Chapter 923: Chapter 260: Ingenious Mechanisms at the Life and Death Gate; Feiyang’s Heroism Sweeps Away the Demons (Part 5)

The surrounding air became thick, making it increasingly difficult to breathe.

Inside the Life and Death Gate, the atmosphere grew more oppressive, like an invisible haze weighing heavily over everyone’s heads.

After the slight "creak" sound, a chilling wind howled from the depths of the passageway, carrying a coldness that pierced to the bone. Wu Hui turned pale as a sheet, his legs trembling slightly, almost unable to stand steady.

Inwardly, he lamented that the dangers within the Life and Death Gate far exceeded his expectations, making every step feel like stepping into hell’s gate.

Zashi Dunren forced himself to remain calm, tightened his grip on his sword, and glared angrily at Wu Hui, lowering his voice with a shout, "Wu Hui, if you dare to play any tricks, this Sect Leader will ensure you have no place to be buried!"

Wu Hui hastily raised his hands, his voice tinged with a sob, saying, "Sect Leader Zashi, how would I dare! The mechanisms in the Life and Death Gate are too bizarre, I’m equally nervous."

The group continued onward, their steps growing heavier.

Suddenly, Wu Hui’s foot slipped, and he instantly plummeted downward.

He screamed in terror, "No, there’s a trap!"

Zashi Dunren reacted swiftly; with a swing of his sword, a cold flash appeared on the blade as it stabbed into the nearby stone wall.

He pulled himself swiftly to one side using the leverage.

Simultaneously, his other hand quickly reached out, grabbing the arm of a nearby disciple. Some disciples, who were timid, were ready, crouched and extending their hands, suddenly placing them on Zashi Dunren’s shoulders, escaping the danger with him.

However, some disciples weren’t so fortunate, as a series of horrifying screams echoed in the passageway following Wu Hui’s fall.

Unbeknownst to them, deep pits had appeared on the ground, filled with sharp bamboo sticks at the bottom. The unfortunate disciples who fell were pierced instantly, blood splattering everywhere in a gruesome scene.

Looking at the tragic state of the disciples in the pits, Zashi Dunren’s eyes filled with red, seething with rage.

He turned to where Shi Feiyang was hidden, although he didn’t actually know where Shi Feiyang was concealed.

Nevertheless, he roared, "Shi Feiyang, you vile scoundrel, setting such malicious traps! Today, even at the cost of this old life, I’ll have you torn to pieces!"

From the shadows, Shi Feiyang listened to Zashi Dunren’s roar, his heart unmoved.

He knew well that these so-called Martial Arts masters were everyday villains, only reaping what they sow today.

Thus, Shi Feiyang discreetly activated the Great Shift of Heaven and Earth Divine Skill, continuing to manipulate the mechanisms within the Life and Death Gate, preparing to deliver a fatal blow to Zashi Dunren and the others. Zashi Dunren, suppressing his sorrow, led the remaining disciples, cautiously avoiding the traps, continuing toward the depths of the passageway.

As they proceeded, a dense fog suddenly appeared ahead, so thick that one couldn’t see their hand in front of their face.

Zashi Dunren was startled, realizing this fog undoubtedly hid dangers. He whispered to his disciples, "Be careful, everyone—this fog is strange, stay close." The group formed a tight circle, slowly feeling their way forward.

Suddenly, an eerie sound came from the fog, as if countless poisonous snakes were slithering. Next, numerous dark shadows shot rapidly from the mist, attacking them. Zashi Dunren focused his gaze and saw that they were countless poisoned hidden weapons.

He shouted, "Watch out for hidden weapons!" and swung his sword in an attempt to fend off the attacks.

However, the number of hidden weapons was vast and ferocious; despite everyone’s efforts to resist, many disciples were hit.

The disciples struck by the hidden weapons turned black instantly, collapsed, convulsed, and soon died.

Zashi Dunren, both shocked and enraged, knew that continuing down this path would result in complete annihilation.

He gritted his teeth and shouted to the remaining disciples, "Follow me and charge out; we can’t just sit here and wait to die!"

He then unleashed the Dual Blade and Sword technique, his sword and blade gleaming coldly as he charged into the depths of the fog.

Encouraged by his actions, the disciples mustered their courage and followed Zashi Dunren toward the unknown danger.

Shi Feiyang remained hidden in the shadows of the Life and Death Gate, his breath concealed, blending in with the eerie environment.

His gaze was as sharp as an eagle, closely watching Zashi Dunren and the others’ every move, witnessing their struggle and resistance.

Seeing Zashi Dunren still able to calmly command the remaining disciples amidst constant crises, Shi Feiyang couldn’t help but feel a shred of admiration. But recalling their countless misdeeds in the Jianghu, that trace of pity quickly vanished.

He thought to himself, "Today, I must make these villains pay for their actions and bring peace back to the Jianghu."

Shi Feiyang took a deep breath, channeling his powerful inner strength, which coursed through his meridians like a surging river.

With a thought, the mechanisms within the Life and Death Gate quietly activated.

At that moment, Zashi Dunren was leading the few remaining disciples through the fog with difficulty.

Suddenly, the previously silent passage resonated with a deep "rumbling," reminiscent of a giant beast’s low growl.

Zashi Dunren looked up in shock to see the stone wall above the passage slowly opening, revealing a row of pitch-black holes.

Before he could react, countless black iron balls roared out from the holes, flying towards them with fierce winds.

Zashi Dunren shouted, "Be careful!" His sword and blade moved like a silver blur, attempting to block the iron balls.

His disciples also displayed their Martial Arts, with some wielding weapons to deflect and others using their Lightweight Technique to evade.

However, the iron balls were numerous and fast, like a torrential black rainstorm.

One disciple couldn’t evade in time and was struck in the chest by an iron ball, spewing a large mouthful of blood as he flew backward like a broken kite, crashing into the stone wall, dead on impact.

Another disciple’s weapon was shattered by an iron ball, and the subsequent impact on his head left him lifeless before he could even cry out.

Zashi Dunren fought fiercely against the iron balls, suffering multiple injuries that stained his clothes with blood.

Enraged and terrified, he shouted in the direction of Shi Feiyang’s concealment, "Shi Feiyang, you coward, come out and fight me face to face! Why hide behind these despicable traps!" Though he didn’t know Shi Feiyang’s exact location.

Shi Feiyang, hidden, was unmoved by Zashi Dunren’s taunts.

He continued harnessing his inner strength to control the mechanisms.

Soon, countless small steel needles shot from the walls of the passageway.

These needles, hidden in the fog, were like the scythe of the Death God, reaping lives.

A disciple, having just dodged an iron ball, had no time to relax before a needle pierced his throat. He clutched his neck, trying in vain to stop the blood flow, and soon collapsed, twitching a few times before falling silent.

Zashi Dunren deflected the steel needles aimed at him with his blade and sword, but his disciples struggled against the sudden attack, each falling with screams.

As the mechanism persisted, Zashi Dunren’s disciples dwindled until only he remained.

Looking at the disciples’ bodies around him, his heart was filled with anguish and despair.

He laughed bitterly, "Hahaha, Shi Feiyang, though I die today, even as a ghost I won’t spare you!"

Shi Feiyang listened to Zashi Dunren’s final words, unmoved in his heart.

He slowly stepped out from the shadows, glaring coldly at Zashi Dunren, saying in a deep voice, "You’ve committed countless sins, today’s your karma. The Jianghu has its justice; it’s not absent, just yet to come."

With this, he triggered the mechanism again, causing a massive stone slab to rise from the ground, descending upon Zashi Dunren.

Zashi Dunren attempted to evade, but gravely injured, he lacked the strength and could only watch helplessly as the slab buried him in dust. The Life and Death Gate returned to silence, only the lingering fog and fallen bodies spoke of the recent fierce battle.