Purple lightning flashed by, and even the tree demon grandmother hiding in the shadows couldn't stop it in time. The lightning struck the female ghost Xiaoqing directly.
"Ah!!" Xiaoqing screamed shrilly, the expression of fear still frozen on her face, before her entire ghostly form vanished with a "pop".
"Where did this stinking scholar come from, daring to kill my men right in front of me? I will never let you leave this place today!" A voice that sounded neither male nor female entered Wang Xuan's ears, causing all the muscles in his body to tense up.
Chapter 115 Joining Forces to Fight the Tree Demon
Suddenly, thick tree roots shot out from the ground, each one aimed directly at Wang Xuan's vital points!
Wang Xuan sheathed the Azure Nether Sword, and temporarily flew through the air using the Lingxu Step, using the Azure Nether Sword to block the roots.
The Azure Nether Sword is a low-grade magic weapon. Its sharpness is far beyond simply cutting through iron like mud. How could a mere tree root possibly withstand it?
With a single sword stroke, Wang Xuan severed more than a dozen tree roots. Green blood flowed from the broken roots, looking extremely eerie.
"This tree demon is actually bleeding?" Wang Xuan was not surprised but delighted. His Xuan Yin incarnation was a zombie body that could absorb blood and evolve!
If one were to absorb the essence and blood of the thousand-year-old tree demon, it would likely greatly benefit the cultivation of the Xuan Yin Incarnation!
With its roots severed, the thousand-year-old tree demon was clearly in pain and became even more determined to kill Wang Xuan here.
Suddenly, hundreds of tree roots shot out, covering the sky!
Wang Xuan could withstand dozens of them, but how could he withstand so many?
In just a dozen breaths, he was tightly bound by the tree roots, like a rice dumpling wrapped in the middle.
However, Wang Xuan was wearing the Heavenly Silkworm Armor, which emitted a faint white light that protected him, preventing the tree roots from harming him for a short period of time.
"This thousand-year-old tree demon indeed possesses strength equivalent to the early stage of the Transcendent Realm. It's time for my Profound Yin Avatar to make its appearance!" After Wang Xuan's long period of nurturing, the Profound Yin Avatar has risen to a cultivation level comparable to the mid-stage of the Transcendent Realm, and is even not far from the late stage. As long as the Profound Yin Avatar makes its move, defeating the tree demon will be a piece of cake!
Wang Xuan patted the bronze coffin at his waist, about to release the Xuan Yin incarnation.
But at that moment, a sudden change occurred. A furious shout came from not far away: "Heaven and earth are boundless, borrow the power of heaven and earth!"
A barrage of sword lights shot out, slashing at the tree roots that were entangled around Wang Xuan, and instantly severing them all.
It turned out that Yan Chixia had arrived. Upon seeing that Wang Xuan was trapped, he immediately unleashed his ultimate move, "rescuing" Wang Xuan.
Wang Xuan looked up speechlessly. Yan Chixia's timing was really bad. It seemed that he wouldn't be able to get the essence blood of the thousand-year-old tree demon for the time being.
Wang Xuan never forgot his identity: he was an invader from another world, an enemy of the entire Liaozhai world, and destined to stand on the opposite side of Yan Chixia!
If he were to reveal his Xuan Yin incarnation now, he would certainly be targeted in the future.
Of course, Wang Xuan could also have Yan Chixia kill him to silence him, but Yan Chixia has great luck and can always turn bad luck into good. Even if Wang Xuan wanted to kill him to silence him, he would most likely not succeed!
"I'll let you off the hook for now, and I'll come back to take your life essence another day!" Wang Xuan sighed, but didn't show it on his face. Instead, he fought the thousand-year-old tree demon with Yan Chixia.
Yan Chixia's strength was already similar to that of the Tree Demon Granny, not to mention the addition of Wang Xuan. The Azure Nether Sword and the Xuanyuan Sword flew at the same time, severing all the tree roots that shot out from the ground.
"Yan Chixia, and that stinking scholar, I will never let you get away with this!" The thousand-year-old tree demon roared, and all its roots retracted into the ground as it prepared to flee.
But Yan Chixia was unwilling. He had been fighting the Tree Demon Granny for a long time, but he couldn't find her true form, which was why he couldn't defeat her. Now that he finally had an opportunity, how could he give up so easily?
"Demon, die!" Yan Chixia roared, urging the Xuanyuan Sword to pierce the ground.
The sharp sword energy plowed the ground back and forth, and a stream of green blood gushed out like a fountain, accompanied by a scream.
However, Yan Chixia did not smile; instead, he looked extremely disappointed.
Although he severely injured the thousand-year-old tree demon, he ultimately failed to capture it and allowed it to escape.
"Master Yan, you don't need to be disappointed. I will also be staying at Lanruo Temple for a while. If the two of us join forces, we will definitely be able to get rid of that thousand-year-old tree demon!" The tree demon was about to escape, and Wang Xuan was actually overjoyed. But he certainly couldn't show it, so he went over to comfort Yan Chixia.
Yan Chixia nodded, instantly dispelling all the disappointment in his heart. Instead, he advised Wang Xuan, "Brother Wang, you have such cultivation at such a young age. Your future achievements will surely be limitless. You must not lose your true nature because of women!"
"Huh?" Wang Xuan was a little confused: "How did I lose my nature because of women?"
"With your cultivation level, killing that female ghost would be a piece of cake, but you've been hesitant to do it. Instead, you followed her to the wilderness. Your little schemes can't be hidden from me." Yan Chixia gave him a knowing look.
Wang Xuan was both amused and exasperated. He only wanted Xiao Qing to lead the way and find the true form of the Tree Demon Granny. How did it turn into a lecherous act in Yan Chixia's eyes?
However, the matter was beyond explanation, and he was too lazy to explain it. He turned back to his room, blocked the door again, and then sat cross-legged to meditate and cultivate quietly.
Although the spiritual energy concentration in the Liaozhai world is far less than that of the main world, it is still twice as concentrated as that of the Xuantian world. Wang Xuan is currently cultivating with every second to spare, completely absorbed in his practice, and naturally won't waste any time.
Nothing happened that night. When the sun rose the next day, Wang Xuan jumped onto the roof and began to breathe in the innate purple energy towards the sun.
After he had circulated his internal energy for several cycles, the sun had already risen completely below the horizon, and the best time of day for cultivation had passed.
When Wang Xuan opened his eyes, he saw that there was another person sitting on the roof next to him. It was Yan Chixia, who was also absorbing and breathing in the innate purple energy.
"Master Yan, I'm planning to take a trip to the county town outside. Would you like to come with me?" Wang Xuan called out to Yan Chixia.
"You can go by yourself, but remember to bring me a few bottles of wine and two roast chickens when you come back!" Yan Chixia didn't stand on ceremony at all, clearly treating Wang Xuan as a free meal ticket.
Wang Xuan chuckled, shook his head slightly, and said nothing more. He then turned and left Lanruo Temple, heading towards Beiguo County, which was not far away.
He came into this world not to bring peace to the people, but to bring war to the world!
To invade the world of Liaozhai and eventually refine it, one must first thoroughly understand its specific circumstances in order to be prepared.
Based on what Wang Xuan knows, the level of the Liaozhai world is much stronger than that of the Xuantian world. It has reached the peak of the mid-level martial arts world, and may even be a high-level martial arts world that has fallen from the top.
After all, this world has a Heavenly Court, an Underworld, and gods, but some unknown anomaly occurred, so the gods of the Heavenly Court disappeared, and the Underworld was occupied by the Black Mountain Demon.
Chapter 116 First Encounter with Ning Caichen
Wang Xuan walked briskly towards Beiguo County. Although he did not fly on a sword, his speed was still far superior to that of ordinary people.
In just over half an hour, he had arrived at a place not far outside the county town.
However, at this moment, the weather suddenly changed. The once clear sky became covered with dark clouds, and then it started to drizzle.
Not to mention rain, even hail couldn't harm Wang Xuan. The Heavenly Silkworm Robe he wore emitted an invisible force field, causing all rainwater to bounce off within three feet of him, unable to touch his body in the slightest.
After walking a few more steps, Wang Xuan suddenly stopped because he saw a pavilion by the roadside ahead. Coincidentally, there was a scholar taking shelter from the rain inside the pavilion.
"What a coincidence, could that scholar be Ning Caichen?" Wang Xuan's lips curled into a playful smile. He looked around and saw that the scholar taking shelter from the rain in the pavilion in front was indeed a handsome man, much more handsome than the young heartthrobs of his previous life.
"Whether this person is Ning Caichen or not, I'll find out by asking him." Wang Xuan didn't bother to guess and walked directly into the pavilion, asking, "Scholar, where are you going? Why didn't you bring an umbrella?"
When the scholar saw Wang Xuan dressed like a young master, his eyes showed a hint of fear, probably because he had suffered at the hands of those spoiled young masters before.
"My name is Ning Caichen. I am on my way to collect debts in Jinhua County. I encountered bandits on the way, and they broke my umbrella. That's why I am taking shelter from the rain here."
It really is Ning Caichen!
Wang Xuan's heart was stirred. Regardless of whether this was the world of Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio or the world of A Chinese Ghost Story, Ning Caichen could be considered the protagonist of the world. He wondered how good this protagonist was.
He secretly activated his Golden Eyes of Luck, intently observing Ning Caichen's luck.
A thin wisp of white mist shot out from Ning Caichen's head, the amount of which was about ten times that of an ordinary person.
"No, this amount of luck can only make Ning Caichen slightly stronger than an ordinary person, and it's not even as good as the luck of a scholar. How can he be considered the protagonist?" Wang Xuan raised an eyebrow, burned a thousand points of luck, and looked around again.
The white mist above Ning Caichen's head immediately dissipated. That was merely the outward manifestation of his fortune; his true innate fortune remained hidden and could only be revealed when it fully manifested.
As Wang Xuan consumed 1,000 points of luck to activate the Eternal Tower of Heaven and Earth, he directly dispelled the mist that was obscuring Ning Cai's innate luck, revealing a pale purple aura of luck. There was even a golden carp swimming around the purple aura!
"A golden carp is no ordinary fish; it transforms into a dragon when it encounters wind and clouds!" Even though Wang Xuan was mentally prepared, he was still taken aback.
Unexpectedly, Ning Caichen's fortune was so great. He had no official position or cultivation, yet he still reached the purple natal chart, and even had a golden carp living among him.
The carp leaps over the Dragon Gate; once it jumps over, it becomes a dragon!
At this moment, Wang Xuan was certain that even if this world was not simply the world of A Chinese Ghost Story, but a world of Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio composed of dozens of stories, Ning Caichen would definitely be the undisputed protagonist of the world!
With a purple natal color and the presence of fish and dragons, he is not much different from warlords like Yuan Shao in the main world. At most, the Zhongwu world can only produce two or three people with such luck!
"I wonder how long it will be before this world changes dynasties. Once things change, Ning Caichen will definitely be the next emperor!" Wang Xuan thought to himself, but he didn't show it.
After chatting for a while, Ning Caichen finally relaxed and realized that Wang Xuan was not a bad person.
The rain continued to drizzle, and before they knew it, it was lunchtime. Ning Caichen, unlike Wang Xuan, did not possess any cultivation; he was just an ordinary person, and his stomach was already growling with hunger.
He reached into his pocket and rummaged around for a while, finally finding two steamed buns. He took one for himself to eat, and handed the other one to Wang Xuan.
Wang Xuan looked down at the steamed bun with a look of disgust. The bun was cold and hard; even an ordinary person would find it unbearable, let alone a cultivator like Wang Xuan.
The higher a person's cultivation level, the less they like to eat ordinary food, because such food contains too many impurities and not much of the energy they need.
They usually practice breathing exercises to meet most of their energy needs, and eating spiritual fruits or similar foods to replenish their energy is not beneficial to them.
Wang Xuan waved his sleeve and magically produced two pears, tossing one to Ning Caichen.
With Wang Xuan intentionally concealing the truth, Ning Caichen naturally didn't know where the two pears came from. He assumed that Wang Xuan, like him, had brought food, but had simply hidden it in his sleeve.
Ning Caichen thanked Wang Xuan and then started eating the steamed bun and pear.
Wang Xuan turned his gaze away from Ning Caichen and looked outside the pavilion. He saw a rugged-looking swordsman hurrying towards them, clearly looking for shelter from the rain in the pavilion.
This person's strength is roughly at the Innate Realm. He can easily take on dozens of bandits single-handedly, and is definitely a well-known master in the martial arts world.
"This is most likely Xiahou the Swordsman." In this situation, Wang Xuan didn't even need to ask; he could guess the other party's identity directly.
As soon as Xiahou the swordsman entered the pavilion, Ning Caichen immediately shrank back and secretly tugged at Wang Xuan's sleeve.
Wang Xuan was somewhat confused: "What are you doing?"
Ning Caichen glanced furtively at Xiahou Jianke, then whispered to Wang Xuan, "Young Master Wang, this man looks fierce; he's clearly not a good person. Besides, I saw him kill and rob before. He's most likely a bandit. We'd better run away quickly!"
Wang Xuan vaguely remembered that there seemed to be some misunderstanding between Ning Caichen and Xiahou Jianke.
"Don't worry, I'm not a weakling like you. Even if that guy really isn't a good person, I can still knock him to the ground with one punch!" Wang Xuan said confidently.
Looking at Wang Xuan's slightly thin body and then at Xiahou Jianke's physique, Ning Caichen simply couldn't believe that Wang Xuan could defeat Xiahou Jianke. Instead, he kept trying to pull Wang Xuan away to escape.
At this moment, Xiahou Jianke finally couldn't hold back any longer. With his cultivation at the Innate Realm, how could he possibly hide the conversation between Ning Caichen and Wang Xuan from him?
Xiahou the swordsman roared at Ning Caichen, "If you, scholar, don't shut up, don't blame me for being merciless with my sword!"
Ning Caichen immediately chickened out, muttering to himself that a wise man doesn't fight a losing battle, and hid in a corner of the pavilion without saying a word.
Wang Xuan glanced at Xiahou the Swordsman, a smile involuntarily appearing on his face. The reason he left Lanruo Temple was to inquire about the situation in this world, and now that he had encountered Xiahou the Swordsman, wasn't it a perfect opportunity to glean some information from him?
Xiahou the Swordsman is a wandering swordsman who has traveled all over the country, so he should have some understanding of the situation in the world of Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio.
In fact, Wang Xuan could have directly questioned Yan Chixia, but Yan Chixia's cultivation was too high. He was favored by the will of heaven in this world and could practically be called half a chosen one. If Wang Xuan talked to him too much, he would inevitably reveal some flaws, which would probably arouse the other party's vigilance.