Chapter 217: Ugly Granny

Chapter 217: Ugly Granny

The Green Jade Fan, a Ninth-grade Mystic Artifact, was a treasure of the Fox Immortal Dao. With a single sweep of the jade fan, a violent hurricane erupted, lifting the yellow sand and gathering the clouds, plunging the sky into darkness. The immense force sent Tianlai Ancient City sliding sideways.

"Crackle—"

Tearing winds howled through the air, and within the darkened clouds, streaks of lightning and thunder formed.

Standing amidst the lightning and thunder, the Fox Immortal Dao Leader was clad in flowing white robes, her slender legs jade-smooth, her full bosom heaving, her graceful figure dancing as she wielded the Green Jade Fan, stirring up vast storms of sand.

She did not resemble a mature beauty who had borne children but rather a bewitching and alluring young fox immortal. Even in battle, she exuded an irresistible charm.

"Clang—clang—"

Two chains as thick as bowls surged from Duanmu Linye's body, coiling around the reanimated corpse like two steel dragons. These chains were forged from Martial Arts Divine Abilities, condensed from the Metal Elemental Power of heaven and earth, imbued with the spiritual will of an Earthly Venerable Realm Martial Artist.

"Boom!"

The reanimated corpse's strength was terrifying. It shattered the two chains, its speed increasing tenfold as it rushed beyond the range of the Green Jade Fan's power.

At the position of its heart, a massive vortex formed, from which crimson Meridians surged forth, wrapping around the arms of the Fox Immortal Dao Leader and Duanmu Linye, piercing their skin and draining their blood.

"Sever them!"

Alarmed, the Fox Immortal Dao Leader immediately summoned the Green Jade Fan, slicing through the Meridians.

Above Duanmu Linye's head, a Golden Blade materialized, slashing through the Meridians in a single stroke as he retreated three steps.

The reanimated corpse's combat prowess was beyond imagination, forcing the two Demon Sect Dao Leaders into a wretched state.

"Ahem—" A hoarse, aged cough sounded.

The cough was low but not drowned out by the howling winds. Instead, it rang out with eerie clarity.

The Fox Immortal Dao Leader and Duanmu Linye halted, turning their gaze toward the source of the cough.

On the dim horizon, an old crone hobbled forward slowly, leaning on a cane.

Her body was frail, hunched and bent, as though a gust of wind could blow her away.

Her face was hideously ugly, twisted and frightening. She walked past Duanmu Linye without a glance, heading straight for the reanimated corpse.

"Elder, that corpse—"

Duanmu Linye had intended to warn Ugly Granny of the corpse's danger, but before he could finish, he saw her actually speaking to the corpse in Corpse Language.

And the corpse understood.

Ugly Granny spoke for a while, but instead of reaching an agreement, she only provoked the corpse's fury. It lashed out at her with a claw.

With a sigh, Ugly Granny flicked her sleeve, sending the corpse flying into the city wall.

"Crash—"

The wall collapsed into rubble.

The reanimated corpse crawled out from the debris, wailing, and charged at Ugly Granny again.

This time, its attack was even more ferocious. Thousands of Chilling and Desolate Spirits surged from its body, like an army of ghosts, assaulting her.

"Boom!"

Ugly Granny struck the ground with her cane, releasing a shockwave that shattered the Chilling and Desolate Spirits into wisps of smoke.

She extended a withered finger and pressed it against the reanimated corpse's forehead, channeling a beam of white light into its body. The previously frenzied corpse immediately calmed down, dropping to its knees with a thud and kowtowing reverently before Ugly Granny.

"Let's go."

Ugly Granny shuffled away unsteadily, leading the reanimated corpse with her, vanishing once more into the horizon. From start to finish, she never uttered a word to Duanmu Linye or the Fox Immortal Dao Leader, nor did she even glance their way, completely ignoring them.

"Such formidable cultivation! How have I never seen her before?" The Fox Immortal Dao Leader remarked with a grave expression.

Duanmu Linye nodded. "That old crone is undoubtedly a hidden master. We should inquire with the Demon Emperor upon our return—perhaps His Majesty would know."

Ning Xiaochuan, Zi Zhui'er, and Duanmu Linger sat atop the Double-headed Stone Beast, hastening toward Tianlai Ancient City. Naturally, the stone beast's speed couldn't compare to that of a Martial Venerable, leaving them far behind the two Demon Sect Dao Leaders.

Seated cross-legged on the stone beast's back, Ning Xiaochuan used Dragon-Tiger Profound Qi to heal his injuries. The Profound Qi pulsed rhythmically across his skin, resembling a divine tortoise at rest or a dormant dragon-whale.

"Huh? There are people ahead."

Duanmu Linger stood on the left head of the Double-headed Stone Beast, her pupils emitting two beams of Profound Light as she spotted two tiny black dots in the distance, slowly approaching their direction.

As the distance closed, they finally discerned that they were two individuals. Leading the way was an ugly old crone with sallow skin, sparse hair, and a hunched back, clutching a wooden staff as she trudged forward. Behind her, an elderly man with disheveled hair followed, leaping about like a skinned monkey, faint traces of deathly aura emanating from his body.

Duanmu Linger sensed danger and grew wary. Ning Xiaochuan also detected an unusual presence. He opened his eyes and looked toward the two elderly figures ahead, his gaze settling on Ugly Granny. A smile spread across his face as he called out from afar, "Ugly Granny! What brings you to the Moshate Desert?"

This Ugly Granny was none other than the eccentric old woman Ning Xiaochuan had encountered in the Fire Demon Mountain Range.

Ugly Granny had been focused solely on her journey until Ning Xiaochuan's voice reached her. She raised her head, her hideous visage startling both Duanmu Linger and Zi Zhui'er, sending chills down their spines—more terrifying than a vengeful ghost.

"Ning Xiaochuan!"

Ugly Granny scrutinized him carefully before nodding. "You've encountered a great opportunity recently."

Ning Xiaochuan chuckled awkwardly. "Indeed, it was a heaven-sent opportunity—though I nearly got killed in the process."

"Nonsense! You've clearly refined the True Cauldron and reached the level of an Advanced Heart Nurturer. Your physique has also improved significantly. Without a major opportunity, how could you achieve so much in just a year?"

Ning Xiaochuan knew Ugly Granny's martial cultivation was profound; there was no hiding his physical changes from her.

Ugly Granny's aged eyes shifted to Duanmu Linger and Zi Zhui'er before she added, "Why are you alone? Where's that girl Xi Xi? Weren't you two getting along famously?"

Ning Xiaochuan replied, "Xi Xi... she's cultivating at the Emperor's Martial Palace. As for us... we're just... ordinary friends."

"Men! Always fickle—falling for one after another."

Ugly Granny gently shook her head and walked past the Double-headed Stone Beast, leading the reanimated corpse away as she prepared to leave.

Zi Zhui'er, displeased, called out, "Hey, you ugly old hag! Don’t you dare talk about Brother Xiaochuan like that! He’s not fickle or anything like you said. I think you’re just jealous! I’m naturally beautiful, with looks that could outshine the moon and flowers..."

Ugly Granny abruptly stopped in her tracks, a chilling aura radiating from her.

Ning Xiaochuan quickly covered Zi Zhui'er’s mouth and hurriedly apologized, "Ugly Granny, children speak without thinking, children speak without thinking... Zhui’er, hurry up and apologize to Ugly Granny! Now!"

"Keke..."

The elderly man following behind Ugly Granny suddenly raised his head, revealing a withered, charred face with two sharp fangs. He stared at Zi Zhui'er up close, letting out a hoarse, sinister voice.

It was an utterly terrifying face—more ghastly than a vengeful spirit.

Ning Xiaochuan could clearly see a bloody hole where his heart should have been, empty and hollow.

He actually had no heart!

Zi Zhui'er trembled in fear, her slender legs pressing tightly against Ning Xiaochuan as she clung to his neck, on the verge of tears.

Ugly Granny said, "No need for apologies. She’s just speaking the truth—this old woman really is ugly and aged."

Ning Xiaochuan quickly bowed to Ugly Granny, his gaze fixed on the heartless elderly man. "Ugly Granny, did... did you refine this corpse slave?"

"Nonsense! What I refine are living people—real, living people! When have I ever refined corpse slaves?"

"Like the Half-Corpse Slave, Princess Lanfei..."

"Get lost! There’s no such thing as Half-Corpse Slaves. I’ll say it again—living people, real living people!"

Ugly Granny’s temper flared, and she raised her wooden staff as if to strike Ning Xiaochuan.

Ning Xiaochuan hastily said, "Right, right! Ugly Granny is a great Heart Nurturer, capable of resurrection. Of course, she wouldn’t refine corpse slaves or Half-Corpse Slaves. May I ask, Granny, where did you subdue this reanimated corpse?"

Ugly Granny suppressed her anger and said, "Isn’t this all your doing?"

"What does this have to do with me?"

"A year ago, at Fire Demon Mountain Ridge, that enormous heart in the Demon Palace devoured the elixir from the ancient cauldron. Now, it’s escaped."

Ning Xiaochuan’s expression changed drastically. "That heart broke free from the Demon Palace’s suppression?"

Ugly Granny nodded. "That was the heart of a great demon. Long, long ago, its body was shattered, leaving only its heart, which was sealed within the Demon Palace. Now that it’s escaped, it seeks to steal the hearts of others to restore its own power. And it specifically targets martial artists with high cultivation—the stronger the heart, the more likely it is to kill them."

Ning Xiaochuan’s mind raced. If what Ugly Granny said was true, then Shang Pojun, the leader of the Heavenly Annihilation Dao, had likely had his heart torn out by it.

His eyes fell on the heartless reanimated corpse before him. "Could this be Shang Pojun?"

This was a calamity of unprecedented scale. Any martial artist in the Yulan Empire could become its prey.

If even a powerhouse like Shang Pojun had his heart ripped out, how could anyone else escape unscathed?

No wonder Shang Pojun had suddenly died in his home—he must have encountered this evil thing.

Ning Xiaochuan said, "Where is that heart now?"

Ugly Granny shook her head and said, "I’ve been tracking it for quite some time, but it has possessed another body and hidden again. However, its aura cannot be completely concealed. Since you’ve encountered it before, you should be able to sense its presence if you truly come across it. If you do meet it, flee for your life immediately—though... you might not escape."

After saying this, Ugly Granny left with the reanimated corpse, vanishing into the sandy horizon.