Step by Step Ascend to Immortality

Chapter 32: Chapter 33 Killing Huling

As a seasoned leader, Pang Tianshan thought he could brush off Ma Qianjun's questions, but the deadly intensity in Ma's gaze was too much. His eyes were filled with an unbearable heat that forced Pang to lower his head, unable to meet the man's eyes directly.

How terrifying! Pang Tianshan's mind raced. At that moment, Ma Qianjun felt like a lone tiger prowling in the shadows, or worse—a venomous snake, ready to strike and devour him whole. The feeling gnawed at Pang Tianshan, and then it hit him—this presence, this chilling aura—it was identical to Xuanshui, the demonic snake they had just fought. The resemblance was uncanny.

Ma Qianjun was like a serpent lying in wait on a darkened path, ready to consume anyone in its way. The oppressive sensation overwhelmed Pang, leaving him with no choice but to wave his hand and command, "Someone, explain what happened here. Speak the truth!"

The hidden meaning in the words "speak the truth" didn't go unnoticed by the remaining Pang disciples. They never expected Ma Qianjun, usually so quiet and reserved, to explode with such ferocity. It took a long moment before one of the survivors, trembling, dared to speak up.

"I... I don't know much either. We were chasing after Du Yunlong and Wang Zihan, those wretched bastards, when suddenly we heard the scream of an eagle. It was deafening. When we arrived, our brothers were already locked in battle with that demonic snake!"

The disciple described the scene in detail, repeatedly shifting the blame onto Du Yunlong and Wang Zihan. He inserted phrases like "The frontlines had almost caught up to Wang Zihan when the serpent appeared," as if trying to excuse himself. Ma Qianjun listened carefully, occasionally asking a sharp question, his demeanor cold and calculating.

The Pang disciple felt as though a serpent, just like Xuanshui, was wrapping around him, ready to crush him at any moment. His voice trembled, and by the time he finished speaking, even the word "demonic snake" had turned into "spiritual snake." By then, he was drenched in sweat, while Ma Qianjun stood silently, as if weighing life and death in the balance. Even Pang Tianshan didn't dare to breathe too loudly.

Pang Tianshan couldn't believe that such a figure had emerged in the remote Yunzhong County. Ma Qianjun was only a martial artist of the Yuanlong realm—he didn't even have the skill of "Striking the Cow Through the Mountain"—yet Pang felt an overwhelming pressure, as if standing before the highest boundary of power beneath the Tri-Flower Stage.

Ma Qianjun pondered for a moment, sniffing the air. Suddenly, he sprang into action, leaping forward with incredible speed. Within seconds, he had covered dozens of feet, moving with a precision and swiftness that would have left Du Yunlong speechless. Ma Qianjun's movements were eerily similar to those of Xuanshui.

The Pang disciples were clueless about what Ma Qianjun was doing. Even Pang Tianshan, who had seen much in his time, was baffled. In less than half a minute, Ma Qianjun returned, his eyes now filled with cold indifference, pain, and burning hatred.

"It was Du Yunlong," Ma Qianjun spat, his voice full of venom. "That damn thief—I will destroy him!"

For the Pang family's pursuit of Wang Zihan and Du Yunlong, Ma Qianjun and the Tianyi Gang were crucial. Without their help, Pang's forces would have been blind and deaf in these mountains. Sensing an opportunity, Pang Tianshan quickly tried to pull Ma Qianjun back to his side. "Chief Ma, we're on the same path here! If we join forces, we'll surely capture those two!"

"I'll spare you... for now," Ma Qianjun growled, his gaze still filled with murderous intent. "But don't think you're free from blame. You share responsibility for Xiaoshui's death. But first, I'll deal with Du Yunlong... Xiaoshui..."

His voice cracked with emotion, and for a moment, Pang Tianshan saw a side of Ma Qianjun he hadn't expected—a man who deeply mourned the loss of a demonic snake. It was unsettling.

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"Very well," Pang Tianshan said cautiously, "let's catch up to them together."

But Ma Qianjun shook his head, rejecting the offer. "This is personal. I'll handle it alone."

With that, he tossed something back to Pang Tianshan. "Take it."

Pang glanced down and recognized the Fourfold Heavenly Yuan Bean he had gifted to Ma Qianjun earlier. "Chief Ma, isn't this a bit rash? It would be much safer for us to join forces. Du Yunlong is no ordinary opponent—he's a dual cultivator, highly skilled in both martial arts and Daoist techniques. Together, we stand a better chance."

He added, "Don't you want to break through to the next realm?"

"I said this is personal," Ma Qianjun repeated, his voice heavier than ever. "Breaking through to the next realm? That's nothing. Some things are more important than life or death."

Ma Qianjun's determination left Pang Tianshan speechless. He had never imagined this greedy, self-serving gang leader could possess such a strong sense of honor.

"Chief Ma, this is too dangerous! What if you fail to get your revenge and end up dead instead?"

Ma Qianjun knelt beside Xuanshui's shattered head, gently patting the serpent's remains with tenderness, his tears flowing once again. "This is Falling Star Mountain—my Falling Star Mountain, Xiaoshui's Falling Star Mountain. I'll make Du Yunlong understand who the true master of this mountain is."

"We don't need an army of soldiers or a horde of spies. I'll do this alone!"

"The winds of Falling Star Mountain will fuel my rage. The rains will give me strength. The trees and grass will show me the way forward. And my fists... they will tear open my enemies' chests. This is our mountain, Xiaoshui's and mine!"

"He'll understand what it means to face an old man's fury. This is a battle between men, and this old man won't be forgotten by Falling Star Mountain. Now, I'm going."

A Tianyi Gang member called out, "Chief Ma, if you leave now, what will happen to the gang if something happens to you?"

The old man replied, "Let it fade away with the wind. This is me and Xiaoshui's Falling Star Mountain."

As Ma Qianjun cast aside everything—not just the next realm, but also the gang and everything he had built over twenty years—his aura became impossible to ignore. Pang Tianshan couldn't help but feel that even he couldn't withstand the full force of Ma Qianjun's wrath. The old man's fists were terrifying.

Pang Tianshan managed to ask one last question. "Chief Ma, where are you going?"

"Tiger Slaying Ridge. To the Celestial Maiden's Temple."

"Yes," Du Yunlong replied, already planning ahead. "Shatu Ridge will be our last rest stop before we head to Yuanzhou."

"Very well!" Wang Zihan declared with a hint of a smile. "I'll grant you, my servant, a proper break when we get there. You deserve a good rest!"

Though her words seemed like mere generosity, Wang Zihan genuinely cared about Du Yunlong. He had gone many days without a proper rest. Du Yunlong shook his head. "I can manage. We'll talk about rest once we reach Yuanzhou."

Wang Zihan was about to insist, using her authority as a noblewoman to make Du Yunlong take a break, when she was taken aback by the sight before her. "What is that place?"

"That's where we're heading next," Du Yunlong answered. "The Temple of the Heavenly Maiden at Shatu Ridge."

If she hadn't seen it with her own eyes, Wang Zihan would never have imagined that such a small temple could be built in the treacherous wilderness of Falling Star Mountain. From a distance, the temple appeared quite modest—a single-room structure, about forty feet long and twenty feet deep, built of gray stone. The Temple of the Heavenly Maiden was perched on the mountainside, with a small, serene space in front and behind.

Despite its simplicity, constructing such a temple in a remote area like Falling Star Mountain would require considerable effort and resources. Wang Zihan couldn't help but ask, "Who built this temple?"

"We should move quickly," Du Yunlong said, his pace picking up as he led the way. "Once we reach the Temple of the Heavenly Maiden, we can finally rest."

Wang Zihan noticed Du Yunlong's steps becoming lighter, though the sweat on his back increased. They climbed the path to the temple.

The Temple of the Heavenly Maiden, while not large, exuded a deep tranquility. As soon as Wang Zihan arrived, she felt an unexpected sense of peace. The trials and dust of their journey seemed to vanish, leaving her feeling refreshed. "I have a feeling this temple, like you, holds many secrets it's not willing to reveal."

In front of the temple, there was a small pond, about a foot across, fed by clear, cold spring water. Wang Zihan cupped her hands in the water to wash away the grime and then entered the temple.

Inside, the temple was simply constructed of gray stone. Apart from a small incense altar, there was a statue of a goddess—presumably the "Heavenly Maiden" Du Yunlong had mentioned. The goddess appeared to be in her early thirties, dressed in simple attire, but there was an innate elegance about her. Upon closer inspection, the statue seemed more like a stunning beauty from a secluded valley than a celestial deity.

Wang Zihan asked casually, "Who is this?"

Du Yunlong remained silent for a moment before answering, "That's my mother..."

After a pause, he added, "They say she ascended to become an immortal during the day, but I know in my heart that she is gone."