While the clones chattered in the back of Hui’s head, Gu Tian’s sword clashed with Fu Renyi’s blue energy sword. Hui tensed, half-expecting the blue energy to slice through his steel sword like a laser sword might, but instead, his qi blocked the blue energy the same as it blocked anything else. He leaped back, breathing a quiet sigh of relief. That’s what too many movies does to you! Getting all worked up over a glowing sword for nothing… it feels the same as an ordinary sword. It’s not even hot. Then again, it’s made of qi, not plasma. Naturally, it’s not the same as a scifi energy sword.

Fu Renyi backed up as well. He looked Hui up and down. “Recently ascended? I’ve been fifth stage for five hundred years. I’ll show you the difference of five hundred years of cultivation!”

Hui glanced at Fu Renyi, then cast his eyes aside demurely. “Elder Brother, this small cultivator has only been cultivating for a few decades. Please forgive my inexperience.”

“A few—” Fu Renyi stared, struck dumb.

“Ah—that’s not right. Barely a single decade,” Hui corrected, nodding.

“Fifth… stage?” Fu Renyi asked, startled.

Hui nodded shyly, glancing up to catch his response. Surprised, but not angry? Hmm, too bad. I suppose that’s not the right angle to take to taunt him. I’ll keep prodding.

Recovering from his surprise, Fu Renyi laughed. “Such rapid cultivation. You must have a shallow foundation. There’s no future for those who rush blindly ahead!”

Er, tell that to Master… Hui thought silently.

Brandishing his blue sword, Fu Renyi rushed at Hui again. Hui threw out a handful of barrier talismans and retreated, blocking a few blows with Gu Tian’s sword. Fu Renyi’s blade penetrated his guard a dozen times, but each time, the barriers deflected it enough to save Hui from death. A few wounds opened up on his body and limbs, only to quickly close due to his plant body.

Fu Renyi laughed. He hung back. Qi gathered around him forebodingly. “A shallow foundation, as I thought. Have you even held a sword before?”

Damn sword cultivators, thinking they’re better than everyone else, Hui grumbled internally. He put on an apologetic expression and casually activated a few more barriers as he did so. “This small cultivator is no sword cultivator. Forgive my ignorance."

“The only one you’ll have to ask for forgiveness is the Lord of the Underworld!” Fu Renyi declared. He zipped forward, faster than Hui’s eyes could see. In the next moment, his field of vision changed. The roof appeared before his eyes, then his body. He struck the floor and rolled, floorboards flying past.

Hui frowned. I couldn’t see through his move at all. He really is at the peak of this realm, while I’ve barely stepped into it. If not for the unique circumstances of my body, I’d be in dire straits right now.

Ah, good thing I am a clone! I’d be in so much danger if I was my true body. How did I ever dare walk outside in my true body? What a mistake, what a mistake! At least I’ve rectified it now.

As he thought to himself, Hui directed his body to fall like a puppet with the strings cut. At the same time, he reached out to the clones. Send me Jin Xian!

Fu Renyi glanced at Hui’s body, then turned toward where Bai Xue and Han Qin fought. Before he could take a step, Zhubi leaped up from Hui’s severed neck and bit his ankle.

Disgust flashed over Fu Renyi’s face. He kicked Zhubi off. The little snake went flying across the banquet hall and thumped into the wall. Stunned, Zhubi rolled down and fell into a pile.

“Disgusting lowly spirit beast. You dare harm me?” Fu Renyi muttered.

You dare harm Zhubi? Disgusting, lowly cultivator! Hui shouted back silently. His headless body threw Gu Tian’s sword at Fu Renyi’s side with all his strength.

Fu Renyi turned. He caught Gu Tian’s sword between his fingers. “I thought you went down too easily.” He walked over to Hui’s head and lifted his foot.

A pale, bloodless head surged out of the ground beside Hui and bit into the bottom of his foot. Jin Xian crawled out of nowhere, forcing Fu Renyi to stagger backward, his foot still stuck in her mouth. She bit down, hard, and his shoe and a portion of his foot vanished. Black blood dripped from the wound, deeply poisoned.

“Wh…what…?” Fu Renyi muttered, wide-eyed.

Jin Xian turned her head and spat the shoe out. She swallowed with relish and licked her lips, staring at Fu Renyi’s newly bare and bleeding foot. A loud growling sound emanated from her stomach.

Er… my apologies for not feeding Elder Sister? Hui thought, somewhat concerned.

Fu Renyi stared at Jin Xian, then at Hui’s headless body. His expression turned to one of utter disgust. “A demonic cultivator? What do you want?”

“Senior, please. I’m not a demonic cultivator,” Hui insisted. His body picked up his head and fixed it back atop his neck. Jin Xian leaned forward, drool sliding down her chin. Hui subtly gestured her back. He reached his hand out, and Zhubi leaped back to him, quickly crawling up his body to rest at his neck.

Fu Renyi gave him a disbelieving look.

Hui cleared his throat. Setting that argument aside… “Senior, I could ask the same of you. What do you want to do with these girls? Why steal their qi?”

“So that’s what you’re after. The vitality and qi of these girls, the same as me,” Fu Renyi said, narrowing his eyes. “No wonder you allied with that half-demonic Bai Clan.”

Half-demonic? Which half, male or female?

Jokes aside, though, don’t you realize your own hypocrisy in admitting you’re stealing the life force of these girls, and simultaneously calling the Bai Clan half demonic?

“Since we have the same goal, can’t Senior share his plans with me?” Hui suggested, smiling gently.

“Share the same goal,” Fu Renyi scoffed.

Hui waited, still smiling.

Fu Renyi shook his head. “No. I… I only want to bring my wife back. My loving wife, my beloved partner for centuries… who died giving birth to my worthless youngest daughter, Fu Liyu.” His expression turned vicious, almost demonic. “My youngest daughter, who stomps all over a father’s love, who sleeps with random men and even dares to allow her fiancé to back out of their relationship after she’s already pregnant with his son. That unfilial daughter of mine should give my wife’s life back to me! All she’s done is cause problem after problem. Better to use her soul, so similar to my dear wife’s, to call my wife back from the Yellow Springs!”

Ah. Hmm. This man… this man has several problems, Hui decided, nodding to himself. “So that array, the parasitic one in Fu Liyu…?”

“The same as her mother bore her, she will bear her mother’s soul back to this world,” Fu Renyi declared.

“And the other girls…?” Hui hinted.

“It takes great energy to call souls back from the Underworld. Without the reserves of a great sect or large clan, how else am I supposed to gather so much energy?” Fu Renyi asked.

He’s insane. Killing his own daughter and a dozen other women to bring back his wife? This man… doesn’t he understand that his wife’s soul has already passed on? At best, it languishes in the Yellow Springs, unable to reincarnate due to the remnant soul he’s trapped here. Not only has he planned to kill his daughter, but he’s also prevented his wife from reincarnation. All he’s done is cause problems, without solving a single one!

Hui shook his head at Fu Renyi’s blindness, then nodded to himself. I wonder if I can gain points with the reaper for sending his wife’s remnant soul back into the path of reincarnation? It’s worth a try, anyways!

But first, I have to defeat Fu Renyi!