Infinite Puzzle City

Chapter 725 If I can't get in through the exam, then I'll just storm in.

The screams outside the gate grew louder and louder.

Even without using mental energy to investigate, one can smell the strong stench of blood outside.

Xiao Ran sighed and remained silent, while Shao Hongzhang beside him couldn't help but curse, "These...these beasts! Aren't their wives, children, parents, and elders among them? How could they do this?!"

If it were just Chen Cheng and the Tan brothers, it would be one thing, since they are all outsiders. But the vast majority of these candidates are natives of the Ghost Capital. They have families here, and strictly speaking, this is their home.

How could they bear to harm these people and slaughter the local inhabitants?

The screams and wails that came from outside the door soon faded away, not because the slaughter had stopped, but because the living creatures that could make a sound nearby were on the verge of extinction.

The number of examinees in front of Xiao Ran dwindled until most of them had rushed out of the gate, while Xiao Ran remained standing there, unable to move.

"All right!"

The old eunuch raised his hand, looking disdainfully at the remaining candidates in the square: "A bunch of good-for-nothings. That's all the spots for those who made the list. The rest can get out."

Everyone was taken aback by these words, and someone asked, "Does the eunuch mean...we...failed the exam?"

"if not."

Wang Qiang sat in the chair, his face, piled high with flabby flesh, displaying a mixture of mockery, cruelty, and condescending smugness.

“The sage gave you an opportunity, but you did not cherish it. With such potential, how can you serve the sage?”

Wang Qiang spoke in a high-pitched, sarcastic tone, and even deliberately took out an embroidered handkerchief to pretend to dust off non-existent dust.

After saying that, he glanced at Xiao Ran and Shao Hongzhang and snorted coldly: "Some people, even if they want to serve the sage, the sage doesn't care."

This statement was clearly directed at Xiao Ran. To say that Xiao Ran possessed the physique of a hundred elements would mean that he had long surpassed the so-called superior innate talent.

But now it's stuck here, which is obviously because someone is sabotaging it.

Xiao Ran's mood instantly turned terrible.

His eyes flashed with a cold light, and a complex emotion swept over him. In an instant, memories of the Li family's past generations appeared before him.

Especially Li Xiao's story, where he went to the capital to take the imperial examination, pouring his heart and soul into his treatise on salt and iron, only to have it casually thrown to the ground simply because he didn't give money to the so-called Lord Wang.

This complex emotion grew stronger and stronger, causing Xiao Ran's breathing to become increasingly rapid.

"Humph!"

Wang Qiang snorted coldly, stood up, and left surrounded by a group of eunuchs.

At the same time, Xiao Ran and Shao Hongzhang suddenly felt their bodies relax, and the invisible restraints suddenly disappeared.

At the same time, Xiao Ran heard a mission notification in her ear.

Discovered Main Quest 1: [Enko] (Failed)

"That bastard, he's just getting revenge!!"

Once he regained his mobility, Shao Hongzhang immediately began to curse: "Back when I was the Director of Ceremonial Affairs, he was just a nobody in charge of the Directorate of Ceremonial Affairs. I never even gave him a second glance. And now he's actually trying to trip me up here..."

Shao Hongzhang cursed and turned around to see Xiao Ran already leading the tiger demon away. He quickly chased after her, his face full of apology, and said, "I'm sorry, I didn't expect it to turn out like this. That Wang Qiang probably took his anger out on you because of me..."

Xiao Ran did not respond. Whether it was as Shao Hongzhang said, it was no longer important to Xiao Ran.

The moment he stepped across the threshold, blinding flames and a wave of heat rushed towards him!

Where is the bustling and prosperous Chang'an street in the scene before us?

As far as the eye could see, it was a burning hell!

The towering flames licked at every inch of wood, eaves, and window frames along both sides of the street. Greedy orange-red tongues of fire spewed out thick black smoke, dyeing the sky a murky dark red. The blood-red setting sun had long been swallowed up by the flames.

The air was thick with a nauseating stench—the unique burnt smell of charred flesh and internal organs, the smoky aroma of burning wood and resin, and… the indescribable, physiologically nauseating stench of grease roasted at high temperatures. The heat distorted vision, making it feel as if one were inside a giant, cruel blacksmith's furnace.

Shao Hongzhang followed behind Xiao Ran, still wanting to explain something.

But when he saw the hellish scene before him, he trembled violently, his teeth chattering.

In a daze, Shao Hongzhang seemed to see the scene of his family members dying tragically under Huang Chao's butcher's knife, and he froze on the spot as if struck by lightning.

The intense shock made Shao Hongzhang's face grow paler and paler.

He could even hear his child's cries and his wife and daughter's screams. His body swayed violently, as if all his strength had been drained, and his mind went blank.

"what!!!"

Suddenly, Shao Hongzhang covered his head and screamed. Then, he ignored Xiao Ran and ran towards the direction of his home.

Xiao Ran looked at the insane Shao Hongzhang, sighed, and ignored him. She had thought that this guy's geomancy skills would help her complete the main quest smoothly, but this was the result.

As Xiao Ran sighed, he suddenly looked up and headed south.

A sword beam cleaved through the void amidst the smoke and clouds, leaving a blinding flash of light in mid-air.

"Gu Xin Tang!!"

Upon seeing the sword light, Xiao Ran immediately recognized its origin: "Damn it, something must have happened to this guy."

"Follow!"

Xiao Ran called out to the tiger demon, then leaped onto the wall and rushed towards the direction of Gu Xintang's house.

The familiar alley was filled with severed limbs, some human, some not.

Upon seeing this, Xiao Ran immediately had a bad feeling.

Sure enough, when he climbed over the alley and arrived at Gu Xintang's new home, the scene before him made Xiao Ran's heart tighten.

In the large courtyard, corpses lay scattered on the ground. Xiao Ran was not familiar with the owners of these corpses, but she had an impression of them.

Those young men were the children practicing martial arts at the martial arts school.

On the left side of the ground lies a headless corpse. Judging from the clothes, it should be Gu Xintang's sister. Behind the girl's corpse are some pieces of flesh, making it impossible to discern the outline of the body.

Judging from the tattered clothes alone, it should be Gu Xintang's parents.

Given the horrific scene, Xiao Ran could already imagine how terrible Gu Xintang's condition must be right now.

Just as Xiao Ran had suspected, Gu Xintang's furious roar suddenly came from not far away: "Kill! Kill! Kill!! You all deserve to die!!"

Xiao Ran's mental power swept across the battlefield like a cold scalpel.
Instantly pinpointing the location of Gu Xintang, they also noticed the presence of three other individuals with superior root abilities besides Gu Xintang.

Xiao Ran had no recollection of these three individuals with superior innate abilities; they must have only recently advanced.

Two of them exuded a violent aura, clearly having just feasted on flesh and blood to boost their spiritual energy, and were currently in a period of bloodlustful expansion.

The other one has a slightly sinister and somber aura, and may have advanced earlier, but is also more dangerous.

In addition, there were more than a dozen medium-level cultivators constantly wandering and probing around the Ancient Heart Hall, emitting greedy hisses, like hyenas surrounding a wounded lion.

"So quickly, there are already newly promoted talents. I wonder if guys like Chen Cheng and the Tan brothers will also improve. If their strength reaches the standard of a C-level professional, then we'll be in trouble."

This guy's advancement speed far exceeded Xiao Ran's expectations, giving her a bad feeling.

He then looked toward Gu Xintang.

Gu Xintang's eyes were bloodshot. Although his sword light was still sharp and domineering, cutting through the flesh and blood of those who dared to get close, his sword momentum had been tinged with a desperate madness and grief. The flaws in his moves were clearly visible to Xiao Ran.

Each of his sword strikes was no longer a pursuit of the mysteries of swordsmanship, but an expression of the despair that could not be vented within him.

As a result, they became less vigilant about the presence of the three most threatening superior organs on the side.

At this moment, the three people with superior roots seemed to have also sensed the opportunity. One of them sensed the opportunity the instant Gu Xintang made his move.

A huge bone spike, carrying a foul stench, suddenly shot out from its hand, aiming straight for Gu Xintang's back!
Meanwhile, another powerful opponent seized the opportunity to pounce from the side, opening its blood-red mouth to bite his neck.

The third sinister-looking creature's upper body was located a little further away, its fingertips gleaming with a highly poisonous purple light.

A close call!
Xiao Ran moved. Without a shout or warning, his figure vanished from his spot, and in the next instant, he cut into the heart of the battlefield like a ghost. His speed was so fast that only a blur remained!
With his palm open, the long-lost weight of the [Decapitation Blade] appeared in his hand. As Xiao Ran swung it, a chilling wind rose from the blade, which Xiao Ran forcibly condensed and compressed in an almost "tyrannical" manner!

"cut!!"

With a low shout, Xiao Ran flicked his wrist, and his broadsword, swift and silent as a gazelle's horns, struck the tip of the incoming poisonous bone spike with incredible speed. "Bang!"

There was no earth-shattering noise, only a dull cracking sound.

The bone spurs, harder than steel and containing immense force, crumbled inch by inch under the blade's edge, turning into dust.

Without pausing, he swung the blade with lightning speed, striking the face of the man who was lunging at him from the side with perfect precision.

"Crack!"

A sickeningly loud cracking sound of bones breaking and blood splattering followed as a cleaved head flew through the air.

The creature didn't even have time to scream before its massive headless body slammed into the ground with tremendous force, raising a cloud of blood and dust.

Xiao Ran shifted his feet, and his broadsword drew a mysterious arc. The blade, like a poisonous dragon emerging from its cave, pierced the throat of the high-level cultivator who was about to release a deadly purple light with perfect precision with a "poof" sound!

The latter's eyes had just shown a hint of horror when they froze completely, and he collapsed.

Between lightning and flint!

These three talented individuals were instantly defeated.

Xiao Ran's movements did not pause at all. The broadsword drew a complete arc in the air, and the rolling cold wind suddenly transformed into eight-sided blade energy, spreading outwards like eight tornadoes.

"Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang..."

Those with intermediate cultivation who were besieging and harassing Gu Xintang were completely unprepared for such a sudden attack.

In an instant, these intermediate-level cultivators didn't even have time to utter a sound before their bodies flew backward and exploded in mid-air!
Limbs and dismembered bodies mixed with foul-smelling internal organs rained down, instantly clearing a huge vacuum around Gu Xintang!

The previously noisy hissing from those intermediate-level cultivators suddenly fell into a deathly silence, leaving only Gu Xintang, covered in blood, standing in place.

He stared blankly at the slain corpses before him, his thrusting sword still suspended in mid-air.

The sudden aid left Gu Xintang with a pent-up frustration that he couldn't vent.

He slowly, stiffly turned his head, his bloodshot eyes fixed on the figure wielding a large sword, his aura as heavy and imposing as a mountain...

"It's you?"

Gu Xintang's voice was hoarse, like sandpaper being rubbed, and every word was filled with a strong sense of bloodlust.

Upon seeing Xiao Ran, Gu Xintang felt no joy; instead, he resembled a thoroughly enraged lion, becoming even more agitated and furious.

"Feel sorry!"

Xiao Ran frowned; he hadn't expected this outcome either.

However, before Xiao Ran could finish speaking, Gu Xintang's sword suddenly pierced towards her.

The sword energy of the sun and moon erupted wildly, and the golden and silver cold light intertwined into a net. It was no longer an exquisite move, but a desperate outburst. Each sword strike carried the force of a collapsing mountain and was aimed at Xiao Ran's vital points.

Faced with the frenzied and relentless attacks from Gu Xintang, Xiao Ran's figure swayed like a willow catkin, her footwork shifting, her silhouette as unpredictable as a willow leaf in the wind.

He did not meet the attack head-on with the guillotine in his hand.

Logically speaking, both Xiao Ran and Gu Xintang are considered to be masters of profound knowledge.

In the past, Xiao Ran might have been willing to go all out, but now Gu Xintang was in a state of mental turmoil, and the longsword in his hand had long since lost its control.

Don't underestimate the difference of a tiny fraction; compared to the past, it's a world of difference.

Xiao Ran's broadsword traced a cold arc, emitting a low buzzing sound. Every parry and deflection was precise to the millimeter.

"Bang!" The blade slammed against the spine of Gu Xintang's sweeping sword. The immense force did not retaliate, but was cleverly redirected, causing Gu Xintang's sword strike to deviate.

"calm!"

Xiao Ran shouted, his voice clearly piercing through the ear-piercing clang of metal. He spun around to avoid a blinding gold and silver cross slash, his decapitation blade skimming the ground and bringing with it a chilling wind, forcing Gu Xintang to stagger back half a step, his attack slightly halted.

"This was not what I wanted. Nobody expected that after the second session, they would all be released. I wanted to stop them, but given the circumstances, I could only watch helplessly!"

Gu Xintang, panting heavily, stared at Xiao Ran with bloodshot eyes, the tip of his sword trembling violently with anger and exhaustion: "Excuses! All excuses! All excuses!!!"

Before he finished speaking, he sprang up, his sword transforming into a streak of light, silver on the left and gold on the right.

The silver sword in his left hand moved slowly, but the sword flashed with silver light, eventually transforming into a full moon.

At the same time, the right hand made a movement with the golden sword, slowly raising it upwards. The golden blade became increasingly dazzling in the air, forming a great sun.

"The sun and moon shine together! Holy crap, you're serious!"

Xiao Ran's expression changed drastically. She had experienced the power of this move firsthand during the sword critique session.

Now Xiao Ran was completely furious. "I came to comfort you, fine, but you really think I'm your father's killer?"
This inexplicable and insane outburst of anger was like boiling oil poured on Xiao Ran's already suppressed rage due to Enke's defeat.

At this moment, the suppressed emotions in Xiao Ran's heart were completely ignited by Gu Xintang's madness!

"Damn it! You think you're so great?!"

The last trace of patience and understanding in Ran's eyes vanished, replaced by a chilling, bone-chilling anger. "I'm not your punching bag!"

As they spoke, the broadsword stirred up a cloud of flying sand and stones.

The runes emerged from his fingertips, activating the [Guillotine Blade]. In an instant, that familiar feeling gave Xiao Ran an indescribable sense of exhilaration.

"kill!!!"

With a long howl, Xiao Ran stepped forward, the bluestone beneath his feet shattering. He gripped the hilt of the [Decapitation Blade] tightly with both hands, his muscles bulging, and an overwhelming power flowed from his arms into the blade.

There are no fancy moves, no superfluous techniques! Only the purest, most domineering, and most refined black blade energy.

"Bang!!!"

The sun and moon collide, the sword flashes and the dragon roars.

An unprecedentedly terrifying explosion resounded through the burning ruins!

Time seemed to stand still at this moment.

When the "Sun and Moon Shining Together," which embodied all the grief and despair of Gu Xintang, touched the extremely refined black blade energy, it was like fragile glass encountering a heavy hammer!
The silver light representing the "moon" was the first to collapse, turning into countless ice-shard-like glints that instantly melted away.

Immediately afterwards, the blazing golden light symbolizing the "sun" twisted and collapsed violently. After letting out a mournful cry of resentment, it exploded and dissipated into countless streaks of fire and shooting stars, leaving behind a pungent burnt smell in the scorched air.

"puff!!!"

The moment the immense force surged along the sword, Gu Xintang coughed up blood. His grief and despair were instantly replaced by the shock of the strike.

Back when we were on the sword-fighting stage, Xiao Ran's swordsmanship was sharp, but I never took Xiao Ran seriously at that time.

There was a huge gap between the two, but now Xiao Ran has not only closed that gap, but has also far surpassed himself.

puff!
A mouthful of scalding blood could no longer be suppressed and gushed out of Gu Xintang's mouth, staining his chest red.

The gold and silver swords in his hands fell to the ground.

Gu Xintang's tall body, like a severely wounded bull, staggered back several steps, each step leaving deep pits in the scorched earth.

Finally, his legs gave way, and he could no longer hold on. With a thud, he knelt heavily on one knee! His bloodied fist slammed into the ground, supporting his swaying body, while his other hand clutched his chest, which was throbbing with pain.

He raised his head and looked at Xiao Ran with a complicated expression. He hadn't expected that Xiao Ran's strength would be so formidable in such a short time.

"you win!"

Gu Xintang dropped his head, never expecting that after so many years, he would fall twice in someone else's hands.

Seeing that Gu Xintang had regained his composure, Xiao Ran put away his broadsword, stepped forward and patted Gu Xintang on the shoulder: "No, I lost."

As he said this, he looked up at the palace in the distance and said, "I lost badly this round!!"

I had planned everything meticulously, but I never expected this outcome.

Not only did they fail in the main quest, but they also lost the game of chess terribly.

A barrage of negative emotions swept through his mind, and fragments of memories of Li Xiao and the others involuntarily surfaced in his mind. His face hardened, and his eyes stared ahead with a sinister glint: "Since I can't get in through the exam... then... I'll just storm in!!"

(End of this chapter)