Wan Deshun's Death

"Hmph, don't play tricks with me."

Wan Deshou walked into the main hall and took a seat at the head, raising an eyebrow. "Tell me, what exactly happened? I asked you to deliver water, but how did you end up becoming the Deputy Minister?"

Gao Xuan's mind stirred. This old man had made a breakthrough, and now was not the time to provoke him. Telling the truth was definitely not an option, as it would jeopardize his own safety.

Carefully considering his words, Gao Xuan said, "Indeed, I did enter, but as soon as I entered, a white-clad woman with a sword blocked my way in the outer hall. She made me wait outside and not move a step."

Wan Deshou narrowed his long, old eyes and asked, "And then?"

Gao Xuan continued, "I waited there until His Majesty finished bathing and changing, preparing to go to the Kunning Palace. For some reason, His Majesty took notice of me and asked me to accompany him."

"Then, I followed without really understanding why. After returning, His Majesty praised my performance and rewarded me with the position of Deputy Minister."

After Gao Xuan finished speaking, Wan Deshou remained silent for a while. His withered fingers tapped the table, his face showing a contemplative expression.

After a moment, he looked up, his eyes sharp and venomous as snakes, fixed on Gao Xuan.

"Is that all? Are you telling the truth?"

Gao Xuan quickly bowed and said, "If Minister doubts my words, you can send someone to verify. Every word I speak is true, and I dare not conceal anything!"

"Look at you, little Xuan, learning to lie!" 

Unexpectedly, Wan Deshou suddenly turned hostile. His arm shot out like a python, his five fingers clasping Gao Xuan's neck like eagle claws, lifting him up as if he were a little chick. His gaze was fierce.

"Do you really think a few words of lies can deceive me? Tell me, what really happened!"

Veins bulged on Gao Xuan's forehead, and his face turned as red as a pig's liver. Those old hands felt like iron clamps, making it hard for him to breathe.

In a situation where the other party's strength surpassed him by a whole level and he had been the first to strike, he had no room for resistance.

Furthermore, if he resisted now, his cultivation would undoubtedly be exposed, and he would have no chance of survival.

So, while begging for mercy, Gao Xuan racked his brain, desperately trying to recall if there were any loopholes in his words.

"Minister... spare me. Everything I said is absolutely true."

After carefully reviewing his words, Gao Xuan realized that he hadn't said anything wrong that could be used against him by Wan Deshou. In an instant, he confirmed that this cunning old fellow was definitely trying to trick him!

At the moment, all he could do was gamble.

He bet that Wan Deshou wouldn't really kill him.

Crack~

That was the sound of bones grinding against each other on his neck.

Just as he felt he was about to suffocate, he suddenly felt his neck loosen, and then he fell to the ground.

"Cough, cough."

Gao Xuan covered his neck and sat on the ground, coughing while taking deep breaths of fresh air. It felt good to still be alive.

Several horrifying bloodstains remained on his neck, serving as evidence of the life-threatening situation just now.

Wan Deshou crossed his arms and smirked, nodding approvingly. "Indeed, I didn't misjudge you. It was just a test earlier, and you have passed."

Gao Xuan took a moment to recover before smiling bitterly. "Thank you for sparing my life, Minister."

Wan Deshou sat back in his chair, poured himself a cup of tea, blew on it, took a small sip, and then spat it all out, showing some disdain. "What lousy tea."

Putting down the teacup, he looked at Gao Xuan and said, "The Deputy Minister position in the Mixed Bath has been vacant for many years with me around. His Majesty deliberately appointed someone randomly to be the Deputy Minister just to irritate me."

Gao Xuan intentionally showed a puzzled expression.

Seeing his expression, Wan Deshou said, "You don't need to know these things. The less you know, the longer your life will be."

Gao Xuan nodded fearfully, his head bobbing like a pecking chicken.

Wan Deshou continued, "Since His Majesty assigned you, just focus on your duties. But never have any delusions beyond your position. Otherwise, you would have been a corpse by now."

Gao Xuan quickly expressed his loyalty, saying, "Minister, rest assured, no matter what, I will always be your subordinate and faithfully serve you."

Wan Deshou nodded in satisfaction and said, "One more thing. When you followed the Emperor to the Kunning Palace, did you notice anything unusual? Is it true that her sweet voice is thunderous?"

Gao Xuan felt embarrassed and lowered his head. "Indeed, it is true."

"Hahaha!"

Wan Deshou pinched his slender fingers and burst into laughter like a duck. His old face wrinkled like a blooming chrysanthemum as he said, "I didn't expect it His Majesty to possess such abilities. I was mistaken."

After laughing, he stood up.

"Alright, I should leave now. This is a pill that is greatly beneficial to the body. Consider it compensation."

Wan Deshou took out a small porcelain bottle and handed it to Gao Xuan.

"Thank you for the gift, Minister!"

Gao Xuan quickly expressed his gratitude.

"Mmm, follow me faithfully, and I promise you endless wealth and glory."

Wan Deshou nodded in satisfaction, waved his sleeve, and turned to leave.

"Minister, let me see you off."

Gao Xuan quickly followed behind him, wearing an innocent smile on his face. As he approached, the dagger hidden in his sleeve slipped silently into his palm.

"Have a safe journey, Minister."

His gaze turned icy, and his murderous intent became evident. With lightning speed, he wielded the dagger, using the full power of his Soul Palace cultivation to fiercely stab Wan Deshou's lower back.

Wan Deshou's hair stood on end, and he immediately sensed the chilling killing intent. A burst of true qi erupted from his body, causing his clothes to billow like a balloon.

Clang!

When the dagger struck, it emitted a sharp sound of metal collision and bent, leaving only a shallow wound that oozed a few drops of blood.

"You audacious brat!!"

Wan Deshou shouted in anger. With his Golden Core Realm Grandmaster cultivation on full display, his intense true qi sent Gao Xuan flying, crashing into a cabinet and shattering it.

Gao Xuan coughed up a mouthful of blood, mixed with fragments of his internal organs. He was in excruciating pain.

The disparity in their cultivation realms was too vast. He couldn't resist at all.

"You dare to betray me, Gao Xuan!!!"

Wan Deshou was furious. It finally dawned on him that everything Gao Xuan had said before was a lie. He had been deceived!

Step by step, he approached with a resentful and cruel gaze, treating Gao Xuan as if he were a dead man.

"Do you know the consequences of betraying me? I will flay your tendons, peel off your skin, cut your flesh into pieces, and torment your soul in an eternal flame, forever beyond redemption!"

Gao Xuan sneered, his eyes gradually turning blood red. Wisps of black mist emanated from his body as the shadow of a sixteen-armed demon god appeared, exuding a majestic aura. The terrifying presence of the Great Devil Bottle spun around, instilling fear.

Seeing this eerie scene, Wan Deshou suddenly stopped in his tracks.

For some reason, he felt a sense of dread, unrelated to cultivation realms but originating from the depths of his heart. It made his soul tremble.

Suddenly, he thought of something and couldn't help but step back a few paces, trembling as he pointed at Gao Xuan. His eyes were filled with fear, and he stuttered, "D-Demon, demon! You're not Gao Xuan, who are you?"

Gao Xuan grinned as he stood up, his eyes red and his black hair swirling madly. He resembled a devil emerging from hell, licking his lips stained with crimson blood. His voice was hoarse as he said, "Since you're here, then stay forever."

Wan Deshou made a quick decision and turned around to flee, terrified. He had no courage to fight back.

The corrupted Gao Xuan's presence inflicted unbearable psychological pressure on him.

This was a demon that only existed in ancient taboos!

But as he circulated his energy, he discovered that much of his power had already been depleted!

Consumed by tremendous fear, he had lost the ability to think and attributed everything to the demon.

Seeing that his bluff had succeeded, Gao Xuan swiftly pursued him, taking advantage of his weakened state. With a thunderous step, he unleashed a powerful Cloud Scattering Palm strike at the back of Wan Deshou's head.

Splat!

Wan Deshou spewed out a mouthful of blood as he fell to the ground from the air.

Caught off guard, he suffered a severe injury from the solid blow. He crawled backward with a terrified look in his eyes.

Due to fear and the effects of the medicine, he couldn't fully utilize his strength and lacked the courage to fight back.

In his subconscious mind, Gao Xuan was definitely possessed by a powerful demon! Otherwise, how could he explain his cultivation level and the appearance of the sixteen-armed demon god's shadow?

Thinking he was undoubtedly facing death, Wan Deshou wet his pants and could only plead for mercy repeatedly, "Please spare me, spare me! I can serve you with my life!"

But Gao Xuan didn't give him any chance to catch his breath. Taking a few steps forward, he stared into Wan Deshou's terrified eyes and directly pierced his heart with the venomous snake fang dagger.

.....