Ch155 - Zhuang Lingxiu & Xu Nanxian Solo Part

Xu Nanxian received the voice transmission and rushed to Old Fu Mound at breakneck speed.

Zhuang Lingxiu was dressed in beggar’s rags, miserably huddled in a ruined temple coughing, face white as paper. Sweeping with divine consciousness revealed him like an ordinary mortal—his inner core completely empty.

Xu Nanxian was shocked, immediately striding over quickly.

“How did it get this bad?!”

Zhuang Lingxiu was using feeble spiritual energy to maintain a protective formation. Seeing Xu Nanxian arrive, he completely relaxed, sliding down barely breathing, his whole body lying on the ground, voice faint as gossamer: “I sent you a message two days ago. Did you ride a turtle here?”

Xu Nanxian knelt on one knee, brows furrowed as he grasped his wrist. Probing slightly, he discovered the inner core was only temporarily sealed, not excavated. Only then did he breathe a sigh of relief.

He didn’t bother arguing with Zhuang Lingxiu, saying curtly: “I was busy then. Just got the artifact, saw your message and rushed over—are you injured?”

“Mm, yes.” Zhuang Lingxiu said listlessly. “Those enemies really beat me to within an inch of death, using a formation to seal my inner core in the chaos. Hiss, my back!”

Xu Nanxian quickly helped him up, frowning as he lifted his clothes to check the back injury.

But glancing down, this guy’s back was completely smooth—not even a mosquito bite.

Zhuang Lingxiu finished his sentence: “…is a bit itchy. Scratch it for me. A bit to the left.”

Xu Nanxian: “…”

Might as well let this bastard die here.

Despite saying so, Xu Nanxian still carried Zhuang Lingxiu to a nearby inn while showing disdain.

Zhuang Lingxiu, temporarily without cultivation, was like a tiger without claws—completely defenseless. Yet this dog had made enemies everywhere over the years. Almost all of the Two Realms were his enemies. Even fleeing alone, he only dared hide in crowded places like ruined temples.

Xu Nanxian called for a bucket of hot water, tossing the filthy Zhuang Lingxiu in. Frowning, he found some of his own clothes: “Who did this?”

“Those bastards from the south.” Zhuang Lingxiu leaned comfortably against the tub wall. “But they attacked with killing intent, so I retaliated. Killed them all in a few moves.”

Seeing the vicious wound split open on his sword-gripping hand, Xu Nanxian knew he spoke lightly—but it definitely wasn’t easy then.

“Serves you right.” Xu Nanxian said irritably. “See if you still go making enemies everywhere.”

“I’m wronged.” Zhuang Lingxiu said innocently. “I really just wanted to honestly earn some spirit stones to spend. Who knew they’d be so petty—flipping the board when they couldn’t win.”

Xu Nanxian rolled his eyes, casually kicking over a stool. Sitting boldly, he grabbed Zhuang Lingxiu’s blood-stained hand, cleaning it before carelessly sprinkling medicine powder on it.

“You’d better find Xiaoxiao to remove the talisman marks. I heard at the graduation exam, his talisman course ranked first in the entire academy. My master is incredibly proud.”

“Alright, I haven’t seen Xiaoxiao in ages either.” Zhuang Lingxiu said. “Then I’ll be in your care the whole way there.”

Xu Nanxian initially didn’t understand what he meant. The next day on the road, he completely understood.

Simply because this dog Zhuang Lingxiu had too many enemies. Just leaving the city, they encountered four or five waves of ambush—each wanting to take his dog life.

Zhuang Lingxiu, none of his earlier two-day-chase wretchedness, lounged with arms crossed, a dog-tail grass in his mouth, smiling broadly as he watched Xu Nanxian grip his spear defending against enemies.

“Oh my, where did that ferocity from when you were chasing me go? Keep being arrogant.”

The pursuers cursed: “If you’re capable, come fight me yourself! What kind of skill is calling reinforcements?”

Zhuang Lingxiu showed no shame: “The skill of having wide connections, many friends willing to risk their lives for me. What, you have no friends willing to fight for you? How pitiful.”

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Fighting the whole way, they finally reached Wendao Academy.

When the two arrived at Falling Parasol Lodge , Su Hansheng, having just received news, rushed over from the back mountain in a panic—clothes disheveled, eyes like he’d been crying, lashes moist.

“Ahem, Senior Brother, Senior Brother Zhuang, why did you suddenly come?”

Xu Nanxian frowned: “What’s wrong with your voice? Sick?”

Su Hansheng guiltily averted his gaze: “No… no—Oh my, Senior Brother Zhuang! What happened to you?!”

Zhuang Lingxiu said with a smile: “Someone wrecked my inner core.”

Su Hansheng was initially changing the subject. Hearing this answer, his face paled. He quickly rushed over, pulling him to look up and down: “How could this be?! Then how will you protect yourself when enemies come looking for you, my Senior Brother Zhuang!”

Zhuang Lingxiu: “…”

Zhuang Lingxiu pulled Xu Nanxian to his side, smiling: “Of course I have Bubei to protect me.”

Su Hansheng looked solemn with respect: “Senior Brother, you’ve worked hard.”

Xu Nanxian irritably rolled his eyes at them.

“His inner core was sealed by talisman marks. Can you unseal it?”

Su Hansheng made an “oh” sound: “I only play with talisman marks in class. Unsealing outside class is a different price.”

Zhuang Lingxiu took out a string of candied hawthorn he’d wandered off to buy while Xu Nanxian fought, saying with a smile: “How’s this price?”

Su Hansheng reached out to grab it, delightedly saying: “Deal, this divine physician accepts.”

Xu Nanxian couldn’t be bothered with them, unceremoniously going to Su Hansheng’s chamber to meditate.

These few days coming to Wendao Academy, he hadn’t slept soundly once. Yet Zhuang Lingxiu slept soundly without psychological burden, not caring about his life or death at all.

Su Hansheng was quite confident in talisman marks. He directly brought Zhuang Lingxiu to the small pavilion where they usually played mahjong at Falling Parasol Lodge , beginning to check his pulse.

But checking and checking, Su Hansheng suddenly frowned.

Zhuang Lingxiu raised an eyebrow: “What, no saving me?”

“No.” Su Hansheng’s ears silently sprouted a cluster of green leaves. Taking out a shielding artifact and setting it down to block outside prying, he said: “Just now, many strangers suddenly appeared outside Wendao Academy. Seems they followed you two here.”

“Oh.” Zhuang Lingxiu was quite calm. “Then they’re probably here to kill me. No need to worry.”

Su Hansheng didn’t care anyway, just found it annoying—they dared approach student classroom areas so casually.

Fortunately, the barrier outside blocked their entry. If they dared step one foot inside, Su Xuanlin would definitely slap them back home.

Xu Nanxian meditated briefly, finally eliminating his bodily exhaustion before getting up and leaving the chamber.

Zhuang Lingxiu and Su Hansheng seemed to have just finished the diagnosis, both looking grim.

Xu Nanxian’s heart lurched. He quickly stepped forward: “What’s wrong? Can’t unseal it?”

“Too difficult.” Su Hansheng’s brows were tightly furrowed. “I’ve never seen such intricate talisman marks. Can’t unseal them anytime soon, unless my father or the World-Honored One intervenes.”

Even Su Hansheng, who excelled at talisman marks, couldn’t unseal it?

Xu Nanxian’s heart sank: “Where is Master?”

“He went to Infinite Hell to find my uncle.” Su Hansheng sighed. “Won’t return for many days. Senior Brother, why don’t you wait here?”

Zhuang Lingxiu’s expression was rarely grave. He shook his head: “The academy isn’t safe. I need to go home and have my father and brothers protect me.”

Su Hansheng said: “That works too.”

Xu Nanxian said coldly: “Then why didn’t I just take you straight home? Was there a point in making the trip to Wendao Academy?”

Zhuang Lingxiu acted as if he hadn’t heard, saying gratefully: “Bubei, for this trip home, I’ll be in your care once again.”

Xu Nanxian: “…”

Xu Nanxian cursed irritably, wanting to beat him up. But he was tough on the outside, soft inside. After cursing, he still irritably took him toward home.

The listening wall on the transmission artifact suddenly displayed a new message.

“Zhuang Dog fallen to misfortune! Cultivation completely lost! Must be Heaven pitying us, wuwu Heaven shows mercy, we must seize this excellent opportunity!”

Xu Nanxian’s brows furrowed sharply.

Someone had brazenly spread news of Zhuang Lingxiu’s cultivation loss.

Zhuang Lingxiu walked toward the academy exit with a smile as if nothing happened. Xu Nanxian was initially extremely worried, but calculating slightly seemed to discover something. His lips twitched slightly, yet he said nothing.

The two walked out of Wendao Academy. Countless enemies were already ambushed in the peach blossom forest—each here to beat up Zhuang Lingxiu.

Xu Nanxian estimated the surrounding cultivations. The highest was early Spirit Transformation stage—didn’t know how Zhuang Lingxiu offended this person. That person looked ready to swallow Zhuang Lingxiu alive.

Figures flashed rustling, instantly blocking their path while also cutting off retreat.

Xu Nanxian summoned his long spear. The other small fries weren’t worth mentioning—the key was that Spirit Transformation cultivator.

That Spirit Transformation cultivator looked coldly at Zhuang Lingxiu, saying indifferently: “Xu Bubei, if you leave now, I guarantee no harm to you.”

Xu Nanxian said with a half-smile: “If you all leave now, I also guarantee no harm to you.”

Zhuang Lingxiu had been playing dead behind Xu Nanxian. Seeing this, he suddenly made an exaggerated “heh” sound, swaggering out, face full of excitement, drawing breath from his core, shouting loudly.

“So it’s Fellow Daoist Zhao! Long time no see—has your peculiar hobby of wearing women’s clothes been cured?!”

Fellow Daoist Zhao: “…”

Several waves of people were besieging Zhuang Dog. Suddenly hearing such excitement, they all tightened their expressions looking toward Fellow Daoist Zhao, eyes full of mischievous laughter.

Fellow Daoist Zhao flew into a rage: “Zhuang Dog, die!”

Now Zhuang Lingxiu’s cultivation was completely lost—he absolutely wouldn’t lose to him again like last time!

Seeing the surname Zhao had already attacked, everyone immediately swarmed forward, determined to take Zhuang Dog’s life.

Xu Nanxian’s spear flashed cold light, blocking Zhao Daoxiu’s longsword with a bang.

Spirit Transformation cultivations were equal. Spiritual energy collided, rippling outward, neither yielding.

Just then, Zhuang Lingxiu, who’d been like a waste hiding behind Xu Nanxian, suddenly reached out. His palm filled with Spirit Transformation cultivation slammed forward fiercely.

Bang!

Zhao Daoxiu, caught off guard while fighting Xu Nanxian, took it squarely. He spat blood in an arc, flying backward and landing under a peach blossom tree, blood flowing eight thousand zhang.

Barely breathing, he struggled to look at Zhuang Lingxiu: “You… pffft! Your cultivation…”

Zhuang Lingxiu in white robes was like an otherworldly immortal, ethereal and transcendent. Taking a fan he’d swiped from Su Hansheng, he snapped it open with a whoosh, revealing four large characters Chongjue had written.

—The World Returns to Heart.

Xu Nanxian’s eyes nearly rolled to the back of his head.

As expected.

This situation, Zhuang Lingxiu could completely handle. Xu Nanxian was too lazy to be his thug, leaning against a nearby peach blossom tree, watching Zhuang Lingxiu “dog” others.

“You chased me quite happily these past days.” Zhuang Lingxiu fanned himself, saying with a half-smile: “Twenty years east of the river, twenty years west—now shouldn’t it be my turn to strike back?”

Everyone was shocked by this move. After a while, they glared at him in grief and indignation.

So this dog had recovered his cultivation at Falling Parasol Lodge but deliberately staged an act, spreading false news to deceive them—all to avenge being chased these past days?

Some Nascent Soul cultivators were preparing to flee. But Zhuang Lingxiu raised his hand, summoning a barrier with a smile: “Everyone present—not one escapes.”

Everyone: “…”

Zhuang Lingxiu held his spirit sword, saying coolly: “Bubei, watch for me…”

Xu Nanxian: “Watch what?”

Already set up a barrier—still worried someone would run?

Zhuang Lingxiu said coolly: “Watch their transmission artifacts. Don’t let them send news of my cultivation recovery. I still want to beat up one by one all those who wanted to kick me while I’m down.”

Xu Nanxian: “…”

Truly impressed.

Soon, the peach blossom forest echoed with piercing screams, all drowned in the gradually thickening fog.

The world returns to heart, the Two Realms at peace.

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