Master of Strange Dao

"This..."

"A simple Defense Magic Treasure. It won't be of much use to me, so I'm giving it to you."

"Take it," You Zhen added, "I don't have much with me, so I can't offer you a proper gift. I'll owe you for now, and consider this a gift from my son to you."

"Then I won't be polite, thank you, King Xiang," Yu Ziqing said as he hung the Jade Pendant around his neck and tucked it into his chest.

His experience might not be vast, but he wasn't entirely ignorant.

Just by sensing it, he could tell that this so-called ordinary Defense Magic Treasure could probably withstand a couple of hits from an Eighth Tier Cultivator.

"Father, I'm leaving."

"Get going."

King Xiang's slight sadness at parting vanished instantly. He laughed heartily and rushed into the entrance.

Deep within the cave of Sorrow Mountain, at the entrance of the Sorrow Cave Heaven, beams of Divine Light appeared, and King Xiang, slightly tattered and considerably weakened, even tainted with Demonic Qi, burst out.

After emerging, King Xiang immediately transformed into a tunneling light and raced away.

But just as he soared halfway up the sky, a fist imprint, condensed from Gang Qi, descended from above, striking the tunneling light with such force that it shattered.

King Xiang's figure then appeared in mid-air.

The leader of the Faceless Man, Li Xingchen, hovered, cupping his fists in greeting.

"Li, at your service, King Xiang."

"Get out of the way."

"King Xiang, please don't make it difficult for me. I'm not clever with words. Just leave the Devil, and I will get out of your way however you wish."

At the mention of the Devil, King Xiang's expression changed slightly, and a fierceness erupted in his eyes. With a single-handed Seal, he pointed in the air, and a streak of light left a long tail trail in mid-air.

Li Xingchen dodged quickly, but a fine cut still appeared on his cheek.

He reached up to touch his cheek, pinching his fingers together to extract some residual energy from the wound.

"Your Three-Inch Geng Metal Qi is truly becoming more profound. Since you refuse, forgive my offense!"

Li Xingchen declared in a deep voice, his stature seemingly grew three inches out of thin air. The Qi Blood Power and True Yuan Power interwove into gloves covering his hands.

The two engaged in fierce combat, rising into the sky.

The Geng Metal Qi wreaked havoc, tearing the clouds apart, punch imprints burst forth, Divine Light flashed, converging into a piercing metallic clang, echoing continuously amidst resounding booms.

As King Xiang and Li Xingchen commenced their battle, many began to take action elsewhere.

Hundreds of miles away, a man with a beautiful beard, wearing a scholar's robe, sat on a chessboard, observing the distant fight, and shook his head slightly.

"The Old Emperor Zhen really raised a good son. Even two thousand years after his death, his son still thinks of him.

Back then, that old fellow did have a favor with me.

Well, I'll return that treasure to his son later.

I don't want to be said to have taken advantage and stolen his son's treasure."

Ding Mushan watched for a while, preparing to leave. He had agreed to delay Lei Li for a two-hour period.

Who would've thought, Lei Li, that madman, seemed to have taken the wrong medicine. Just as Ding Mushan was ready to leave, Lei Li pursued him, refusing to stop fighting for several days.

By the end, seeing Lei Li spew out a breath of foul Qi and appear rejuvenated, Ding Mushan realized that he had unknowingly traveled miles to warm Lei Li up.

Stopping Lei Li was one thing, but now, if he went to help King Xiang against Li Xingchen, the nature of it changed entirely.

As Ding Mushan was about to leave, a white cloud gathered beside him, and a woman, looking worried, sat cross-legged on the cloud.

"Ding Mushan, you're just going to watch?"

"Oh, Mei Mountain old witch, what brings you here?"

"I received a message that King Xiang has found a way to save his father, and he's already found some of his remaining body parts.

What could I do? Of course, I came to take a look."

"Are you going to help?" Ding Mushan's eyes flashed as he gently stroked his beautiful beard, smiling faintly.

"Hey, Ding Mushan, isn't it obvious? I came all this way, of course, I'm going to help, what about you?"

"I also received a message. However, when I asked King Xiang directly, he didn't mention any of this. The sender wasn't him, but if necessary, I will intervene."

They exchanged a glance and smiled.

Both were thousand-year-old monsters; how could they not see through this open conspiracy?

Someone counted on them not standing idly by after receiving the message.

Because they had all been beneficiaries of the Old Emperor Zhen's kindness, some had even been saved by him.

They wouldn't interfere with a fight between King Xiang and Emperor Zhen. However, if King Xiang had a way to rescue his father, they couldn't just do nothing.

Some considered their debts settled and wouldn't get involved, but others still cherished the bond from two thousand years ago. Even if they hadn't decided whether to help, they would come and secretly observe the situation.

"When do you plan to act?"

"Me? I don't know; I'm waiting to see."

King Xiang fought Li Xingchen for an hour, his condition began to decline significantly, and he fell into disadvantage.

King Xiang, battling for his father's limb, had fought for a long time, staying cautious. He dared not actually sever his father's limb, causing great consumption. Upon emerging, he was already in poor condition.