Wuxia: Become the 100-Victory Sword King at the Beginning

Chapter 425. The Silver Thread Soul-Strangling Heavenly Silkworm Displays its Power
The crescent moon hung like a hook, slanting over the dark treetops. The night was as thick as ink, completely enveloping the pine forest.

Yang Jinghao leaned against a withered tree, traces of blood seeping from her pale lips, staining a large patch of her plain white dress.

Shi Feiyang squatted down in front of her, waving a bright green bamboo stick in his hand.

The bamboo stick gleamed with a cold, eerie light under the moonlight, as if it held endless secrets.

“Your Highness, if a painter saw you like this, he would surely paint a ‘Beauty in Distress’ picture, which would definitely fetch a good price.” Shi Feiyang grinned, revealing two cute tiger teeth, and gently wiped the bloodstains from the corner of her mouth. His movements seemed casual, but they revealed a hint of caution.

Yang Jinghao glared at him, wanting to speak, but the aggravation of her wound caused her to cough violently. Seeing this, Shi Feiyang quickly untied a deerskin bag from his waist, pulled out a round pill, and said, "Come on, open your mouth. This is the 'Nine-Turn Life-Extending Pill' from the Yihua Palace. Even if the King of Hell came, seeing this medicine would make him turn back a few pages in your Book of Life and Death." As he spoke, he stuffed the pill into her mouth and patted her back, saying, "Don't worry, with me here, that old bastard King of Hell won't take your life so easily." Just then, a few whooshing sounds broke the silence of the night.

Shi Feiyang's pupils contracted sharply, and a layer of crystalline, silvery-white filaments suddenly erupted from his body, like a large net, completely enveloping him and Yang Jinghao. The filaments shimmered with a mother-of-pearl-like glow, and fine runes were condensed within each strand, mysterious and powerful.

The arrows struck the silken net with a crisp clanging sound, then, as if imbued with life, changed direction and flew backwards into the depths of the forest. Instantly, screams of agony echoed through the woods as countless men in black clutched their wounds, writhing in agony on the ground, blood gushing out like fountains, staining large swaths of earth red.

"Hey, who's the blind fool who's shooting arrows in the middle of the night, trying to make me a snack with his drinks?" Shi Feiyang stood up, glancing sideways at the man in black who was slowly walking out of the woods, making a "tsk tsk" sound with his tongue against his back teeth.

He slowly untied the gourd from his waist and shook it, then suddenly tilted his head back and took a big gulp, the wine trickling down his chin and into his collar. "Seriously, your Disaster Relief Gang's uniforms are quite unique, but the color scheme—it looks like a paper effigy on a grave, so unlucky!"

Before he could finish speaking, the man in black at the front roared and swung his knife.

The blade flashed like lightning, carrying a sharp killing intent, aimed straight for Shi Feiyang's face.

At the critical moment, Shi Feiyang suddenly swung his wine gourd and spun around, his right hand, hidden in his sleeve, instantly emitting a crystalline light.

"Heavenly Silkworm Technique, Seventh Level - Silver Thread Soul Binding!" Shi Feiyang shouted, flicking his fingers. Silvery-white thread-like objects shot out like arrows, drawing strange arcs in the air, and wrapped around the black-clad man's wrist in the blink of an eye.

The man in black had just felt a chill on his wrist when silver threads burrowed into his skin through his sleeve, like icy little snakes writhing freely within his body.

The man in black stared in horror at his bulging veins on his arm, his inner strength surging like a flood.

Shi Feiyang chuckled and tilted his head, his eyes full of mockery: "Don't be afraid, this is just an appetizer! Consider it my way of letting you taste the flavor of 'internal energy reversal,' guaranteed to be unforgettable for you." With that, he suddenly clenched his palm, and the silver threads tightened abruptly.

With a muffled "thud," the man in black screamed in agony as his internal organs were shredded, and blood gushed from his seven orifices, splashing out in a gruesome pattern under the moonlight. He collapsed to the ground like a lump of mud.

"Attack together!" one of the scarred men roared, leading the group to form a battle formation and pounce on Shi Feiyang like a pack of wolves.

Shi Feiyang remained calm and unhurried. Suddenly, he took out a broken comb and combed the silver threads flowing in his palm again and again, muttering, "My darlings, it's time to get to work! Do your best, and I'll give you a treat when we're done!" With a flick of his wrist, dozens of silver threads spread out like a spider web, cutting down all the vegetation in their path.

When the silver thread touched the black-clad man's weapon, it produced a piercing metallic scraping sound, instantly melting the fine steel blade. "What kind of evil skill is this!" someone shouted in terror, instinctively taking a step back.

Taking advantage of the opportunity, Shi Feiyang lunged forward, his emerald bamboo staff suddenly transforming into countless emerald shadows as he unleashed the "Pick" technique of the "Dog-Beating Staff Technique"—"Pick the Mangy Dog!" The bamboo staff moved like a serpent emerging from its hole, precisely deflecting the long knife from the hand of a man in black. Then, with a "reverse pick," the staff swept horizontally, striking the man heavily in the waist. The man in black screamed, flying backward like a kite with a broken string, crashing into a large tree, spitting out a mouthful of blood, and collapsing to the ground, motionless. Several more men in black swung their knives. Shi Feiyang flashed forward, unleashing the "Seal" technique's "Squeeze the Dog's Back," the bamboo staff slamming down from above, striking one of the men in black squarely on the head.

The man in black didn't even have time to scream before his brains splattered out, and he collapsed into a pool of blood.

Immediately afterwards, Shi Feiyang unleashed the "Hungry Dog Blocks the Road" technique, sweeping his bamboo stick across and breaking the legs of the other two men. The two howled in pain, crawling on the ground. Shi Feiyang fought with increasing ferocity, his left palm twirling like a butterfly, thousands of silver threads bursting from his pores, weaving a silver cocoon of light in the air.

As the man in black swung his knife, the silver threads suddenly swelled, like countless steel needles piercing the blade and drilling into his body along his arm. Amidst screams of agony, Shi Feiyang landed with a grin, shaking off the bloodstains on his clothes: "Remember this, my Heavenly Silkworm Skill is for collecting 'internal energy debts' from deadbeats! You guys have been owing me 'interest' for so long, it's time to pay it back!"

At this moment, Xiao Fuyun, Xiao Fudong, and Xiao Fuqi, the three vice leaders of the Disaster Relief Gang, exchanged glances, a ruthless glint in their eyes.

The three of them simultaneously drew their soft swords from their waists; the blades gleamed with a ghostly blue light, clearly indicating that they were coated with potent poison.

"Kid, don't think you can get away with anything just because you know some unorthodox skills! Today, we'll show you the power of the 'Three Floating Swords' of the Disaster Relief Gang!" Xiao Fuyun roared, and the three of them formed a triangle, surrounding Shi Feiyang in the middle.

Shi Feiyang, however, was not afraid at all. Instead, he grinned and said, "Oh, three against one, ganging up on the weak. You've completely disgraced your Disaster Relief Gang, haven't you? But it's okay, I'm in a good mood today, so I'll play along!"

As he spoke, the bamboo stick in his hand suddenly danced out a green shadow, and he used the "luring" technique to "lure the dog into the village". The bamboo stick was feinted and then attacked Xiao Fuyun.

Xiao Fuyun parried with his sword, but Shi Feiyang's move was merely a feint. The bamboo staff suddenly changed direction mid-flight, sweeping across Xiao Fuyun's lower body. Xiao Fuyun leaped up to dodge, but Shi Feiyang had anticipated this, delivering a powerful blow to his back with the bamboo staff. Xiao Fuyun coughed up blood and staggered forward.

Upon seeing this, Xiao Fuqi roared and thrust his soft sword toward Shi Feiyang's back like a serpent.

Without turning his head, Shi Feiyang used the "Tripping" technique, specifically the "Hound's Mouth Snatching the Staff" move, and swung the bamboo stick backward, accurately striking Xiao Fuqi's wrist.

Xiao Fuqi winced in pain, nearly dropping his soft sword. Taking advantage of the moment, Shi Feiyang unleashed his "Dog-Tossing-to-the-Sky" technique, his bamboo staff rising and aiming straight for Xiao Fuqi's chin. Xiao Fuqi's eyes widened in terror; he tried to dodge, but it was too late.

At this critical moment, Xiao Fuyun and Xiao Fudong simultaneously attacked with their swords, attempting to save Xiao Fuqi. Shi Feiyang sneered, his entire body surging with silver threads, forming a silver barrier that blocked their attacks.

At the same time, he used his bamboo stick to strike the two mastiffs horizontally, striking them heavily with both hands. The two men screamed and flew backward, crashing to the ground. They struggled to get up, but spat out several mouthfuls of blood and could no longer move.

As Shi Feiyang's bamboo stick was about to strike his jaw, Xiao Fuqi closed his eyes in despair.

However, the expected pain did not come.

Shi Feiyang's bamboo stick stopped less than an inch from Xiao Fuqi's chin. "What? Scared? If you knew this would happen, why did you do it in the first place? But I'm always soft-hearted, so I'll spare your dog's life. Go back and tell Shan Xiongxin to be more prepared before he comes to bother me again!" With that, he kicked Xiao Fuqi away.

Xiao Fuqi scrambled to Xiao Fuyun and Xiao Fudong's side. The three of them glanced at Shi Feiyang in horror, then led the remaining men in black and fled in a panic.

Shi Feiyang watched their departing figures, scoffed dismissively, and turned to look at Yang Jinghao.

At this moment, Yang Jinghao's face was even paler than before. Leaning against the tree, she seemed to have no strength left to even stand.

Shi Feiyang rushed over and helped her up. "Your Highness, are you alright? It's all these blind fools' fault for disturbing our time together."

Yang Jinghao rolled her eyes at him and said weakly, "Stop being so cheeky... Thank you..." "Why should I be so polite with you, young master?" Shi Feiyang laughed and carried her on his back. "Come on, let's find a place to rest, and let me tell you about some interesting things in the martial arts world."

As night deepened, Shi Feiyang, carrying Yang Jinghao on his back, slowly disappeared into the silent woods, stepping over the blood and corpses scattered on the ground.

Shi Feiyang carried Yang Jinghao for about half an hour before finally finding a natural cave in the mountain valley. Vines hung from the cave entrance, and a faint light shone from the depths of the cave, as if there were natural phosphorescent flames flickering.

He used his toes to push aside the drooping vines, carefully set Yang Jinghao down, and casually pulled off his cloak and spread it on the dry rock: "Your Highness, I'm sorry to trouble you to make do with this 'five-star cave'."

Shi Feiyang took out a tinderbox and lit the dry branches on the cave wall. The leaping flames cast flickering shadows of the two figures. He suddenly leaned closer, his nose almost touching Yang Jinghao's bloodshot lips. "But having me serve you personally is much more interesting than all the rules in the Jiangdu Palace, isn't it?"

Yang Jinghao turned her face away, but groaned softly as the pain aggravated her wound. Seeing this, Shi Feiyang immediately suppressed his smile, took a jade bottle from his deerskin bag, and poured out an amber-colored pill: "This is the 'Muscle-Regenerating Jade Dew Pill' from the Yihua Palace, used both internally and externally. But..." He suddenly grinned mischievously, his fingertips tracing her blood-stained clothes, "Should the princess do the undressing herself, or shall I do it for her?"

"Insolence!" Yang Jinghao raised her hand to strike, but Shi Feiyang nimbly grabbed her wrist. The moment their skin touched, a sudden gust of wind rose outside the cave, swirling dry leaves into the cave and causing the flames to flicker.

In the dim light, Shi Feiyang caught a glimpse of the faint blue veins throbbing behind her ear, and inexplicably let go of her hand: "Alright, alright, I'm not afraid of you, you tigress." He turned his back to her, but peeked through his fingers.

Hearing the rustling sounds behind him, Shi Feiyang suddenly started singing a Jiangnan folk song off-key: "Little sister, you sit at the bow of the boat, and I, your brother, walk on the shore—oh dear, this tune is even worse than Cheng Yaojin's axe!"

Before he could finish speaking, a pebble whizzed past his ear, striking the rock wall and sending sparks flying. "Have you sung enough?" Yang Jinghao, wrapped in a cloak and curled up in a ball, her pale face flushed with embarrassment and anger. "Why...why did you save me?"

When Shi Feiyang turned around, he had put on a cynical smile and casually broke off a dry branch and threw it into the fire: "I'm afraid it will scare you if I tell you—" He suddenly lowered his voice and imitated a storyteller's tone, "Because I observed the celestial phenomena last night and saw a lone star twinkling next to the Purple Star. After some calculations, I determined that this 'Unlucky Princess Star' must be protected by me!"

Seeing Yang Jinghao frown, he immediately became serious and said, "I was just kidding! I just don't like those guys. What kind of hero bullies a woman?"

The mournful cry of an owl echoed from outside the cave, and sparks crackled and burst from the flames. Yang Jinghao stared at the leaping firelight and suddenly said softly, "You seem to have a deep-seated prejudice against my father..."

"Prejudice? That's huge prejudice!" Shi Feiyang suddenly jumped up, kicking away stones at his feet. "While the common people were exchanging children to eat, he wrapped trees with silk; while the rebel army rose up, he was still on the dragon boat, embracing a beauty and listening to music!"

He suddenly leaned closer, his eyes flashing with a strange light. "Does the princess know that there is a nursery rhyme circulating in Jiangdu City? 'Willow catkins fall, plum blossoms bloom, eighteen sons sit on the dragon platform.' You know very well who these 'eighteen sons' refer to."

Yang Jinghao suddenly looked up and met his burning gaze.

A sudden storm arose outside the cave, rustling the vines at the entrance. Shi Feiyang suddenly reached out and brushed the withered leaves that had fallen on her shoulder: "However, you are quite an interesting princess—despite being of noble birth, you insist on running around like a wandering heroine."

His fingertips lingered on her hair, and he suddenly picked up a strand of hair and played with it. "Speaking of which, when you used the alias 'Changsun Yue,' did you ever think about the possibility of being taken advantage of by some lecherous man?"

"You..." Yang Jinghao wanted to get angry, but the playful smile in his eyes disturbed her mind. Just then, the sound of light footsteps came from outside the cave.

Shi Feiyang's expression changed instantly. He shielded her behind him, and silver threads rose from his palm: "You've come at the right time. I haven't had enough fun yet!"

Outside the cave, a sudden downpour lashed down, rustling the withered leaves.

Shi Feiyang had just assumed a dashing stance to face the enemy.

Seven dark figures slid in like ghosts along the cave wall. The first one, draped in a black cloak, had a half-chain protruding from beneath it, gleaming with a ghostly blue poisonous light—they were none other than the infamous "Seven Soul-Locking Fiends" of the martial world. These seven were originally outcasts of the Western Regions' witchcraft cult, specializing in concocting corpse poison from living people. Their "Netherworld Locks" were forged with thirty-six kinds of rare poisons, and those who were poisoned would die from festering sores all over their bodies.

"Hey! Isn't this the legendary Seven Soul-Locking Fiends, who stink even more than a latrine?" Shi Feiyang tilted his head, twirling the bamboo stick in his palm. "I thought you were hiding in some rat hole licking your wounds. Turns out you heard I run a 'five-star cave' here and wanted to mooch a stay?"

The leader, a purple-faced fiend, ripped off his cloak, revealing half of his face rotting like a demon's. Chains lashed out, leaving a trail of sparks on the ground: "Li Shimin! Today is your burial ground! Master Shan said that whoever takes your head will be rewarded with a thousand taels of gold!"

Yang Jinghao's expression changed slightly. She tried to get up, but Shi Feiyang pressed her back down. "Your Highness, please sit and watch the show. Today, I'll perform a 'Living Man Play with Poisonous Evil' for you!" Before he finished speaking, the Netherworld Lock coiled around her like a serpent. Shi Feiyang used the "Luring" technique, specifically the "Luring the Dogs into the Stronghold" move. He lightly touched the ground with his bamboo stick and flipped backward like a hawk. The chain grazed his feet, blasting a deep crater the size of a bowl into the rocks. The flying rubble even emitted a bluish-black poisonous mist.

"Well done!" Shi Feiyang twisted his body in mid-air, and his left hand suddenly burst forth with crystal light. The Heavenly Silkworm Net swept down like a silver dragon emerging from the sea. The two demons swung their swords to block, but their blades were swallowed by the silver threads as if they were mud oxen entering the sea.

Immediately afterward, Shi Feiyang unleashed his "Reverse Thrust on the Dog's Buttocks," striking the man's lower back heavily with a bamboo stick. The two demons screamed and spat out black blood, tiny centipedes emerging from their seven orifices, before collapsing to the ground in convulsions. Upon seeing this, the remaining six demons roared and formed the "Seven Star Soul-Locking Formation."

Six chains, linked end to end, wove a giant crimson net in the air, withering away all vegetation in their wake. Shi Feiyang, however, remained unperturbed. He pulled out a gourd from his waist and took a large gulp. The wine sprayed onto his palm, mingling with the silver threads and transforming into a pale blue poisonous mist: "Try my improved version of 'Heavenly Silkworm Devouring Heart Mist'!"

The moment the poisonous mist struck the chains, a shrill scream suddenly echoed from within the formation. The Three Fiends' arms visibly festered, revealing their bare white bones. Taking advantage of the moment, Shi Feiyang unleashed the "Chop" technique, "Strike the Dog's Head with a Stick," his bamboo stick striking the formation's core with the force of wind and thunder, causing the entire formation to collapse with a deafening roar.

The Four Fiends couldn't dodge in time and were pierced through the collarbone by the silver silkworm thread that Shi Feiyang spat out from his left palm. Their internal energy flowed back like a flood bursting its banks, causing them to swell into a blood ball and explode into a shower of blood.

The purple-faced fiend's eyes were bloodshot as he pulled a pitch-black wooden box from his robes.

The moment the box was opened, the temperature inside the cave plummeted, and nine snow-white corpse pythons, their tongues flicking, darted out. These corpse pythons were crafted from Western Region ice silkworms and the essence of living people; they were impervious to blades and spears, and could kill instantly upon contact with blood.

Yang Jinghao couldn't help but gasp, only to see Shi Feiyang suddenly lift her up in his arms and perform three somersaults in the air. The corpse python grazed past their feet, and frost formed on the rocks in its wake.

"Princess, don't be afraid. I'm the best at dealing with these 'pets'!" Shi Feiyang gently placed Yang Jinghao on a high rock, and the silver threads in his palm suddenly increased tenfold, weaving into a giant cocoon in the air.

He roared, "You old dog begging for mercy!" and swept his bamboo stick across, sending two corpse pythons flying backward. The silkworm cocoon of silver threads that emerged from his left palm suddenly contracted, trapping the remaining corpse pythons within. With a series of cracking sounds, the nine corpse pythons were shredded into minced meat. The purple-faced fiend was terrified and turned to flee. Shi Feiyang wouldn't let him go, unleashing his "Drowning Dog Beating" technique, his bamboo stick striking him in the back like a shooting star. The silver threads from his left palm burrowed into his body through the wound, causing the purple-faced fiend to writhe in agony, the blood spurting from his seven orifices condensing in the air into the words "Spare me!"

"Want to beg for mercy? Too late!" Shi Feiyang chuckled and flicked his sleeves. "I only charge interest here, not principal!" With a swift movement of his palm, the purple-faced fiend's screams abruptly ceased, and his entire body dissolved into a pool of foul-smelling blood.

The cave reeked of blood. Yang Jinghao, pale-faced, stared at the carnage scattered on the ground: "You...you killed them?"

"Or maybe we can save it for making dumplings for the New Year?" Shi Feiyang shook the empty wine gourd and suddenly leaned close to her. "But Your Highness, considering how hard I've worked, shouldn't you give me a reward? Like... a kiss?"

Yang Jinghao raised her hand to strike, but was interrupted by the sound of horses' hooves coming from outside the cave. Shi Feiyang's expression changed drastically. He shielded her behind him and said jokingly, "Looks like this show isn't over yet!"

However, the sound of horses' hooves passed quickly, and the men and horses did not stop, so they were probably not there to search for Shi Feiyang and Yang Jinghao.

After resting for a night, Shi Feiyang also wanted to go to Taiyuan to see what was going on and whether Li Yuan could recognize him as "Li Er"! He and Yang Jinghao traveled a long way, but encountered a once-in-a-century blizzard at the foot of the Taihang Mountains.

The wind whipped snowflakes across their faces like blades. Shi Feiyang tore off a piece of his shirt and wrapped it around Yang Jinghao's eyes: "Your Highness's eyes are more precious than luminous pearls. If they get blinded by the wind and snow, where will I find compensation?"

Before they could finish speaking, their feet suddenly gave way, and the two of them plunged into a bottomless ice cave. A bone-chilling cold instantly enveloped their bodies. Shi Feiyang instinctively activated his Heavenly Silkworm Technique, but he felt his internal energy swirling in his meridians, flowing along the strange ice patterns on the rock wall.

By the light of the eerie blue ice, he saw that the cave walls were covered with strange runes, each ice pattern shimmering with dark golden light. It was none other than the long-lost "Tai Xuan Ice Demon Scripture". Legend has it that this demon scripture was left behind by the founder of the Western Regions Demon Sect when he passed away in an extremely cold place. Cultivators must undergo tempering in both ice and fire to comprehend its mysteries.

"So, God arranged a free hot spring for me!" Shi Feiyang chuckled as he placed Yang Jinghao on the ice platform. He lightly flicked the cave wall with his fingertip, causing a fist-sized piece of Xuanbing Marrow to fall. This Xuanbing Marrow took a thousand years to form and contained extremely Yin energy. An ordinary martial artist would have their meridians severed upon touching it, but he brazenly stuffed it into his mouth: "It tastes even better than the chilled plum juice from the Yihua Palace!"

Yang Jinghao stared in horror at the frost covering his body and the ice crystals forming in his hair: "Are you crazy? What is this?"

Before he could finish speaking, Shi Feiyang suddenly ripped open his shirt, revealing the ice-patterned totem on his chest. He grinned, his teeth even gleaming with a blue light: "Your Highness, watch closely, today I'm going to give you a 'Dual Heaven of Ice and Fire' performance!"

He pressed his palms onto the runes on the ice wall, and instantly ice shards swirled wildly within the cave. The internal energy of the Heavenly Silkworm Technique collided with the chilling aura of the Profound Ice Demon Codex, forming a swirling tornado of ice blades around him. Shi Feiyang let out a strange cry as he unleashed his newly fused move, "Ice Silkworm Devouring the Moon," silver threads wrapped around ice shards shooting out from his palms, instantly shredding the stalactites hanging from the cave ceiling into dust. Even more miraculously, the ice dust condensed into countless ice butterflies in the air, dancing gracefully around him.

"So this demonic tome uses poison to fight poison!" Shi Feiyang excitedly somersaulted in the ice cave, and lotus-shaped patterns appeared on the ice surface wherever he went.

He suddenly caught sight of an ice coffin in the corner. Inside the coffin was a woman dressed in Western Region clothing, with a lifelike face, holding a pitch-black scripture in her arms.

The moment he reached out and touched the ice coffin, the woman inside suddenly opened her eyes, startling him so much that he fell to the ground with a thud: "Good heavens! These days even corpses can come back to life!" The woman merely moved her lips slightly, and a wisp of icy blue true energy entered his brow.

Shi Feiyang felt countless images flood his mind: the cultivation method of the demonic scripture, the technique to counteract the strange poisons of the Western Regions, and a set of bizarre movement techniques called "Illusory Demon Steps." When he came to his senses, the ice coffin had turned to dust, leaving only the scripture floating in the air, with the four blood-red characters "All Poisons Return to Their Origin" clearly written on the cover.

The wind and snow outside the cave gradually subsided. Shi Feiyang tucked the scriptures into his robes and raised an eyebrow at Yang Jinghao: "Your Highness, I'm now a peerless master with two extraordinary skills! Once we're out of this ice cave, we'll go to Jiangdu and perform a 'living ice sculpture' for His Majesty. I guarantee it'll shock his dragon throne so much it'll flip over!" With that, he suddenly grabbed her waist and used the Illusionary Demon Step to spin through the ice cave, causing ice lotuses to bloom wherever he went, making Yang Jinghao's pale face flush red. Just as they emerged from the ice cave, they saw billowing dust on the mountain path.

Shi Feiyang squinted and saw a group of mysterious people dressed in black. The leader held a black iron token and was none other than the "Shadow Guards" who were rumored to be eliminating dissidents for Emperor Yang of Sui.

Yang Jinghao's expression changed drastically: "Oh no, it's Father's people!"

"Perfect timing!" Shi Feiyang licked his lips, his palm shimmering with ice patterns. "I was just worried about having nowhere to test my newly learned skills, and someone has delivered themselves to my door as a live target! Your Highness, watch as I put on a show today—'Ice Soul Silver Thread Play with Shadows'!"

A cold wind swept across the mountain path, carrying shards of ice. Shi Feiyang, holding Yang Jinghao, landed lightly on the bluestone slab.

He stroked the newly formed ice patterns on his palm, a wicked smile playing on his lips: "Your Highness, do you think these Shadow Guards want your head, or do they want to steal the 'Ten Thousand Poisons Return to One' from my arms?"

Before Yang Jinghao could reply, three hundred Shadow Guards had already surrounded her in a V-formation. The Xuan Tie Token gleamed coldly in the hand of the leading commander, and suddenly twelve men stepped out from the formation, their curved swords wrapped with scarlet strips of cloth—they were none other than the most ferocious "Twelve Blood Blade Fiends" among the Shadow Guards.

"Li Er, hand over Yang Jinghao, and I'll spare your life." The commander's voice was as cold as iron. Shi Feiyang, however, took out a small bronze mirror and waved it in the sunlight: "Oh, your complexion is worse than the frozen pear I just ate. Want to try my beauty secret?"

Before the words were even finished, the Twelve Fiends had already charged forward with their blades, the bloody wind from their blades sending shavings flying from the pine trees along the roadside.

Shi Feiyang touched the ground with his toes and unleashed the Illusionary Demon Step. This footwork was extremely strange, seemingly unsteady, but in fact, every step secretly matched the rune trajectory of the Xuanbing Demon Codex in the ice cave.

"Ice Silkworm Devours the Moon!" Silver threads wrapped around ice shards shot from his fingertips, striking the curved blade. The moment they collided, the Blood Blade Twelve Fiends felt their hands go numb, and the blade was covered in spiderweb-like ice patterns. Shi Feiyang unleashed his "Old Dog Begging for Mercy" move! His bamboo staff swept horizontally, ice patterns spreading along the staff, freezing the three fiends into ice sculptures.

The remaining nine were terrified and tried to retreat, but he approached like a ghost, and suddenly ice mist burst forth from his palm. The silkworm silk that Shi Feiyang spat out from his left palm transformed into thousands of ice needles in the ice mist, and with his right hand he unleashed a move called "Shu Dogs Barking at the Sun!" He pointed out with his bamboo stick, and the ice needles, like a rain of pear blossoms, pierced through the major acupoints of the Nine Fiends.

Nine people screamed and fell to the ground, their blood freezing in the cold air, forming eerie blood ice flowers on the ground.

The commander's pupils constricted sharply, and he threw the Xuan Tie Token into the air, where it exploded into countless iron caltrops.

Shi Feiyang laughed and used a move called "Chasing Dogs in a Desperate Alley." As the ice waves surged, all the iron caltrops flew back.

The Shadow Guards were thrown into disarray, and Shi Feiyang seized the opportunity to unleash his Heavenly Silkworm Technique, his silver threads forming a giant net that enveloped the entire mountain path.

Amidst screams, dozens of people were pierced through the collarbone by silver threads, their internal energy flowing backward and causing them to die. "Stop!" The commander suddenly ripped open his shirt, revealing a chest wrapped with explosives. "Move again, and I will take you all down with me!"

Yang Jinghao's face turned deathly pale, but Shi Feiyang slowly pulled out a gourd of wine: "Your 'human bomb' trick is too old-fashioned. How about we make a bet?" He shook the gourd, "I have 'Drunken Life, Dreamy Death' from the Yihua Palace here. One sip and you'll forget your past and present lives. If you dare to drink it, I'll let you go immediately." As the commander hesitated, Shi Feiyang suddenly lunged forward, his fingertips pressed against his throat with icy patterns: "Just kidding!" The silver silk from his left palm burrowed into his body like a venomous snake, and with a "bang," the commander exploded into a shower of blood.

The remaining Shadow Guards were terrified; they let out a cry and scattered like birds and beasts.

Shi Feiyang clapped his hands, turned around and saw Yang Jinghao leaning against the tree trunk, his eyes filled with complex emotions: "Why?"

“Because they’ve spoiled my fun!” He swaggered up to her, then suddenly lowered his voice. “But seriously, Your Highness, your father will be sending more and more people.” He pulled out “The Return of All Poisons,” the pages rustling in the wind. “How about we cooperate? I’ll protect you, and you take me to see Yang Guang—I want to see if that legendary tyrant is more powerful than my Ice Silkworm Technique.”

The mountain wind ruffled Yang Jinghao's hair. Looking at the cunning glint in Shi Feiyang's eyes, she nodded as if possessed.

The faint sound of horses' hooves came from afar. Shi Feiyang took her hand and stepped out using the Illusionary Demon Step.

The sound of horses' hooves approached like a sudden downpour, but Shi Feiyang suddenly stopped and stared at a blue stone with strange runes carved on it beside the mountain path, his eyes shining.

“Your Highness, look at this pattern. Doesn’t it look somewhat similar to the patterns in the Xuanbing Demon Tome in the ice cave?” He didn’t care how Yang Jinghao reacted. He placed his hands on the bluestone, channeled his Heavenly Silkworm Technique internal energy, and chanted, “Open sesame, crack open watermelon!” With a rumbling sound of a mechanism turning, a deep secret passage slowly appeared beneath the bluestone.

Shi Feiyang dragged Yang Jinghao inside. As soon as they stepped in, the blue stone above them slammed shut, plunging the secret passage into complete darkness. "Don't be afraid, I have a treasure." Shi Feiyang fumbled and pulled out a luminous pearl he had obtained from the ice cave. Its eerie green light illuminated the murals on the walls, bringing them to life—the paintings depicted scenes of the Western Regions Demonic Sect's leader battling martial arts masters from the Central Plains.

Yang Jinghao leaned closer for a closer look and suddenly exclaimed, "The martial arts moves on these murals are the same as the ones you learned in the ice cave!"

"Shh—" Shi Feiyang suddenly covered her mouth and pricked up his ears. From the depths of the secret passage came the sound of dragging chains and a chilling growl. "Looks like we've trespassed on someone else's territory, but I love giving people 'surprises'." He tucked the luminous pearl back into his robes, a crystalline light swirling in his palm, and silken threads silently emerged. Turning a corner, the view suddenly opened up—a stone chamber filled with torture instruments. Dozens of iron cages held twisted, grotesque figures with eerie bluish-purple skin and long, sharp fingernails.

"Could this be the legendary 'purple zombie'?" Yang Jinghao instinctively hid behind Shi Feiyang.

Shi Feiyang chuckled and pulled out a gourd from his waist, splashing it towards the iron cage: "Come on, try my 'hangover soup'!"

The purple zombies, smelling the alcohol, went berserk, their claws rattling as they gripped the iron cage. Shi Feiyang unleashed his "Vicious Dog Blocks the Way" technique, sweeping his bamboo stick across the cage, shattering it into pieces. The purple zombies swarmed forward, and silver threads in his palm surged forth, transforming into a giant net: "Heavenly Silkworm Technique—Ten Thousand Threads Bind Demons!"

Silver threads, like serpents, burrowed into the purple zombies' bodies. A series of crackling sounds followed as their internal organs were shredded, and foul-smelling black blood splattered throughout the stone chamber. "Impressive technique!" a soft, feminine voice suddenly rang out. From behind a curtain at the far end of the stone chamber, a middle-aged man in fine clothes slowly emerged, toying with a blood-red jade pendant in his hand. "The Heavenly Silkworm Technique of the Yihua Palace, the Ice Soul Technique of the Western Regions Demonic Codex, and the Beggar Clan's Dog-Beating Staff Technique, lost for a century—the secrets you possess, young friend, are far more interesting than the treasures in this secret passage."

Shi Feiyang raised an eyebrow and smiled, twirling the bamboo stick in his palm: "Your skill in hiding your true nature is even more frightening than these purple zombies. But judging from your demeanor, could you be a 'high-class courier' sent by Emperor Yang of Sui to deliver wealth and glory to me?" The middle-aged man's expression hardened, and his blood-red jade pendant suddenly burst into red light, with countless sharp spikes extending from the four walls of the stone chamber.

Yang Jinghao paled, but Shi Feiyang held her protectively in his arms, using his Illusionary Demon Step to weave through the thorns. "Ice Silkworm Devours the Moon!" He unleashed icy shards and silver threads from his fingertips, shredding all the thorns, while simultaneously striking the middle-aged man's chest with his bamboo stick, "Dogs Flying to the Sky."

The middle-aged man flew backward, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth, but suddenly burst into laughter: "Good! Good! Truly living up to your reputation, Li Shimin!"

"Stop!" Shi Feiyang interrupted him. "I'm not going to change my name! But since you're so good at flattering people, I'll spare your life. Tell me, where does this secret passage lead?" The middle-aged man wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, a sly glint in his eyes: "This passage leads directly to the Jiangdu Imperial Palace, however..."

Before he finished speaking, a hidden door at the other end of the stone chamber suddenly opened, letting in blinding sunlight, accompanied by the sound of orderly footsteps.

"Young Master Shi, Miss Yang, His Majesty requests your presence." Outside the door, a squad of guards in golden armor stood in formation, the leader holding a golden token—it was the Grand Eunuch. Shi Feiyang and Yang Jinghao exchanged a glance. He suddenly put his arm around her waist and said with a grin, "Your Highness, it seems our 'Jiangdu trip' will have to begin ahead of schedule. But don't worry, with me here, even a dragon's den or a tiger's lair is just a playground." With that, he strode towards the door, his bamboo stick striking the ground with a crisp sound.

(End of this chapter)