Volume One: The Soul-Drawing Gourd, the Soul-Burning Lamp Chapter 65: The Death of Huang Xian’er

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh—

The white-furred Yellow Immortal, seeing the flood dragon collapse, immediately rode a gust of demonic wind and sped away.

Meanwhile, Gu Mo, his whole body wracked with pain, had already risen to his feet. Gripping the Celestial Measuring Ruler, he skirted the edge of the pond and made his way toward Xiao Yulou.

Then, with an air of otherworldly elegance, Xiao Yulou flicked the sleeve of his black Daoist robe, tossed his head back, and said with boundless arrogance, “Brother Gu—am I not incredible?”

Gu Mo stopped in his tracks, scowling, and nodded grudgingly. “You look the part.”

At these words, Xiao Yulou burst out laughing, unconcerned with such trifles.

Gu Mo surveyed the devastation before him, his heart roiling with fear, anxiety, unease, and resentment—emotions clashing and surging within him.

Why the sour face? The reason was simple.

Though Gu Mo lacked the strength to stand alone, it was truly humiliating to be sent flying by a single lash of the dragon’s tail at the very start of the battle!

…

The scene shifted.

The white-furred Yellow Immortal, borne on a demonic wind, drifted to the flood dragon’s side. A heavy stench of blood instantly assailed his nostrils.

In the patchy moonlight, he looked closely.

The white flood dragon’s body was wreathed in wisps of smoke. Its once snow-white, slender fur was now almost entirely gone. Flesh lay torn open, thick and terrible bones protruded from the wounds in a ghastly display. Even the dragon’s skeleton showed signs of dislocation, not to mention the blood that still gushed forth.

Beneath the dragon, earth and upturned tree roots greedily drank its blood.

Truth be told, the white flood dragon lying amidst a sea of fire was less appealing than a common ribbonfish.

The Yellow Immortal floated before the dragon, gazing at its enormous blood-red eyes fading into dimness, and the tongue lolling from its mouth.

A line of hot tears sprang from his eyes.

“Alas…what use are rights and wrongs, grudges and debts? You, I, and Guangji once supported each other, as close as brothers. It was never easy to reach this stage of cultivation. Yet in the end, blood is turned against blood, and so we come to this sorry pass.”

As his words faded, the Yellow Immortal, clad in pure steel armor, clasped his hands behind his back and stared up at the bright moon, sighing heavily.

Suddenly, the flood dragon’s blood-red pupils flickered. The Yellow Immortal gasped in fright.

In a flash, the white flood dragon’s jaws gaped open with a thunderous roar.

With a snap, it lunged at the Yellow Immortal, clamping down hard.

In the distance, Xiao Yulou and Gu Mo both went pale, their blood surging, hearts tightening for their temporary companion.

But then they remembered—Liu Kunsheng, the Immortal, had once transformed from serpent to flood dragon. How could he be defeated so easily?

Yet the two were too close; any rash intervention risked harming friend as well as foe.

With this in mind, Gu Mo and Xiao Yulou could only watch and wait, searching for the right opportunity.

Besides, the enmity between these two immortals ran deep—ten pages of writing wouldn’t suffice to recount it all. Should the victor suddenly turn on them, Gu Mo and Xiao Yulou, comrades in misfortune, would be plunged into another desperate fight!

With this, they exchanged a glance and tacitly agreed to stand aside.

…

The scene spun, time passing in a breath.

The white flood dragon, enduring soul-piercing pain, summoned a thousand pounds of force in its jaws.

Crack, crack, crack—

Its twisted, dislocated body thrashed, toppling swathes of trees and undergrowth.

Within the dragon’s mouth, the Yellow Immortal could only brace his limbs against the upper and lower jaws.

Under the crushing pressure, every bone in his body creaked and groaned.

In a split second, the Yellow Immortal’s eyes rolled. He summoned his strength.

Pffft—

A thick, noxious yellow fart filled the dragon’s maw.

At that, not only Xiao Yulou and Gu Mo, but even the white flood dragon itself, were struck dumb.

Still, the Yellow Immortal was a weasel, and such base tricks were second nature to him.

But who was the white flood dragon? A renowned immortal! The higher one’s station, the less one could bear such lowly tactics.

In that instant, Liu Kunsheng the flood dragon, stifling the burning, fetid stench in his mouth, drew a deep breath and unleashed a blast of dragon’s breath.

At the same time, the Yellow Immortal, trapped between the jaws, knew things had turned for the worse, but could only grit his teeth and hold on.

With jaws like iron pincers, had he been able to flee, he would have done so long ago!

A deafening boom sounded.

The searing dragon’s breath surged forth, igniting the weasel’s foul gas.

With the flames now raging fiercer than ever, the Yellow Immortal found himself imprisoned by his own trick, enduring the agony of fire.

From afar, the flames resembled the explosion of a fuel tanker, tongues of fire licking at the forest and earth.

Under the intense heat, the Yellow Immortal’s steel armor began to melt.

After a time, the white flood dragon gave a violent shudder.

A series of cracks rang out.

Beneath its twisted body, several scales the size of wellheads peeled away.

At this, Xiao Yulou’s face darkened. Disaster loomed.

“Brother Gu, at death’s door, this serpent has fully transformed into a flood dragon!”

Gu Mo’s heart leapt at these words. Clearly, a bitter struggle was yet to come!

With matters at this stage, Gu Mo and Xiao Yulou could only ready themselves for battle.

In a flash, the white flood dragon let out an enraged roar and forced four brown claws free from its body.

Splurt—

Blood sprayed everywhere!

Freed, the dragon gave the Yellow Immortal no chance to retaliate. It coiled its body in an instant, and one bloodstained claw, trailing a fierce wind, stabbed into its own gaping maw.

Splurt—

Chilling to the core—utterly devastating!

At this, the Yellow Immortal, trapped in the dragon’s mouth, was left barely clinging to life.

Then, with a violent fling, the dragon hurled a charred, smoking form to land at Xiao Yulou and Gu Mo’s feet.

It was the Yellow Immortal, wreathed in black smoke, his fate uncertain, blood oozing from several wounds.

Thud!

The dragon’s massive head crashed down amid the inferno.

The once tranquil, jade-green pond now resembled a vision of hell.

Roar!

After a dragon’s cry, the white flood dragon struggled to coil its battered body, eyes burning with hatred.

Huff—

Scalding breath steamed from its nostrils.

“Pathetic mortals! Once I’ve rested, I’ll tear you both to shreds!”

Facing this soul-shaking threat, Xiao Yulou turned away with perfect composure, strolling off at his leisure.

Gu Mo could not fathom Xiao Yulou’s intentions, but would never leave his back exposed to an enemy.

Thus, gripping the Celestial Measuring Ruler, Gu Mo backed away, facing the dragon all the while.

…

Their nonchalant departure was a final blow to Liu Kunsheng’s dignity.

In a flash, the dragon’s bloodshot eyes widened, and it compressed the air in its belly, jaws opening wide.

Boom!

A blazing fireball shot toward Xiao Yulou.

Seeing the oncoming fireball, Gu Mo clenched his teeth and instinctively raised his hand, ready to shove the unconcerned Xiao Yulou aside.

But before he could touch the black Daoist robe, a shadow flickered before his eyes.

The ethereal Xiao Yulou was already standing in front of the fireball.

Gu Mo’s heart leapt to his throat.

‘Damn! Is this lunatic out of his mind?’

Then, with a crisp snap, the raging fireball burst apart, scattering like fireworks into a rain of falling sparks.

For a moment, the scene was like a shower of meteors—an odd, unexpected beauty.

Xiao Yulou, dressed in black, stood arrogantly where he was, forming a Daoist seal with his right hand, left hand behind his back, and declared in ringing tones:

“Immortal, the dust of former ties has long scattered to the wind. Your great vengeance is done, and now you’re spent—why provoke me further?”

Hearing this, Gu Mo finally relaxed.

But Xiao Yulou’s left hand had been badly burned.

Having completed his performance, Xiao Yulou slowly turned his face, flexing his scorched hand, and winked at Gu Mo.

As if to say: “Fly, fly, fly—damn! That nearly burned me alive!”

At this, Gu Mo’s worldview shattered. He hadn’t imagined this Daoist could be so shameless.

Was this madman’s only goal to show off? Would he never accept defeat, no matter what?

Such stubborn pride—he deserved to suffer!

Then, gripping the Celestial Measuring Ruler, Gu Mo turned his gaze to the white flood dragon, Liu Kunsheng.

The monstrous creature was clearly at the end of its strength, barely clinging to life.

Its wounds had nearly cost it half its existence.

But why hadn’t the madman finished it off?

Wasn’t he after a set of gear?

Had the shameless Daoist turned over a new leaf?

These questions left Gu Mo thoroughly bewildered.

Moments later, Liu Kunsheng made no move to attack.

Nor did Xiao Yulou, standing with his customary poise, seem inclined to strike first.

The situation had grown strangely delicate.

Swish—

Xiao Yulou flicked his robe sleeve, formed a Daoist seal, and called out, “Immortal, at this point, why not let me head west in peace?”

Liu Kunsheng, coiled across from him, made no reply, clearly weighing his options.

After all, Xiao Yulou’s performance in this battle had been truly astonishing.

Gu Mo still wondered—if Xiao Yulou really had lost most of his powers as claimed, just how formidable must he have been at his peak?

In a breath, the white flood dragon lifted its great head and fixed Xiao Yulou with blood-red eyes.

“Had it not been for your meddling, would I have been so gravely wounded? As things stand, I must devour you both to restore my strength!”

As soon as he spoke, a disturbance began to roil beneath the jade-green waters of the pond…