 49: The Solar Eclipse Devours the Heavens

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Li Xuan gazed down upon the landscape—verdant mountains stretching endlessly, streams babbling softly, the calls of birds echoing in his ears, and drifting clouds brushing past. All worldly troubles seemed to vanish in an instant.

The breeze was so gentle, the air so fresh; everything felt profoundly beautiful.

“May we live long and share the beauty of the moon together...”

Li Xuan closed his eyes, softly chanting, but suddenly another voice thundered through the air like a shock: “Just don’t turn into a monster!”

Startled, Li Xuan snapped his eyes open, instinctively reaching out with both arms. His collar tightened, and his body plummeted straight down.

“Master Li Xuan, I hope you have been well?”

The speaker’s voice was hoarse and aged, yet full of vigor, unmistakably that of a cultivator.

Li Xuan chuckled faintly and looked up to see an old acquaintance, Kong Sheng, standing there. Beside him was the white-bearded elder, Kong Linghui, another familiar face—the very man who had helped him out at Tang Ruoqian’s birthday banquet.

Li Xuan greeted them with a warm smile, bowing respectfully, “A junior of the Li family pays respects to Elder Kong, the esteemed devotee of the Kong clan, and Brother Kong Sheng!”

Following the principle that more courtesy never hurts, Li Xuan lavished compliments without hesitation. Unexpectedly, Kong Linghui’s stern face betrayed no reaction.

Kong Sheng, who shared some acquaintance with Li Xuan, simply responded with a few soft “hms.”

“Sheng’er, don’t forget the matter at hand!” Kong Linghui’s impatience showed as a flicker of malice crossed his eyes while he shot Li Xuan a sharp glance.

Li Xuan’s mind raced, sensing Kong Linghui’s purpose in appearing now. Deflecting, he said smoothly, “Isn’t it a pleasure to have a friend come from afar? I’m most obliged!”

His eyes darted cunningly as he turned on his heel to flee, but Kong Linghui grabbed his shoulder with a vice-like grip, dragging him backward with overwhelming force.

Still shaken, Li Xuan protested, “What exactly do you mean by ‘devotee elder’?”

Kong Sheng moved to speak on Li Xuan’s behalf but was silenced by a single look from Kong Linghui.

With a faint smile, Kong Linghui clasped Li Xuan’s shoulder warmly and said, “Old as I am, I truly cherish talent, especially someone like you, Brother Li Xuan. I’d wish to transform into a peerless beauty myself and offer my loyalty.”

Li Xuan nearly retched at the words, but what followed left him dumbfounded: “I’ve heard you recently obtained a precious treasure. Could you lend it for me to admire?”

Li Xuan’s heart skipped. “Sir, you misunderstand. If I have the treasure, it must first be given to Tang Ruoqian. Otherwise, the consequences would be dire.”

Kong Linghui shook his head silently, while Li Xuan mournfully continued, “Being an in-law is no easy task. Not only is one’s own wealth ransacked, but one must constantly appease others. Only I know the bitterness behind it all.”

He wiped the corner of his eye, knowing escape was impossible—like climbing stairs to the heavens. Resigned, he toyed with Kong Linghui, half real, half bluff.

Kong Linghui sneered, “Everyone knows I’m kind and amiable, but that doesn’t mean others share my nature. I believe that scoundrel Wang Youming suits you better.”

Li Xuan leapt back a step, pointing and scolding, “Old man, in broad daylight beneath the heavens, what do you think you’re doing?”

He knew Kong Linghui was not merely trying to intimidate but might even be colluding with the Wang family, willing to stoop to any depths for that treasure.

“Hahaha...” Kong Linghui laughed heartily. “You’re the first to speak so boldly to me, but you do amuse me.”

Once again, he clasped Li Xuan’s shoulder. “Brother Li Xuan, though you’re betrothed to the Tang family and the imperial court, men often have multiple wives. If you agree to give me the treasure, my dear Kong Xi will become your third wife. How does that sound?”

Kong Sheng scratched his head in anguish. Kong Xi was his beloved younger sister, just sixteen, blossoming into a national beauty. To see her offered as a gift by the devotee elder to an outsider enraged him beyond words.

Setting aside Kong Xi’s beauty, Kong Linghui’s excessive flattery spoke only of villainy.

Even if one were to die under the peony flower, one must not serve as mere fertilizer.

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Li Xuan wore a pained expression, pleading, “I don’t want that, and besides, I’m still young!”

Kong Linghui resorted to every trick of coercion and enticement, barely restraining his urge to severely beat Li Xuan. Patiently, he said, “You’re young, yet already have two arranged marriages. You tell me you’re young—do you not like women?”

He appraised Li Xuan from head to toe, continuing, “Could it be you’re impotent? Do you want me to force myself on you?”

A lecherous grin spread across Kong Linghui’s face, his golden eyes glinting as if he’d spotted prey.

A chill ran down Li Xuan’s spine, goosebumps prickling all over. Inwardly, he cursed, “You old pervert!”

His mind raced: “I can’t beat him, I can’t run away—what should I do?”

He cast a desperate look at Kong Sheng for help, but Kong Linghui’s subtle glance silenced him again.

Kong Linghui smiled mildly, “If you fancy my Sheng’er, just say so. Sheng’er, come here!”

Kong Sheng shivered like a shy maiden as he approached, bowing, “What orders, devotee elder?”

Kong Linghui patted Li Xuan’s shoulder and mischievously stirred the pot: “It’s rare for Brother Li Xuan to take a liking to you...”

He laid a hand on Kong Sheng’s shoulder and reasoned with emotion, “Sheng’er, for the survival of our clan, you must sacrifice a little. Be gentle, and never disgrace the Kong family’s name. Live in harmony with the two peerless beauties.”

Li Xuan and Kong Sheng both felt their hairs stand on end, cursing silently, “You old fool!”

Suddenly, Kong Linghui cleared his throat and said solemnly, “Li Xuan, our Kong family has made great sacrifices. Hand over the treasure!”

Li Xuan sneered, “Sir, what are you talking about? How could I possibly have a treasure? If you don’t believe me, search me!”

Without hesitation, he spread his arms, allowing Kong Linghui to frisk him.

Confident in his status, Kong Linghui was unwilling to stoop to a humiliating search, and Li Xuan was no fool either—he was slippery as an eel, as proven during the Mist Shadow Mountain incident.

“Heh heh,” Kong Linghui waved dismissively. “Refuse a toast and you’ll be forced to drink the penalty. Don’t tell me you’re tired of living? Even if I don’t act, Wang Youming surely won’t spare you. If things go south, you won’t walk away clean!”

Impatience took hold. A powerful surge of source energy radiated from Kong Linghui, pinning Li Xuan motionless.

“With a mere thought, I could cripple you. Some things were never meant for you. Don’t you understand the saying ‘the innocent suffer because of the jewel they bear’?”

He no longer hid his intentions. The artifact tied to Li Xuan’s second life was right before him. If only Li Xuan hadn’t caused so much trouble.

Under immense pressure, Li Xuan pleaded to Kong Sheng, “Brother Kong Sheng, judge this fairly. I’m just a minor martial cultivator—how could I possess something belonging to you?”

Kong Sheng was about to speak but was silenced by another glance from Kong Linghui.

Kong Linghui continued, “If you want to keep a secret, don’t do it in the first place. Men should act boldly. I only wish to share with you. Besides, you can suppress the wild nature of the Golden Feather Eagle’s King Source Crystal—aren’t you greedy?”

He no longer concealed his aim, convinced Li Xuan was the culprit behind the three great clans’ losses.

He believed Li Xuan’s safe retreat from the clans’ assault was orchestrated by someone—the likely mastermind being the star elder on the verge of exhaustion.

“Hmph! If you won’t give it willingly, I’ll take it myself!”

No longer wanting to argue, Kong Linghui’s source energy surged like a tide, suppressing Li Xuan while activating the Heavenly Eye technique to scrutinize him thoroughly, even employing soul-searching arts to probe Li Xuan’s memories.

Disappointed, Kong Linghui found no sign of the Golden Feather Eagle’s King Source Crystal, only a broken ancient cauldron.

With a swipe of his palm, he sent Li Xuan flying, cursing, “You brat, I won’t spare you!”

Li Xuan wiped the blood from his mouth, source energy blazing from every pore. Using the Divine Movement Flame Shadow Technique, he engaged Kong Linghui in combat.

Kong Linghui met his strikes with ease, deflecting them casually but varying his force—sometimes overwhelming, sometimes like a surging wave. Li Xuan was caught off guard, barely surviving several breaths.

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“Ha!”

With a roar, Kong Linghui’s source energy surged like tidal waves, shaking Li Xuan’s blood and qi violently, his feet furrowing the earth for several meters.

“You brat, you think you can fight me? You’re still green!”

Kong Linghui grabbed Li Xuan’s collar like a hawk seizing a chick. “Taste what it’s like to be a mere ant. Now confess honestly, or you’ll regret it!”

His arrogance gave Li Xuan a moment’s respite. Li Xuan grinned, a mysterious arc curling his lips, and suddenly a terrifying aura spread out.

Shock flickered in Kong Linghui’s eyes as a torrent of source energy burst from Li Xuan’s palm, rippling a circle of water-like waves. The immense energy vanished without a trace.

Seizing the chance, Li Xuan regained his freedom and shouted angrily, “Kong Linghui, you old scoundrel! Today, I’ll use you as my sacrificial flag!”

He laughed softly, water ripples shimmering around him as he activated the Wind Riding Technique, vanishing without a trace.

At that moment, the source runes Li Xuan had set began to blaze fiercely. The very ground beneath Kong Linghui collapsed and the scorching waves churned violently.

Within a breath, Kong Linghui was scorched blackened and enraged, cursing wildly. His peak Xuan realm cultivation was like a mountain, his vast source energy waves directly erasing the runes. He swung a palm toward Li Xuan.

The incoming pressure threatened Li Xuan’s life. Instantly, he invoked the first form of the Sacred Will Azure Wave Sword Technique—A Sword Across the Heavens. The sword qi roared, crackling with faint lightning as it descended.

Boom!

In an instant, sparks flew and a dust storm erupted.

Kong Linghui burst through the dust with a furious roar: “Sacred Decree of Heaven and Earth, Banish Evil!”

A glimmer of mystic light shone, compressing the surrounding source energy rapidly before exploding into a blazing radiance.

The light spread swiftly, turning everything it touched into scorched ash. Even the void began to tremble.

Li Xuan was no stranger to facing peak Xuan realm opponents; his mentor Mo Xi’er was far weaker than Kong Linghui. He had underestimated his foe.

Now trapped, Li Xuan drew the Sun-Eating Sky-Swallowing Divine Crossbow. As he drew its string, the ancient source runes flared, thunder rolling and a dragon’s roar echoing.

“Ha ha!”

Li Xuan shouted, pupils narrowing as the crossbow erupted with dazzling light. Upon release, a thunderous boom echoed—a celestial lightning streaked the sky, the aurora of Obsidian Black Thunder.

Then a torrent surged forth, golden light filling the heavens, accompanied by a dragon’s roar tearing through the void like a meteor.

Boom!

Sacred Decree of Heaven and Earth, Banish Evil—the sacred power flowed like molten mercury, cleansing the world, wailing for all evil.

The blazing thunderstorm raged, shaking the heavens and earth, the torrent unstoppable, obliterating all in its path.

In an instant, two tremendous forces collided, warping space-time and sending ripples through the air.

Pft!

Li Xuan coughed up blood, his source energy dissipating.

Kong Linghui stood frozen, his entire palm shattered and bleeding profusely.