Unlike Feng Wukang, who did not prioritize Body Refinement Island at any stage, after conceiving the Demonic Fetus, he slowly began mending and strengthening his physical form, preparing for the future Demon Fire Body Tempering. Thus, testing it with his own body was also a way to gauge its current level of resilience.
Under the strike of the withered vine, Feng Zikang’s expression did not shift; he only felt a slight ache around his waist. Looking at the vine again, several cracks had already appeared upon it.
The Withered Vine Daoist was greatly alarmed, screaming in panic.
Although he had lost the Withered Vine Scepter and could not unleash his most potent divine abilities, the power of transforming his arms into vines was still formidable! He never expected this man could take the blow head-on without injury, whereas his own arms were numb, and when he recalled the vine manifestation, they were bloody and raw!
“Senior Brother Feng, why the leisure to joke with our subordinate’s acquaintance?”
A gentle voice drifted from behind. The Withered Vine Daoist was even more shocked. Turning back, he saw the Venerable Xu Wan, whom he admired above all others. Venerable Xu Wan was bowing deferentially toward Feng Zikang with a respectful expression!
“Th-this, this…”
The Withered Vine Daoist pointed at Feng Zikang, too terrified to speak for a long time! This fellow truly knew Venerable Xu Wan! And Venerable Xu Wan treated him with such reverence!
He desperately wished he could slap himself twice. It was all due to losing his treasure today that he became so volatile.
Feng Zikang, however, paid it no mind, merely smiling faintly. “It was just a brief sparring session, nothing serious.”
“Naturally so. If it were a real fight, with Senior Brother Feng’s capabilities, would anyone here still be alive?”
Venerable Xu Wan chuckled heartily, his words laced with flattery.
The Withered Vine Daoist was paralyzed with fear. What was this young man’s background? Venerable Xu Wan held him in such high regard—could it be…?
His surname was Feng…
Could it be?
Venerable Xu Wan turned his head toward the Withered Vine Daoist and smiled. “Withered Vine Daoist, this is Senior Brother Feng Zikang of the Military School of Mount Longhu, whom we often mention. Among the younger generation in the world today, his skill is the most profound!”
“You flatter me! I hardly deserve such praise!”
Feng Zikang arched his hands in a polite bow, declining the compliment repeatedly.
It truly was Feng Zikang of the Military School of Mount Longhu! The Withered Vine Daoist quickly stepped forward to apologize, trembling.
Venerable Xu Wan laughed heartily. “Withered Vine Daoist, no need for such ceremony. Your Withered Vine Skill will rely on Senior Brother Feng to help you retrieve it!”
“Oh?”
The Withered Vine Daoist was overjoyed. Before the matter was even settled, he bent low to thank Feng Zikang, clearly placing great faith in Venerable Xu Wan’s prophecy.
“Then I shall trouble Immortal Elder Feng!”
Feng Zikang offered a wry smile. He knew nothing of this so-called Withered Vine Skill. He hadn’t expected to arrive in Lizhou only to be immediately tasked with a mission by Venerable Xu Wan.
However, if this Withered Vine Skill was stolen by Hong Kang, retrieving it would not be difficult.
Knowing Feng Zikang was unfamiliar with the local situation, Venerable Xu Wan invited him down to rest while explaining the recent military developments in Lizhou.
Since Guyizong brought in the Southern Barbarians after the Turks, this man had fought with considerable strategy and employed many Daoist cultivators. Lizhou had exchanged several victories and defeats with him.
In recent days, the Withered Vine Daoist arrived, and his Withered Vine Skill was extremely potent; when unleashed, it could bind enemies completely, leaving them unable to resist. The forces of Lizhou seized this opportunity to slay many of the cultivators within the Tang army.
Especially Fang Tian, the Lust Demon Feng Zikang had sought out; his emerald flames left no survivors, demonstrating brutal efficiency.
The Zhou army was on the verge of total victory when, unexpectedly, Hong Kang arrived in the Tang camp. This man possessed the Eight-Nine Arcane Art and was skilled in myriad transformations. After being bound by the Withered Vine Skill, he transformed and slipped away, proving impossible to contain.
Unexpectedly, Hong Kang had even sneaked into the military camp that very night and stolen the Withered Vine Daoist’s treasure.
“I see,”
Feng Zikang nodded, grasping the full sequence of events.
Hong Kang’s Eight-Nine Arcane Art and transformations were indeed difficult to deal with, especially eliminating him completely was no easy feat.
“I knew Senior Brother Feng would arrive these days. I must entrust the matter of Hong Kang to you.”
Venerable Xu Wan revealed a mischievous smile, seeming eager to pass off a troublesome hot potato.
Feng Zikang smiled. “Retrieving the Withered Vine Scepter is not difficult, but to eliminate Hong Kang, I lack a magical artifact capable of wounding the primordial spirit.”
The Eight-Nine Arcane Art integrates the primordial spirit and the physical body. Even at the third level, utterly destroying it is challenging. As a precaution, having an artifact that severs the spirit would be far more convenient.
Venerable Xu Wan nodded.
“What a coincidence! I happen to know of a God-Severing Master dwelling in the nearby Youyuan Mountain. His entire life has been devoted to his craft, centered around a God-Severing Blade. This blade specifically targets the primordial spirit, making it the perfect counter for Hong Kang. If Senior Brother Feng could borrow it, dealing with Hong Kang would be as easy as turning over one's hand!”
“Oh?” Feng Zikang smiled, his expression equally inscrutable. “Venerable Xu Wan is truly knowledgeable about everything. However, I am unacquainted with that God-Severing Master, whereas you seem to have some rapport with him. Why not borrow it yourself?”
Venerable Xu Wan gestured dismissively with both hands. “I lack that ability entirely. That God-Severing Master has a peculiar temperament; anyone entering Youyuan Mountain is slaughtered by his God-Severing Blade. Unless, of course, Senior Brother Feng is the disciple of his great benefactor—in that case, I’m sure he wouldn't refuse you.”
“Great benefactor?”
Feng Zikang paused briefly, taken aback.
“It seems even Senior Brother Feng has things he doesn’t know,” Venerable Xu Wan chuckled. “Senior Ye Tiansheng of the Small Bamboo Grove at Mount Longhu provided a life-saving grace to that God-Severing Master. Since you are Senior Ye’s disciple, your journey to Youyuan Mountain will surely be safe.”
Feng Zikang felt a chill run through him. Venerable Xu Wan was becoming increasingly mysterious and unfathomable. It seemed nothing in the world escaped his notice, and his schemes always succeeded. He was undoubtedly the foremost strategist beside King Wuji, which explained why so many cultivators revered him.
“In that case, I suppose I really must make a trip there.”
Feng Zikang did not mind borrowing a magical weapon. After all, he was currently allied with Venerable Xu Wan; he had plenty of time to investigate the secrets surrounding the Venerable later.
“Let us first test Hong Kang’s true strength tomorrow,”
Tomorrow, he would first have He Nu engage him again, just to probe Hong Kang’s depths further. Once the details were clear, borrowing the God-Severing Blade from Youyuan Mountain would be less premature.
“Senior Brother Feng’s reasoning is sound,” Venerable Xu Wan agreed.
The two exchanged smiles, their gazes holding both unspoken understanding and a deep, underlying wariness.
The next day, Feng Zikang met King Zhou, Wuji. Although Wuji had proclaimed himself king, he remained the same, showing great deference to Feng Zikang.
As expected, the cultivators Wuji had introduced were mostly dead, save for the Lust Demon Fang Tian, who was very much alive. Upon seeing Feng Zikang appear, Fang Tian merely snorted and offered no greeting.
Feng Zikang winked at him with a smile and then introduced He Nu to Wuji.
Sure enough, not long after, Hong Kang challenged them from beneath the city walls. Feng Zikang sent He Nu out. The two clashed violently for nearly half an hour, achieving no decisive outcome.
Hong Kang grew anxious and employed his transformation arts, shifting alternately into a fierce tiger and then a soaring eagle. However, He Nu countered every change with steadfast resolve. Though he suffered minor disadvantages, he showed no sign of breaking formation.
“Transformation arts are nothing more than this,”
Feng Zikang shook his head. Compared to the Eight-Nine Arcane Art, Hong Kang’s transformation practice was far from mastery; he had the form but lacked the spirit. It was sufficient for hiding or eavesdropping by turning into small insects, but in direct combat, it offered little advantage.
Having ascertained his baseline abilities gave him greater confidence.
“Senior Brother Feng’s junior disciple is indeed formidable, possessing different strengths than Pioneer Fang whom you recommended previously—they are evenly matched! I wonder if you have any more men like this, Senior Brother Feng, whom you could bring?”
Feng Zikang’s expression remained unchanged, but he felt a prickle of caution internally. After all, both Fang Tian and He Nu were products of his Demon Refining method. Although no one in the world knew this technique, Venerable Xu Wan was as meticulous as a needle’s eye; one must guard against him noticing any subtle clues.
“Oh dear!”
Venerable Xu Wan suddenly cried out, “Senior Brother Feng, he is about to use the Withered Vine Skill! Your disciple is in danger!”
Feng Zikang looked up and indeed saw that Hong Kang, unable to secure a win after a prolonged fight, reached into his robe and pulled out an emerald-green jade scepter. Its twisted structure mimicked a withered vine, radiating spiritual energy—truly a fine object.
Before the words faded, the Withered Vine Daoist roared and leaped down from the city tower.
Venerable Xu Wan shook his head and sighed, making no move to stop him.
Hong Kang unleashed the Withered Vine Skill. A green radiance spread, causing countless vines to sprout forth, tightly ensnaring both He Nu and the Withered Vine Daoist.
The Withered Vine Daoist let out a cold snort, muttered an incantation to recall his vine skill, but the creepers remained unmoving. As he stood there in astonishment, Hong Kang swung his great saber and cleanly severed the Daoist’s head!
“Hmph, having only broken through two layers of restrictions, how can he compare to Young Master?”
Hong Kang’s tone was arrogant. Despite his three-inch stature, standing there with a blood-stained blade, he possessed a certain menacing air!
“Senior Brother Feng, now it is time for you to act, is it not?”
Venerable Xu Wan sighed ruefully. “Now that the original owner, the Withered Vine Daoist, is dead, you might find some use for that Withered Vine Scepter.”
He had known all along that the Withered Vine Daoist was doomed, yet he showed no intention of intervening. Feng Zikang’s expression shifted slightly as he turned to see Venerable Xu Wan with hands pressed together, seemingly offering a benediction for the deceased Daoist.
“Senior Brother Feng, do not look at me! If you do not act now, your esteemed disciple will be in peril!”
Below the city wall, Hong Kang laughed heartily, swinging his great saber with all his might toward He Nu’s head! Even if He Nu possessed a body of tempered steel, facing such a direct, powerful downward slash might lead to a grim outcome!