Tome of Troubled Times

Chapter 416: The Chaos in Jiangnan Resolved in a Single Day

Earlier on in the battle, Zhao Changhe had refrained from activating the buffed state of No Man’s Land.

Back in the day, activating it would push him into a state of mindless frenzy. Later on, it became somewhat controllable, allowing him to retain a bit of clarity, but he still would not be as lucid as in his normal state. More importantly, the aftereffects of the buffed state would still leave him severely weakened. He could not afford to use it recklessly, because the situation was unpredictable and he thus needed to stay rational and analytical.

But at this moment, he could no longer hold back.

Tang Wanzhuang’s condition clearly showed signs of her being about to unseal her cultivation to the third layer of the Profound Mysteries.

This damned woman never believed she could fully recover. She’s always been ready for a fight to the death. Now that things have come to this, she probably thinks that “the prince can carry on her legacy” or some such bullshit, so she must feel even more at ease with the thought of dying...

“If you dare casually unlock the third layer of the Profound Mysteries, just wait until you’re too exhausted to move. Let’s see how I deal with you then! I’ll make sure to do everything in front of Vermillion Bird. She’ll surely be very pleased!”

Tang Wanzhuang was dumbfounded, and she forcibly halted her attempt to unlock the third layer of the Profound Mysteries.

The next moment, as Maitreya charged forward like a heavy tank, she raised her sword to block, nearly getting thrown off her feet, her back slamming heavily into... hm?

A pair of very gentle hands supported her from behind as if worried that she might get hurt. Vermillion Bird’s voice, half-teasing, half-serious, came from beside her, “Don’t die now. I’d quite like to see how you get played with.”

Tang Wanzhuang was both embarrassed and furious, her mind scrambling for a suitable retort, but before she could respond, Vermillion Bird had already passed her by, her palm slamming heavily onto Maitreya’s chest.

Unlike his underlings, this massive blob of flesh was not of the invulnerable variety, but it did absorb energy and collapse inward, causing Vermillion Bird’s force to be swallowed up and then rebound back at her, forcing her to retreat.

As she retreated, Vermillion Bird casually wrapped an arm around Tang Wanzhuang’s waist, pulling her along. Despite blood trickling from her mouth, she could not resist a cheeky squeeze. “Such a soft waist... No wonder men can’t stop dreaming about you...”

Tang Wanzhuang wanted to roll her eyes, but instead, she raised her sword again, driving it viciously into the Maitreya’s flesh.

With the fire still burning his chest and now with a sword impaling him, Maitreya finally roared in pain, and his momentum halted once more.

“He’s about to enter the secret realm, and you two still have the nerve to joke around?!” Tang Wanzhuang finally found a moment to speak, glancing over just in time to see Zhao Changhe with blood-red eyes, no longer hearing a word she said.

No Man’s Land!

After breaking through to the Profound Mysteries, using this state visibly caused his arms to thicken, and faint blood-red light began to encircle him. A murderous aura surged skyward, and he took on the appearance of a demon god.

Vermillion Bird glanced at him and felt a twinge of jealousy.

You really are willing to risk everything for her... Well, fair enough, you did the same for me.

Maitreya was proving to be a real headache. In theory, her flames were supposed to be very effective against this kind of bodily defense, especially now that she had broken through to the third layer of the Profound Mysteries. It should have been easy to finish him off. But for some reason, he just would not burn.

It felt as though Maitreya’s body held a strange energy that countered her fire. It was odd.

Could it be the fire of the White Lotus? Is that the key to Maitreya’s White Lotus Sacred Body?

Vermillion Bird pondered, deep in thought.

Meanwhile, in Zhao Changhe’s vision, everything else faded away. Maitreya charging up the mountain, the fiery path, even Vermillion Bird and Tang Wanzhuang—they all disappeared.

All that remained was Fa Chi’s figure.

Fa Chi was in the middle of preparing some kind of powerful attack as well. Unlike the corrupted forms of Maitreya and the corpse demon, Fa Chi continued to appear resolute and pure.

In a situation where everything he believed in had visibly turned demonic, Fa Chi still radiated a golden light, his expression solemn and unwavering. He was truly a disciple defending his last sacred ground.

There was not the slightest hint of demonic intent in him.

If there was anything, it was the faint blood-red hue and murderous aura surrounding his blade—a result of the Maitreya Cult’s philosophy of killing to achieve enlightenment. In this sense, the Maitreya Cult’s path mirrored that of the Blood God Cult. They were not just two different paths leading to the same place; they were essentially one path.

Leaving aside all the mystical elements of the war, in this battle, it was the martial arts of the Blood God Cult versus those of the Maitreya Cult. It came down to whose techniques and mastery thereof were superior.

Fa Chi might have divine blessings, but Zhao Changhe had the Blood Asura Body.

Oddly enough, things seemed to return to the very essence of combat. And under these circumstances, Zhao Changhe’s fighting spirit surged.

He raised his eyes to meet Fa Chi’s eyes burning with equal battle lust, and Fa Chi spoke up, “Zhao Changhe...”

Zhao Changhe focused his attention on him.

“It does not matter what you ask about my views on the Buddha and the Bodhisattva... But I wish to ask you, having witnessed the battle between those on the Ranking of Heaven and the gods and demons—what have you seen?”

Zhao Changhe slowly replied, “The path of martial arts.”

“Exactly... Their battles... We can’t even stand on the sidelines as mere observers. We are warriors born from slaughter, and like me, your heart must be burning with a mix of resentment and longing, your blood boiling.”

Zhao Changhe’s eyes flickered.

“In the Maitreya Cult, perhaps there are those who deceive others and themselves for wealth and lust...” Fa Chi paused, a bitter smile appearing on his face, “Perhaps there are many.”

Zhao Changhe: “...”

“But the original intent of our faith was to relieve suffering, heal the sick, help the needy... and provide a path to martial arts for the impoverished who lacked opportunities. You protect Tang Wanzhuang, and I protect my Realm of True Void. That is the meaning of our battle.”

Zhao Changhe slowly said, “Well said.”

Fa Chi gave a light smile, his gaze growing wilder. “An ocean of blood can forge an Asura; slaughter can also lead to enlightenment. Our paths are the same. I’ve been wanting to fight you for a long time.”

Zhao Changhe did not respond this time.

He had killed many members of the Maitreya Cult in the past, but he had never truly delved into their thoughts and beliefs. Yet, in the state of No Man’s Land, his mind had no space for sentiment—an ever-growing thirst for battle was the only thing filling his mind.

Such an opponent was worthy of a true fight.

Whether it was Yu Cixiu or Lu Shiheng... did they truly qualify as masters?

Perhaps in cultivation they did, but in vision? They fell far short.

Ironically, now he found himself before one who did qualify. Unfortunately, Fa Chi was so fanatical about his faith that it was rather sad.

Zhao Changhe’s saber let out a dragon’s roar as it headed straight for Fa Chi’s throat.

As his saber rose, Zhao Changhe finally answered, “But to kill you, all I need is one strike!”

Just one strike? What nonsense!

We’ve fought for so long without a clear victor. And now, just because he activated No Man’s Land, he thinks he can kill me in one strike? Does he think he’s the only one with trump cards?

Fa Chi’s blade met Dragon Bird head-on.

Vermillion Bird and Tang Wanzhuang, amidst their own chaotic battle, stole glances at Zhao Changhe’s duel. Behind Fa Chi, a colossal, wrathful Vajra apparition emerged, exuding killing intent that caused the very trees and grass of the mountain to tremble and wither in its presence.

Slaughter to achieve enlightenment... A Bodhisattva protector? Such a strange contrast.

Behind Zhao Changhe, a similar apparition arose.

It was not the starry cosmos that Vermillion Bird was familiar with, but the manifestation of the Blood God. The apparition was a towering, blood-drenched figure wielding a massive saber, standing tall and fierce, ready to strike down with wrathful power.

Clang!

There were no fancy moves, no flourishes—just two blades clashing head-on.

The clash echoed like thunder, so loud that even those within the distant secret realm could faintly hear it. On Maitreya’s grotesque growth, two more fissures appeared as if it were shocked and its eyes were widening in disbelief.

The one most shocked was Fa Chi himself.

At the very moment their blades collided, he could feel all the blood in his body boiling and churning violently. The vicious qi rushed straight to his spiritual platform, reaching parts of his mind and spirit that even the gu could not. The vicious qi was so overwhelming that it nearly wiped out his thoughts entirely. All that remained in his mind was a single refrain of “Kill, kill, kill, kill, kill, kill, kill!”

Then, he felt a sharp pain in his throat. In that brief moment, Dragon Bird had pushed aside his blade and sliced across his neck in one swift motion.

A flash of rational thought returned to Fa Chi, and he quickly dragged his blade across Zhao Changhe’s chest, hoping to force him back and save himself. But Zhao Changhe did not care; he simply allowed the blade to carve a long wound across his chest as Dragon Bird sliced Fa Chi’s neck.

Blood gushed out from the wound.

Fa Chi stood dumbfounded.

“How...”

How, after being evenly matched for so long, did I fall in one strike even after unleashing the Maitreya Cult’s most powerful killing move? Zhao Changhe did not even use his renowned Scattering the Gods and Buddhas, nor his Hell on Earth, nor the strange sword-like saber arts he used at the Wang Clan, nor the Listening to the Spring Rain in a Little Pavilion at Night he used in Xiangyang.

He just executed a simple slash.

Is the enhancement from No Man’s Land really that strong?

“You’re wrong...” Zhao Changhe said weakly, clutching his wounded chest as he staggered back. “The wrath of the Vajra is meant to protect the Dharma. You thought it was for something else. Killing to become enlightened—on this path, were you truly only protecting the Dharma?”

Fa Chi stood there in a daze, unable to comprehend the connection.

“Buddhist protectors defend the grand doctrine, with the vast teachings of Buddhism as their foundation, using it to resolve anger within. But you? Your doctrine is twisted, and the teachings you protect are heresy. Your heart is filled with violent, vicious qi, but you have neither the true teachings of Buddhism nor the guidance of the Blood God Cult to channel and use it. It ultimately accumulated in your heart. My Vicious Blood Art is ultimately about harnessing this very vicious qi, whether my own or others... yours included.”

“This was my door to the Profound Mysteries,” Zhao Changhe said softly. “The one who killed you... was yourself.”

Fa Chi’s eyes finally revealed a look of understanding. There was no resentment in his gaze. Instead, he smiled slightly as he fell backward.

Almost at the same moment, the secret realm erupted with a deafening boom, a mass of black shadows rushed out, Maitreya just a short distance away.

The “tumor” on Maitreya’s neck let out a mad, triumphant laugh. “Come! The Bodhisattva shall descend, the White Lotus Sacred Body—welcome to the true Realm of True Void...”

Roar!

A broad saber came flying through the air, roaring like a dragon.

Maitreya hastily dodged, but the saber adjusted its angle mid-air and still managed to strike him.

With their rich combat experience, Tang Wanzhuang and Vermillion Bird had blocked off every angle of escape that Maitreya could have used. In the split second of failure to evade, he had lost his chance to escape.

Dragon Bird severed the tumor as easily as cutting through a melon. A black gu then fell out of his neck.

Zhao Changhe, having used all his strength to hurl Dragon Bird, then collapsed onto the ground, completely exhausted but chuckling. “Good buddy, you finally stopped being so arrogant...”

The remnant soul of the corpse demon had just managed to enter Maitreya’s body, only to find itself in a headless body.

The corpse demon: “...”

Who am I? Where am I?

In the next moment, shadowy figures appeared as Ying Five and the others arrived. At the front, Ying Five, looking like he was trying to save face, formed a very special hand seal and pressed it viciously onto Matireya’s chest.

A strange, open-mouthed beast pattern appeared on Maitreya’s chest, and the corpse demon found it impossible to escape the headless body.

“The Pixiu Seal[1], it allows entry but no exit. This Ying Five...” Many of the more knowledgeable individuals realized what was happening but chose not to speak further.

Immediately, the ancient Dragon Emperor’s sword, the Qinghe Sword, the Lianshan Sword, the Spring Water Sword, Vermillion Bird’s Fire, the Huayan Staff, and the Taiyi Sword all descended upon Maitreya’s body.

For a moment, it felt as though time and space had frozen, and everyone felt immense relief as if a great burden had been lifted.

Is it over?

Even the strongest corpse demon, even with the best body, could only be torn apart under such a powerful combination of attacks.

But just then, Ying Five suddenly scattered a handful of copper coins toward his nearby allies.

Everyone was startled and swiftly pulled back. Even the hot-tempered Vermillion Bird, mid-retreat, frowned and snapped, “Ying Five, you—”

Before she could finish, Maitreya’s broken body exploded with a bang.

Ying Five, apparently having anticipated this, quickly formed another peculiar hand seal.

To those watching, it seemed as if the space around them rippled like water, then shattered like glass.

What should have been a terrifying explosion was reduced to a radius of only a few zhang.

Ying Five staggered, coughing up blood, and his face turned ashen.

It was then that it dawned on everyone that his earlier “attack” was merely a way to force them to retreat a few zhang as he intended to take on the brunt of the explosion.

Despite that, chunks of blood and flesh still flew everywhere, and who knew which piece contained the remnant soul of the corpse demon?

Vermillion Bird, realizing she had misjudged Ying Five, felt embarrassed as she landed, steadying herself with one hand.

In an instant, flames shot up, covering the entire mountain. Every piece of scattered flesh burned up in a blaze.

But this was not Vermillion Bird’s fire. It was a fire contained within each piece of flesh itself. As Maitreya’s body disintegrated, Vermillion Bird had finally found the means to utterly kill her opponent.

Just as Zhao Changhe could manipulate his opponent’s vicious qi and turn it against them, Vermillion Bird could draw out the fire within Maitreya’s body to consume him from within. Maitreya’s body had been too powerful to trigger it before, but now, was this not the perfect moment?

Amidst the fire and smoke, a wisp of black smoke quietly tried to escape.

Suddenly, a cloth bag appeared before it. Tang Wanzhuang had been waiting with the bag wide open, and the black smoke was quickly captured inside.

Though the body was destroyed, the lingering soul remained. The Demon Suppression Bureau, specialized in dealing with demonic entities, had long prepared a method to capture such spectral remnants.

The bag puffed up as something inside desperately thrashed about. Then, without warning, Gui Chen pasted a talisman onto the bag.

The thrashing grew weaker and weaker until it finally ceased.

Outside the city, the sound of battle cries surged. The defending monks, now without their mystical enhancements, were no match for Tang Buqi’s troops, the Blood God Cult, and the Cao Gang. In no time, the city gates were breached, and the army of Jiangnan poured in.

Tang Wanzhuang’s pale face finally showed a trace of color as she collapsed onto the ground.

Almost everyone else collapsed as well, too exhausted to stand. It had been a grueling ordeal... Even after winning the battle, there was still much to handle, unlike any other conflict they had faced before.

The battle had not actually lasted that long—they entered the city at dusk, and the sky was still filled with blood-red sunset.

Not even half an hour had passed, yet it felt like they had gone through an eternity.

Dealing with souls and strange ancient techniques was far from easy. They were already incredibly experienced; had there been others with much less experience, even if they had won, they might have paid with their lives. And even after that, the dangers would not have ended.

But at last... it was truly over.

Zhao Changhe, slumped on the ground, glanced over at the equally drained Ying Five and could not help but ask, “Fifth lord, were you trying to get yourself killed? Would it not have been better if we all bore the explosion together?”

“Together?” Ying Five gave a weak smile. “That just means more deaths. I’ve been through that before, and I’m not going to let it happen again—no matter who it is. I made a mistake, let it slip out, and lost face... This was just making up for it. Don’t look at me like that.”

Zhao Changhe’s mouth twitched in response, and then he muttered softly, “Idiot...”

Ying Five looked at the long wound on Zhao Changhe’s chest but said nothing.

Everyone else had gotten away without a scratch. Only the two of them were injured—so who was the real idiot?

But Ying Five could not help but admire him. Zhao Changhe’s throw of Dragon Bird was the most decisive moment of the entire battle. He was merely on the Ranking of Man, yet not only had he organized this hunt of the ancient with rankers on the Ranking of Heaven and Ranking of Earth, but he had also played a pivotal role in the fight.

It’s not just luck. His instincts for battle, his sharpness in seizing the moment, and his ability to act during crucial moments—all of it is truly world-class. The Ranking of Man could never be his limit.

It’s only a matter of time.

* * *

Tang Buqi rushed into the city, heading straight toward Kuaiji Mountain.

The warrior monks had lost their blessings, and the battle against gods and demons seemed to be over... but there had been no sign of anyone coming down the mountain for a while. Tang Buqi was extremely worried. His aunt was always ready for a life-or-death battle, so he could not help but wonder if something had happened to her.

The Tome of Troubled Times hasn’t appeared...

But just as he had that thought, a flash of golden light lit up the sky.

On the eighteenth day of the third month, Tang Buqi, having retreated in the early morning, returned at dusk, launching a surprise on Kuaiji while Maitreya was still recovering in his secret realm.

Tang Wanzhuang, the bureau chief of the Demon Suppression Bureau, infiltrated the city, assassinated General Fa Zhen, and lured Maitreya out of the secret realm, joining forces with Vermillion Bird to slay Maitreya in the city’s council hall. Maitreya, having been turned into a corpse demon through a gu art, fought fire and water yet again.

He was slain...

According to the judgment of the Tome of Troubled Times, the moment Maitreya’s head was severed and a tumor-like growth took its place, he was already dead. The subsequent fight had been against the corpse demon...

At the same time, Ying Five of the Mounted Brigand Brotherhood[2], Cui Wenjing of Qinghe, Black Tortoise of the Four Idols Cult, Yang Jingxiu of Hongnong, Yuan Cheng of Huayan Temple, and Gui Chen of the Taiyi Sect, hunted the ancient remnant soul in the White Lotus Secret Realm. The body possessed by the remnant soul was destroyed, turning into a corpse demon.

People stood, jaws agape.

That list of names—can you read it again? Whatever remnant soul that was, it was certainly a glorious defeat.

Outside the secret realm, people glanced at Ying Five with knowing smirks. Lady Three covered her face with her Black Tortoise mask and turned her back, pretending not to know him.

Then her hand touched the mask, and she remembered, Third Lady Yuan is part of the Mounted Brigand Brotherhood. What does that have to do with Black Tortoise?

Lady Three dropped her hand from her face, standing tall with righteous confidence.

Ying Five’s expression remained impassive, “I already told you before. I deal in risky business. What’s wrong with the Mounted Brigand Brotherhood, huh?”

Everyone looked up, avoiding his gaze.

The corpse demon, lacking a suitable body, sought to inhabit Maitreya’s body. Maitreya fought fiercely against Vermillion Bird and Tang Wanzhuang, retreating desperately to the secret realm.

Outside the secret realm, Zhao Changhe fought fiercely against Protector Fa Chi, ultimately severing his throat with one powerful strike. Finally, from three zhang away, he hurled Dragon Bird, severing Maitreya’s head and shattering the corpse demon’s hope of possessing a new body. The demon’s body exploded, and the remnant soul was sealed.

A grand hunt from all directions, the gods and demons bow, the chaos in Jiangnan resolved in a single day.

A figure on the Ranking of Earth has fallen, and a shift in the Ranking of Man.

Rank 37: Blood Asura Zhao Changhe.

The bloom requires neither pale green nor deep red hues; it is, by nature, the finest of all flowers.

[END OF FOURTH ARC]

1. The Pixiu is a Chinese mythical hybrid creature. They are considered powerful protectors of the souls of the dead. ☜

2. The word used for mounted brigand was 响马, which specifically refers to bandits who blocked roads and robbed commercial travelers in ancient times. ☜