The Demonic Cultivator In Zombie World

Chapter 205: How Could Chu Xuan, a Great Demon, Possibly Have Three Layers of Merit Wheels?

Clang!

In that instant, teacups clattered to the floor. Even after Wei Ji had left the tea house, the cultivators remained immersed in shock.

Yun Zhongyu was truly slain by a Golden Core cultivator? A mighty Nascent Soul expert had fallen to a mere Golden Core—such news, if spread, would surely be the butt of jokes!

Yuan Zichu's body swayed, his eyes wide in astonishment. Huikong? He remembered that name. Wasn't he the one who was initially considered for a position as a venerated guest of the Duan family but was ultimately rejected?

Yuan Zichu's pupils narrowed as he recalled an incident. He had been strolling through Zhengdao City with Xiao Fengxian when they happened to pass by Huikong's cave dwelling. Xiao Fengxian, with audacious demand, had insisted that Huikong vacate the dwelling.

Thinking back, Xiao Fengxian's audacity was astonishing—to think he had dared to demand that a cultivator capable of slaying a mid-stage Nascent Soul relinquish his cave dwelling. Yuan Zichu was thankful that he preferred not to make enemies or bully others; otherwise, he might have been long dead.

Yuan Zichu patted his chest, feeling as if he had narrowly escaped a walk through the gates of the underworld.

"Mystic Azure Star, Golden Dragon Temple, Huikong…" he murmured. "I know of the Golden Dragon Temple; it was one of the five sects of Yu Country and has long since been destroyed."

"This person must be using a false identity," he mused. "Someone with such power should not be an unknown nobody…"

Yuan Zichu pondered deeply, but no matter how much he thought, he couldn't determine who this person could be. The strongest cultivator he had ever met at his level was He Liang, a fellow elder of the Hundred Refinements Sect and a master of physical cultivation.

That day, He Liang shattered all of his defensive spells and magic treasures with a single punch, leaving him utterly defeated. However, even He Liang, despite his strength, had fallen to a demonic cultivator and clearly was not on par with Huikong, the high monk who had slain a mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivator.

"Mystic Azure Star truly is a cradle of extraordinary talents," Yuan Zichu sighed, settling his bill and leaving the Cloudy Tea House.

At the Duan family estate, Duan Xiu sat cross-legged in the cultivation chamber, his complexion deathly pale. His eyes swirled with uncontrollable hatred. He had set out to kill Shangguan Hao and seize the Deity Nurturing Elixir, only to be gravely wounded by Shangguan Hao instead. If not for some life-saving measures he had taken over the years, he might have perished in the Great Chasm.

"Fengxian! Where is my son Fengxian?" Duan Xiu roared.

"I am here, foster father!" Xiao Fengxian hurried into the cultivation chamber from his guard post at the door. The two shared a tender moment.

As Duan Xiu gently caressed Xiao Fengxian's handsome, fair face, the rage in his heart slowly dissipated.

Suddenly, someone knocked on the stone door of the cultivation chamber.

"Elder Ancestor! It's Duan Cang! The upper sect has issued an order!"

Duan Xiu, startled, quickly straightened his disheveled robes before responding, "Come in."

Duan Cang, the head of the Duan family, entered and knelt down respectfully, saying, "The upper sect commands that the one who kills Yun Zhongyu is Mystic Azure Star's Golden Dragon Temple's Huikong. The upper sect orders our Duan family to track down anyone associated with Huikong!"

Duan Xiu frowned, "Huikong? Who is Huikong?"

Although he had escaped early back to the Righteous Dao City, he was unaware of what ultimately transpired in the Great Chasm.

However, he had heard from other cultivators who returned alive that a monk had slain Yun Zhongyu. Initially, he thought it was Miaoxin from the Celestial Sound Zen Temple, but now an unfamiliar name had emerged.

Xiao Fengxian's eyes widened in shock, "What did you say? Hui… Huikong?" He looked at Duan Cang.

Duan Cang, who held little regard for Xiao Fengxian who served through his beauty, maintained his respectful demeanor, "Indeed, that man is Huikong."

"The very Huikong whom Duan Que wanted to invite to join our Duan family, but whom I refused," he added with a trace of bitterness. Huikong, capable of slaying even a mid-Nascent Soul cultivator, was initially set to be invited as a family honorary elder, but Duan Cang refused him.

This was likely to become well-known throughout the Righteous Dao City. He, the head of the Duan family, might be seen by many as a man who could not recognize talent.

Duan Xiu exclaimed, "Foolish! How could you turn away such a powerful individual?"

Duan Cang sighed, "Elder Ancestor… Well, perhaps it was for the best. This person is audacious to the extreme, daring to kill a cultivator of the upper sect. If he had become an elder of our Duan family, we might have been implicated as well."

Duan Xiu found some sense in these words and nodded, "That might indeed be so."

Xiao Fengxian suddenly said, "To find out where Huikong is, we need to find Duan Que."

"Duan Que and Huikong are close friends; he must know!" Duan Xiu agreed, "Find Duan Que immediately!"

Duan Cang forced a smile, "Elder Ancestor, that's the second matter I needed to report. I've already sent people to find Duan Que, but he has disappeared."

Duan Xiu stood up abruptly, "What?!" His complexion changed rapidly, reflecting his turbulent emotions.

"Find Duan Que! At all costs!"

Duan Cang inwardly sighed, "Yes…"

After Duan Cang left, Xiao Fengxian sat in silence, his mind a tumult of shock and fear.

That Huikong... to think he had the power to slay a mid-Nascent Soul cultivator! He couldn't believe he had once dared to be so disrespectful to Huikong.

"Master... please don't come looking for me," Xiao Fengxian prayed silently, fearing that Huikong might bear a grudge and come specifically to kill him.

...

On the road from the Righteous Dao City to Lei Family City, a middle-aged cultivator with a lush head of hair slowly made his way. He looked back towards the Righteous Dao City with a resigned smile.

"Huikong, Huikong... you've really put me in a tough spot," he murmured. "How was I to know you were so capable, even able to kill an upper sect cultivator?"

"Thank goodness I fled quickly, or by now I'd probably have been captured by the Reincarnation Divine Sect and subjected to a soul search," he lamented. "As for the Duan family, I'm better off without them."

"What should I call myself now?" Duan Que pondered for a long while. "My mother's surname is Ning; I think I'll go by Ning Que. Ning Que—what a good name."

With a joyful smile, Duan Que headed towards Lei Family City.

...

Wan Wuying, Zhao Wuya, and Huang Yuanwu were also making their way to Lei Family City during the day. After walking a short distance, Huang Yuanwu couldn't help but speak up.

"Hey, do you guys think... who exactly is this Huikong? Is he really from the Mystic Azure Star's Golden Dragon Temple?" he wondered aloud.

Wan Wuying shook his head, "Stop talking about it. The Reincarnation Divine Sect is definitely looking for him. If we expose anything, we'll be captured and subjected to a soul search."

Zhao Wuya nodded in agreement, "Better not to speak."

The trio fell silent. After a while, Zhao Wuya couldn't help himself, "Honestly, I want to know who he is... Old Wan, do you have any guesses? You've been very pensive."

Wan Wuying gave a wry smile, "I really don't know... At first, I thought he might be my junior brother, Chu Xuan."

"But when he displayed the three layers merit wheel, I had to abandon that thought," he continued. "My junior brother's character... both of you know well. His negative karma definitely outweighs mine by far. How could he possibly possess the three-layer merit wheel?"

Zhao Wuya and Huang Yuanwu nodded vigorously in agreement. That point they never doubted.

Chu Xuan, a major demon like him, possessing the three layers merit wheel? That would be as unlikely as the sun rising from the west!