Strongest War Emperor

It was Shen Lang!

The same Shen Lang he had just been cursing out a moment ago...

Deng Jianchen’s emotions immediately became incredibly complicated.

’But... how did this kid get over here? He was the farthest away from me...’

He wasn’t the only one. Shui Qingwu and Uncle Zhou also had no idea how Shen Lang had charged over. His speed was just a little too frightening.

”Demon Saber Heaven-Opening, Power Shatters the Universe! Die!” Shen Lang shouted coldly, raising his long saber and cleaving the pouncing Spirit Corpse in two with a single strike.

Everyone was overjoyed. Two Spirit Corpses had been eliminated in an instant, significantly increasing their chances of survival.

Only Deng Jianchen, who was closest to Shen Lang, saw it in the faint light of the Moonlight Stone: blood was gushing from Shen Lang’s arm, flowing down to his long saber and dripping onto the ground.

’He must have used some kind of Secret Technique to unleash his potential...’ Deng Jianchen realized with a jolt.

Just then, Shui Qingwu screamed from the other side...

”Ah!”

Uncle Zhou’s expression had just turned to elation when he heard Shui Qingwu’s scream. He spun around, and what he saw nearly scared him out of his wits!

The Gu Corpse that had been chasing Shen Lang earlier was now rushing toward Shui Qingwu at an incredible speed. The whirlwind it created was about to engulf her!

”Burst!”

With a low shout, Shen Lang’s figure shot out like an arrow. He instantly appeared beside Shui Qingwu, wrapped an arm around her waist, and leaped into the air!

”PAT! PAT!” He bounded off the surrounding bluestone rocks and large trees with Shui Qingwu in his arms, finally putting some distance between them and the Gu Corpse.

Shui Qingwu stared blankly at Shen Lang, who held her close, completely forgetting her earlier terror.

”Damn it, this Gu Corpse has been spinning for so long and it’s not even dizzy?” Shen Lang cursed. While still in mid-air, he swung his saber in a horizontal slash, causing the vortex of the Poisonous Insect to slow slightly.

He then landed on the ground with Shui Qingwu and gently set her down. Without a second thought, he gripped his saber with both hands and brought it down in a direct, frontal slash—the simplest, most direct, and most powerful strike he had.

”Divine Blade Prison Guardian, Star-Picking Moon-Swallowing!”

An unrivaled Sword Intent spread out, causing the other three to look at each other, their faces paling.

The roar in that instant was like a mountain collapsing and the earth splitting!

A blinding slash of light illuminated the night sky, seemingly cutting the darkness itself as it struck the very center of the vortex.

”AWOOO!”

The inhuman howl made everyone’s eardrums ache. The vortex came to an abrupt halt, and a spray of disgusting brown slime erupted as the centipede-like creature’s head slammed heavily onto the ground.

’A single strike from this guy is actually this terrifying!’ Both Uncle Zhou and Deng Jianchen were stunned.

Just then, after delivering the strike, Shen Lang moved again...

But it wasn’t to deliver another strike as everyone expected. Instead, he flicked his left hand, and a cloud of powder flew out, landing precisely on the gash he had just opened on the Poisonous Insect’s head!

The moment the powder touched the Gu Corpse’s blood, thick black smoke billowed out with a ”TSSSSS” sound.

As the black smoke rose, the Poisonous Insect’s dark brown carapace, which had been glowing with an eerie light, suddenly began to turn red. It cracked all over, and the creature began to thrash wildly on the ground.

”It’s over!”

Only then did Shen Lang swing his saber a second time.

But this strike was simple and very casual, just an ordinary slash like before.

With a flash of the blade, the Poisonous Insect was decapitated. It twitched on the ground a couple of times and then lay completely still.

”Wooo! Wooo!”

The remaining Gu Corpse, which was tied up with Uncle Zhou, let out a strange cry, did a backflip in mid-air, and fled into the mountain forest as if on wings.

It didn’t hesitate for even a moment!

Deng Jianchen stumbled over, shouting, ”Quick, chase it! Kill that Gu Corpse!”

Shen Lang, however, said nothing. Instead, he let out a muffled grunt, propped himself up with his long saber, and sank into a half-squat.

”Are... are you alright? Are you okay?” Shui Qingwu cried out, rushing over to support him.

Deng Jianchen wanted to say more, but Uncle Zhou, who had flown down, stopped him. Uncle Zhou simply shook his head without a word.

”Ah! You... how could this happen to you? Sob...” Shui Qingwu suddenly shrieked, covering her mouth.

Uncle Zhou took two steps forward and was also taken aback.

Following Shui Qingwu’s gaze, he saw a large pool of blood on the ground where Shen Lang stood. Shen Lang’s bare arm was a mess of torn skin and flesh, with blood continuously pouring out...

Although he wore a mask and his black robes covered most of his body, the three of them could imagine that he must be a man drenched in his own blood by now...

”Little brother, hurry and eat this Qingyao Pill! Your injuries are too severe!” Uncle Zhou quickly took out an Elixir Pill and handed it over.

Shui Qingwu covered her mouth, at a complete loss. After a long moment, she spoke with a sob in her voice, ”Big brother, you... you’re going to be okay, right? Sob...”

”Not dead yet.” Shen Lang swallowed the Elixir Pill and slowly stood up.

He had used ”Burst” once when dealing with the Gu Corpse, again to save Deng Jianchen, and then one more time to save Shui Qingwu...

Using ”Burst” three times in a row was one thing, but to save Deng Jianchen and then to kill the Gu Corpse, he had used the ”Prison Guardian Blade Technique” twice in a row!

Both Burst and the Prison Guardian Blade Technique had pushed his body far beyond its limits.

This fighting style was akin to mutual destruction. After killing the Gu Corpse, Shen Lang himself was grievously injured and would be difficult to heal...

At this moment, his muscles were spasming all over his body, making it hard to move. There was barely an intact muscle left on him; he had truly become a ”man of blood”!

It was only because of his mask and black robes that the most terrifying sight was hidden in the darkness.

Otherwise, the horror of his appearance might not have been much less than that of a Demon Corpse...

”Why do you women all love to cry so much?” Shen Lang said faintly, lifting his long saber and starting to walk away with faltering steps.

”THUMP!”

He had only taken a single step when Deng Jianchen collapsed behind him, his whole body convulsing as if he had malaria.

The side effects of the Giant Potion were kicking in.

Shen Lang turned back, a little exasperated. ”The side effects of the Giant Potion are nothing, you’ll just be bedridden for half a month. With good Elixir Pills, you could recover faster. Ahem, what a waste of this Potion. It’s worth at least eighty or a hundred thousand, and you drank it right after it was concocted.”

”What... Eighty or a hundred thousand?” Uncle Zhou said, stunned. ”A Giant Potion can fetch at least a million Gold Coins at auction right now. It’s much stronger than a Barbaric Strength Pill.”

”A million? Hmm, that’s not bad—wait, what? How much?” Shen Lang froze.

”A... a million Gold Coins? Actually, this kind of Potion usually isn’t bought with Gold Coins anymore. It’s bought with Spirit Stones...” Uncle Zhou didn’t understand why he was reacting so strongly.

A Giant Potion was a life-saving treasure. The minor side effects were basically negligible. It was truly a very precious item.

’What, does this little brother not know the value of a Giant Potion?’

”Holy crap, get up! Spit it out! I don’t even have a hundred Gold Coins on me, and after all the trouble I went through to concoct a million-Gold-Coin Giant Potion, how could I let you just drink it so easily! Give me back my Potion!” Shen Lang strode back in two steps, grabbed Deng Jianchen by the collar, and began to shake him violently.

Shui Qingwu and Uncle Zhou were both dumbfounded...

One of them had always thought him to be mysterious and incredibly cold; she never imagined he had a side like this.

The other was shocked by what Shen Lang had said—”after all the trouble I went through to concoct a million-Gold-Coin Giant Potion.” ’Could it be that this Ghost-faced Person concocted the Giant Potion himself?’

’But his voice sounds so young! An Alchemist who can concoct this kind of Potion is no ordinary person! Such talent would be hard to find even in a Great Noble Family...’

After shaking Deng Jianchen a couple of times, Shen Lang helplessly let go.

Speaking of a million, his heart truly ached at the loss, but what could he do? It was already drunk.

Besides, if he hadn’t drunk it, their situation might be even worse now...

’I’ll just have to concoct a few more bottles after some time has passed.’

”It’s fine. Everyone go home to your mommies... What rotten luck. Not only did I lose half my life, but I also lost a bottle of Giant Potion. Did I owe you people in a past life or something?” A flash of light emanated from the ring on Shen Lang’s hand, collecting the Gu Corpse’s body. He then waved goodbye and began to stagger up the mountain.

’At least I got a Gu Corpse. I can recoup some of the cost.’

’It’s bad business to only make losses and no profit.’

He needed to hurry back and heal. Otherwise, he really might lose half his life. This time had really taken a toll on him.

Shui Qingwu’s gaze never left him. Seeing that he was about to leave, she suddenly grew anxious.

”What... what’s your name? Can you let me see your real face?” Her voice was so quiet it was almost drowned out by the night wind.

Shen Lang didn’t seem to hear her, his figure receding step by step into the darkness.

”Will I ever see you again?” Shui Qingwu cried out in desperation.

Without turning back, Shen Lang gave a faint wave with his left hand and vanished into the night.

Behind him, bathed in the light of the Moonlight Stone, Shui Qingwu watched the bloody footprints he left behind. She could no longer control herself, covering her mouth and beginning to sob.

You, who appeared by chance, and I, in my naive youth. A fated bond in the world of Hongchen, born of life’s silent, fleeting struggle.

Perhaps it is this world’s mistake, or the karma of a life before. I would trade all this life holds for that briefest exchange of Yin and Yang...