Chapter 168: The Irresolute and Resolute Third Mistress

A visible ripple spread outward with Yun Ying at its center, instantly filling the entire small courtyard in a split second.

"Pop..."

The black Volnian Staff swept out a shadow of darkness, colliding with the invisible Soul-Roar Melody, producing a dull, muffled thud in the air.

"Clang!"

The black Volnian Staff flew high into the air under the impact of the Soul-Roar Melody, soared straight up, and then plunged headfirst into the ground, rolling a few times before finally coming to a halt.

"Greetings, Master, Junior Uncle Ying."

Seeing the Divine Hound make its move, Yan Feng hurriedly bowed when he noticed Jiang Yan and Yun Ying standing behind him.

Buffeted by the impact of the Divine Hound's Soul-Roar Melody, Xun Ri lost his weapon and staggered back several steps. Xun Ri's retreat inadvertently left Little San without an opponent. Breathing a sigh of relief, Little San took a few steps back as well and, following Yan Feng's example, respectfully bowed to Jiang Yan and Yun Ying.

"Whoosh, whoosh..."

The Soul-Roar Melody scattered in all directions, flattening parts of Little San's courtyard. Several support pillars of the front porch were caught in the shockwave, snapping one and a half out of three.

The two black-robed youths by the gate watched the oncoming Soul-Roar Melody and the retreating Xun Ri, grave expressions flashing across their faces. The youth on the right raised his hand slightly, and a dazzling barrier of light flared to life, blocking the direct onslaught of the Soul-Roar Melody while shielding the house behind them to prevent it from being torn apart.

"Bah, bah..."

The collapsed courtyard wall stirred up a massive cloud of dust. Highly incensed, the black-robed youths spat repeatedly, glaring angrily at Jiang Yan and Yun Ying.

"Where did this brat come from, and what kind of stray dog popped out to bite this young master? To think a mere Liqing Prefecture actually houses a second-rank spirit beast, hehe!" Retreating a few steps and spitting a few more times, Xun Ri was originally about to fly into a rage. However, upon getting a clear look at the Divine Hound, which resembled a prickly ball, the anger on his face suddenly subsided, replaced by a playful glint in his eyes as he stared at the beast on the ground.

The black-robed youth who had been blocking Monk Wusheng and the others relaxed his blocking arm. Clenching his fists until his knuckles cracked loudly, he stepped forward to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the black-robed Xun Ri, saying with a mocking sneer, "Young Master Xun, someone is meddling in our fun. This is going to get interesting. Ugh, bah! The bastard made me a mouthful of dust."

"Amitabha," Monk Wukong finally arrived. Seeing Jiang Yan, the various young masters, and the dust-shrouded courtyard, he couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief inwardly. Thank goodness the fight hadn't escalated beyond control yet!

"Greetings, patron," Monk Wusheng said, taking a few steps forward to block the path of the two black-robed youths. Reaching Jiang Yan, he held one palm upright against his chest and bowed slightly in greeting.

After the monks paid their respects to Jiang Yan, they leaped over the two black-robed youths at the gate and bounded into the rooms of the courtyard. Anxious for his family, Little San let out a tiger-like roar and followed closely behind Monk Wusheng, his movements quite frantic due to his deep worry for his loved ones inside.

The two black-robed youths guarding the entrance merely smiled coldly, making no move to stop them. They stepped aside, letting the group enter the rooms at will. Yet as they watched Little San enter, their faces were plastered with mocking grins; and when they turned their gazes back to Jiang Yan and Yun Ying in the courtyard, their expressions turned utterly derisive.

Monk Wukong's expression shifted drastically as a sudden realization dawned on him. His handsome face turned pitch black in an instant, and the trace of ease he previously held was replaced by beads of sweat breaking out all over his forehead.

"Young Master Yun, may I ask where Young Master Liang is?" Monk Wusheng's lips trembled slightly, betraying his inner anxiety as he fixed his gaze on the black-robed youth beside Xun Ri, his voice laden with a trembling tone. There had originally been four young masters carousing here; now, one was missing, and a dreadful premonition rose in Monk Wusheng's mind.

Jiang Yan shifted his gaze to the black-robed Young Master Yun. The transparent information panel revealed that this youth was named Yun Fei. Like Xun Ri, he was at the late Foundation Establishment stage and served as an inner-disciple of Huasheng Temple. The cultivation techniques he practiced were somewhat chaotic, though all of them were uniformly second-rank techniques.

Hearing Monk Wusheng's question, Yun Fei twitched the corners of his mouth and spoke with disdain, "Little Monk Wukong, you haven't stayed at Huasheng Temple for so many days—are your skin itching for a beating? Kongse isn't here to protect you this time. How dare you speak to me like this! Hmph, if we were back at Huasheng Temple, I'd have you dragged to the Avici Hell and make you taste the torments of the Mountain of Knives and Sea of Fire."

Xun Ri also let out a cold snort, a dark, gloomy glint flashing in his eyes as he spoke harshly, "A mere attendant disciple, yet you dare interrogate an inner-disciple! Truly courting death. Just how does that punk Kongse discipline his subordinates? When I return to the temple later, I'll impeach him for poor governance and strip him of his title as one of the Top Ten Disciples."

"Boom..."

A dull, explosive burst of spiritual energy echoed from inside the room.

"I'll kill you!"

Little San's roar, brimming with rage and hatred, burst abruptly from the room. Accompanied by a loud explosion of spiritual energy, a naked youth was blasted out, punching a massive hole through the roof as he was sent flying high into the air.

"Woof, woof..."

Having just smoothed down the fur all over its body, the Divine Hound was wagging its tail to seek praise from its little master when a figure plummeted from the roof. With a swift turn of its head, it let out an angry roar. The second-rank offensive technique, the Soul-Roar Melody, howled forth, its soundwaves condensing into an invisible shuttle-shaped beam that lunged straight at the falling naked youth. Having advanced to a second-rank spirit beast, the Divine Hound's attack methods had undergone a considerable transformation, allowing it to sweep across a wide area or strike in a precise line.

"Heh, that kid actually turned out to be a first-rank talismanteer, blasting me right out of the room like that. You lot guarding the door couldn't even handle watch duty properly."

The naked youth plummeting toward the ground spoke in a bantering tone, laughing and cursing at the other black-robed youths.

"Young Master Liang, watch out!"

"Be careful!"

Feeling the terrifying might of the second-rank sonic attack, Xun Ri and Yun Fei beside him changed expressions. This second-rank spirit beast was actually capable of unleashing a second-rank offensive skill; if one took this head-on, even a late Foundation Establishment cultivator wouldn't be able to endure it.

The Soul-Roar Melody arrived silently, the shuttle-shaped soundwave hurtling straight toward the chest of the black-robed Young Master Liang. Under the remote control of the Divine Hound, it slammed squarely into the youth's chest.

"Boom!"

Struck by the Soul-Roar Melody, the naked youth's falling body jerked to a sudden halt. His bare torso abruptly doubled over as he was hurled backward into the wall behind him. The might of the second-rank Soul-Roar Melody was formidable indeed, blasting a massive hole straight through the wall of Little San's house and collapsing a section of masonry.

"Puff..."

Hitting the ground, the naked youth raised his head and spewed a mouthful of blood, slumping limply as he uttered a low, defiant cry, "Whose stray dog is this? Why is it so vicious?!"

Yun Ying squatted down, patted the Divine Hound on the head, pinched a spirit beast pill from the small universe pouch slung across her shoulder, and fed it into the hound's mouth, gently stroking its head. "Good job, Little White!"

"Zizz..."

The sound of spiritual sense tearing through the air suddenly exploded within the room, which now featured a gaping hole.

Jiang Yan furrowed his brow. A first-rank talismanteer could only deploy three types of spiritual sense techniques, and a novice talismanteer could only execute a single form known as "Transforming the Spirit into a Cocoon." The technique currently manifesting was unmistakably the "Annihilating Spirit Transformation," something achievable only by a talismanteer who had attained mastery of the craft.

Flushed with blood, with crimson fluid continuously seeping from his mouth, nose, and eyes, Little San wore a distorted expression as he slowly walked out of the doorway. A blood-red light gleamed in his eyes as he locked a deadly gaze upon the naked youth amid the rubble.

"Go to hell..."

His furious roar suddenly reverberated throughout the entire courtyard.