Silently, layers of biting killing intent emerged, causing even the temperature of the place to drop significantly.
While Zhao Yuansong and his companions were taken aback, the Song couple had already formed hand seals. The Cold Moon Shuttle and nine flying swords immediately shot out from their sleeves, hovering in mid-air and emitting sharp auras.
"When did you know, and how did you guess?"
Looking at the familiar faces, now filled with murderous intent towards him, Shen Lang's bitter smile deepened.
If possible, he did not wish for his identity to be revealed in this manner. Setting aside some matters, he truly wished to remain friends with these people forever.
Alas, despite his precautions and never revealing any clues, his identity was still discovered.
In the previous moment, Shen Lang had considered outright denial, but under the gaze of those eyes, he slowly nodded.
"The county office?"
After thinking for a moment, he seemed to have realized something.
Hearing this, Ji Yuan nodded lightly. He was indeed at the county office and had discovered a clue.
It wasn't until Song He mentioned the Demonic and Ghost paths, each having several secret techniques that could miraculously restore flesh and bone, even gathering souls, transforming yin into yang, and bringing the dead back to life.
If the two were combined, there was a slim chance that an existence that had already transformed into a ghost could retain its original true form and successfully live another life.
One had to understand that the world operated by its own rules. If the soul of a deceased person still existed, they could reincarnate in the underworld. But once they transformed into a ghost, apart from their soul being scattered, there was no other path.
Let alone being reborn from death.
"The essence of the Zhao family's ancient locust tree, its heart, contains the purest vitality of plants and wood, capable of nurturing and strengthening flesh and blood."
"The incense in Baiyun Temple, with its Buddhist nature, can suppress or even dissolve all sins."
"Yuan Yongcheng in the county office, his second-realm martial body contains qi and blood, which is the best foundation for original blood essence."
"The golden effigy of the City God Temple, in addition to providing the spiritual energy needed to nourish flesh and blood, its derived divinity can counteract the backlash from reversing heavenly laws."
Ji Yuan's eyes flickered as he said, "As for the soldiers in the city guard barracks, you must have intended to use their vigorous yang energy and blood to wash away the ghost's yin energy from Su Hongzhu's body, completing the step from yin to yang."
As he finished speaking, Shen Lang produced a round bead. Yang energy surged from it, emitting a crimson glow.
This was the converged qi and blood of over a thousand soldiers in a city guard barracks. The yang energy within was so dense and potent that it could almost make evil spirits retreat for tens of miles.
"I must also thank the Three Blades Society. The qi and blood of over a hundred martial artists who have trained for years, even decades, plus a dozen early-stage first-realm martial practitioners, have significantly enhanced the efficacy of this Primordial Yang Blood Bead."
Shen Lang sighed, not feigning sincerity, but truly from the bottom of his heart.
However, this scene caused everyone to frown, anger welling up within them, almost leading them to attack on the spot.
The sincerity on his face was genuine, but his demeanor made it seem as if he were discussing the negligible cost of materials when crafting an item, rather than thousands of lives.
No matter how sincere he seemed, this indifferent attitude towards life was truly infuriating.
"What about that demon? What do you plan to use it for?"
Ji Yuan frowned, suppressing the anger in his heart, and continued to question his former friend.
Hearing this, Shen Lang smiled slightly, "Originally, I intended to familiarize myself with the golden effigy of the City God. Later, I thought it would be good to use the essence of water to nurture the body, but since you discovered it, it doesn't matter anymore."
"Fortunately, this useless thing can still serve a purpose before its death, providing Rou'er with sufficient qi and blood and vitality."
He glanced at the distant demon corpse, his expression neither pleased nor displeased, truly unconcerned.
But when he mentioned Su Hongzhu, his expression softened, his eyes filled with deep affection.
Especially the name "Rou'er," which fell on the ears of the others without much reaction, but when Su Hongzhu heard it, her entire body stiffened. Immediately, intense brilliance burst forth from her eyes.
At this moment, countless memory fragments surfaced, finally piecing together complete scenes.
Only now, the once high-spirited scholar in her memory had become haggard, and the usually neat and unsoiled man was now covered in dirt and grime, his sleeves stained with oil and mud.
"Do you remember now?"
Shen Lang chuckled, his eyes filled with doting affection. "Your real name is Su Rou. You were sold into the Hundred Flowers Pavilion by your parents when you were young. When you had finished your training and first appeared at the pavilion, we fell in love at first sight."
She instinctively reached to wipe her eyes, only to remember that she could no longer shed tears. She could only nod slightly.
"Of course, I remember."
Su Hongzhu smiled. How could she forget? The scholar, once known as the most talented in the city, had publicly promised that when he reached the second realm, they would be together forever, abandoning all worldly fame and fortune, and becoming a pair of immortal lovers in the mountains.
Who would have thought that so many years would pass in a blink of an eye? When she opened her eyes again, three hundred years had elapsed in the world.
"Are you done talking?"
Seeing their eyes meet and completely ignoring the others around them, Xu Lin, who was already impatient, spoke up.
He gripped the hilt of his saber, his eyes surging with killing intent, and said, "Nonsense. No one wants to hear about your love affair."
If it weren't for his apparent good relationship with the people present, Xu Lin would have drawn his saber long ago upon learning of his identity.
He didn't pay much attention to Zhao Yuansong and his junior sister, but the Song couple and the heavily injured Ji Yuan subtly gave him a sense of threat.
Otherwise, with his temper, would he still be standing here listening to so much drivel?
Hearing this, before Shen Lang could respond, Su Hongzhu's brow furrowed, and she turned and threw a punch without hesitation.
The illusion technique on her fist was removed, immediately revealing translucent white bones, covered in a thick layer of blood qi.
Seeing this, a smile appeared on Xu Lin's face. This was best. If they were going to fight, they should do it quickly, without so much tedious back-and-forth.
With a light hum, a saber was drawn from its scabbard and heavily cleaved onto the bone fist.
However, the blade, capable of shattering the protective spiritual light of Dharma artifacts, could not leave even a single mark on this bone fist. In fact, amidst the sparks, the phản lực from the saber almost made him drop it.
At the same time, as the wind howled, the people nearby quickly retreated. Zhao Yuansong and the Song couple, in particular, had their magic power surging.
"Why bother!"
Shen Lang sighed softly. He reached out and gestured into the distance, and the seven-story demonic pagoda in the ruins flew towards him.
The seven-story demonic pagoda, several feet tall, continuously shrunk as it flew, finally becoming only a few inches in size, spinning in his palm.
A faint light flowed over him, and rolling demonic energy permeated his body. His body erupted with the magical power fluctuations of a peak second-realm cultivator.
However, amidst the surging demonic energy, there was also an extremely profound ghost qi contained within. The two seemed to have fused together, making it difficult to distinguish them without careful sensing.
"Is this why you could live for over three hundred years?"
Ji Yuan stood between him and Su Hongzhu, and Xu Lin, his gaze somewhat complex, asked.
A moment later, Shen Lang said with great composure, "To resurrect Rou'er, one must master several secret techniques of the Demonic and Ghost paths."
And to cultivate these secret techniques, one could not avoid falling into them, making it impossible to turn back in this life.
However, for the sake of bringing his beloved back to life, he didn't care if he eventually became neither human nor ghost.
Just like now, even though he cultivated both the Demonic and Ghost paths, being neither human nor demon, nor completely a ghost, he had never regretted it for even a moment.
Because only in this way could he, with his second-realm cultivation, live for over three hundred long years.
"Although there are some things that can increase one's lifespan, the price is too high."
He shook his head helplessly.
For three hundred years, to achieve his goal, he had traveled far and wide, taking risks. His accumulated wealth was basically invested in it, leaving no excess resources to purchase longevity-increasing elixirs or rare spiritual items.
If he hadn't needed a trump card or two for self-defense, he might have even sold the Dharma artifact he held at a high price and invested everything he obtained in Su Hongzhu.
"Listen to me. Just watch from the side. When everything is over, I will take Rou'er and leave this place forever. Everyone here will be safe."
Shen Lang looked at his friend before him and sincerely advised.
Although there was an age difference of over two hundred years between them, he truly considered him a very, very good friend.
When he was on the verge of becoming a demon, on the verge of losing himself due to the Demonic and Ghost cultivation techniques, it was Ji Yuan and Hui Xin who appeared and helped him through the most dangerous period.
"Master Wuhai also said those words."
Ji Yuan murmured softly.
At that time, in Baiyun Temple, Wuhai had also told them not to get involved in this troublesome affair, to cultivate peacefully in the Taoist temple, and everything would be fine in the end.
"Master Wuhai did not know my identity. Those words should have come from his heart."
Shen Lang's expression was also somewhat complex.
Ultimately, he had wronged Ji Yuan and Hui Xin in this matter, but his obsession of three hundred years could not be abandoned. No matter what, he had to ensure Su Hongzhu's rebirth.
As compensation, the best he could do was to guarantee their safety, and after everything was over, before they left, he would leave them a substantial amount of wealth.
After all, by then, he could freely take anything in the entire Qianyu City.
"Trust me one last time. Just stand by and watch with these people. I will absolutely not harm you in any way."
After thinking for a moment, Shen Lang persuaded him again.
If possible, he truly did not want to go to that extreme. Now, as long as the saber-wielding man was dealt with, only Su Hongzhu's rebirth remained.
And this matter, he had prepared for three hundred years. Everything needed was fully prepared, and only the final step remained. The chance of success was at least seventy to eighty percent.
"What about the people in the city?"
Ji Yuan was silent for a long time, then asked softly.
Hearing this, Shen Lang said nothing more, only sighed softly.
Ji Yuan did not ask further. Everything was already understood without words.
Zhao Yuansong and the Song couple, who were nearby, could not help but sigh in their hearts.
Although they had been mentally prepared for it, when this moment truly arrived, it was still difficult to accept.
However, despite their sighs, as the atmosphere fell into silence, they immediately mobilized the magic power within their bodies, and the several Dharma artifacts beside them were poised in mid-air.