Simultaneously, they travel through time, starting from the God Ranking.

Chapter 40 The Death of Ma San Niang

"What? I'm leaving first?"

Inside the Golden Whip Creek Inn, Ma San Niang lay convulsing on the ground, ignored by everyone. Sally looked at Fang Xiu in confusion, not understanding why he had told her to leave first.

"Sally, the inn has been exposed, and the Demonic Cult could arrive at any time. It's not safe here now."

"I know, but what does that have to do with me leaving first?" Sally raised her eyebrows. Even if the Demonic Sect really came, the sword in her hand was no joke!

"It's not you who goes first, but you take Little Red and go first, I'll stay behind. The Demonic Sect could come at any time, and Rainbow Cat and the others are also on their way here, so someone needs to meet up with them."

"Then why wasn't it me who stayed...?"

Looking into Hugh's smiling, fox-like eyes, Sally couldn't bring herself to say what she was about to say.

"Because I'm stronger right now."

Fang Xiu reached out and gently rubbed Sally's ear, then said with a smile, "Take Xiao Hong and leave through the secret passage first. I'll stay at the inn and see if I can wait for Hong Mao and the others."

"After settling Xiao Hong in, we'll meet at Huanglong Cave."

Huanglong Cave is also where Sally keeps the real Ziyun Sword. The place is complicated and only Fang Xiu and Sally know its exact location.

Sally was persuaded by Fang Xiu and left first. If it weren't for Xiao Hong, Sally would never have left first. Xiao Hong was a maid, but she had grown up with Sally since childhood and their relationship was extraordinary.

The two left through a secret passage beneath the inn, which was built at Fang Xiu's suggestion and connected to a secluded place several hundred meters away.

After watching Sally and Xiao Hong leave, Fang Xiu picked up the fake Purple Cloud Sword left by Sally, sat back in the hall, and looked at Ma San Niang, whose hands and feet were completely blue and trembling under the erosion of the Ice Profound Force, and chuckled.

"Third Sister, you look cold. Let me warm you up by the fire."

Fang Xiu smiled, but the smile remained on the surface; there was no smile in his eyes, only icy coldness.

With a flick of her finger, a burst of Crimson Fire Force, the complete opposite of Ice Profound Force, entered Ma San Niang's body.

First came the freezing, then the burning. The outward reaction was that Ma San Niang's face turned from blue to red. If Fang Xiu hadn't silenced her by pressing her pressure point, he probably would have heard her scream.

Fang Xiu wasn't particularly interested in torturing others, but Ma San Niang was an exception. However, it didn't last long. Soon, Fang Xiu struck her down with a palm, causing this ambitious woman, Ma San Niang, to die a tragic death in the Northwest.

To prevent the opponent from being resurrected as in the side stories, Fang Xiu directly set fire to Ma San Niang's body, burning it to ashes.

From then on, there was no possibility of Ma San Niang being resurrected. Without Ma San Niang, this scourge, there would be far fewer problems later on.

Most of Ma San Niang's belongings were reduced to ashes, except for a perfectly round jade bead, which remained intact in the fire.

The Snow Pearl, a treasure of Snow Island, was stolen by Ma San Niang when she betrayed her sect, but it has been temporarily returned to Fang Xiu.

Although it's called a martial arts story, Fang Xiu knew that this genre was incredibly complex. With the Four Divine Beasts, extraterrestrial crystals, and a martial arts system far superior to ordinary martial arts stories, it should be considered a high-level martial arts genre.

As the number one Blackheart Tiger in the world, he not only withstood the combined attack of the Seven Swords, but also took a ten-layer Fire Dance Whirlwind from Rainbow Cat before barely managing to defeat them. In terms of individual strength, he is firmly ranked number one.

If it weren't for his desire for the Qilin blood, Black Heart Tiger would have had many opportunities to kill the Seven Swords before they were fully assembled, given his strength. Unfortunately, Black Heart Tiger was too arrogant in the early stages, believing himself to be invincible, and it was too late in the later stages, especially after his son Black Little Tiger died. By then, Black Heart Tiger no longer pursued the Qilin blood, but it was already too late.

In the deserted inn, Fang Xiu opened a jar of fine wine and drank alone. He was waiting for someone. If he remembered correctly, Da Ben would have arrived first on the night Ma San Niang attacked.

As dusk fell, Fang Xiu's ears twitched slightly. The faint sound of horses' hooves grew louder and clearer as they approached. It was Da Ben coming.

"Giddy up! Giddy up! Giddy up!!"

At this moment, Blue Rabbit and Rainbow Cat, who had taken the wrong turn, were still on their way by car.

Da Ben is the successor of the Thunder Sword among the Seven Swords. However, at this time, Da Ben did not know his true identity. He had admired the successors of the Seven Swords since childhood and had helped Hong Mao and the others many times. It was not until later in the Happy Forest that Da Ben learned his true identity from his godmother.

"Boss, do Rainbow Cat and the others live here?"

Before even entering, Da Ben started shouting, "Rainbow Cat? Blue Rabbit? Are you here?"

In the early stages, Da Ben acted rather recklessly, a trait he only matured later on. But behind that maturity was the sacrifice of Da Ben's godmother.

Fang Xiu picked up the wine bowl and took another sip. He then waved his hand, and the door opened automatically. He then spoke loudly.

"The person you're looking for hasn't arrived yet. If you don't mind, why don't you come over for a drink?"

The door opened, and the aroma of wine wafted out, making Da Ben's stomach rumble with anticipation.

Da Ben is generous, honest, and very responsible, but he is also reckless, simple-minded, impatient, and addicted to alcohol and gambling.

Upon smelling the aroma of wine, he disregarded everything else and headed towards Fang Xiu, sighing as he went.

"Boss, this wine smells amazing!"

"Of course, this is my Golden Whip Creek Inn's exclusive secret recipe, a specially brewed Golden Whip Wine. Would you like a sip?"

"In that case, I won't stand on ceremony!"

Upon hearing Fang Xiu's invitation, Da Ben eagerly sat down, casually placing his Water-Fire Staff on the table. This seemingly ordinary Water-Fire Staff was actually the key needed to obtain the Thunder Sword.

"Excellent wine!"

Pour a bowl of wine for Da Ben, who immediately picked it up and drank it all in one gulp, exclaiming in admiration.

Fang Xiu and Da Ben, who were complete strangers just moments before, were now drinking heartily, one bowl after another.

Neither of them intended to use their internal energy to sober up. Da Ben had been drinking since childhood and had a strong addiction to alcohol, so his alcohol tolerance was naturally quite high. As for Fang Xiu, his alcohol tolerance was already quite high, and now that his physique had been strengthened, he could practically drink a thousand cups without getting drunk.

Once the Demonic Sect arrives, the Golden Whip Creek Inn will no longer be in use, and keeping the remaining wine would be a waste, so we might as well drink it.

With fine wine to drink freely, Da Ben's goodwill towards Fang Xiu soared. In Da Ben's eyes, Fang Xiu was simply a great person. The simple-minded Da Ben never considered that this might be a trap.

"Boss... you're such a good man! I, I admire you so much..." Even the best drinker can't resist drinking like water. Da Ben, who was drunk, was slurring his words and speaking loudly. Fang Xiu suspected that he probably didn't even know what he was saying.

Compared to the intoxicated Da Ben, Fang Xiu's complexion remained normal, showing no signs of drunkenness.

"Brother Da Ben, you've had too much to drink."

"No! I'm not drunk!" Da Ben waved his hand, firmly denying that he had drunk too much.

"Boss...how come you have three heads?"

He was just saying he wasn't drunk, but now he's got three heads, and he's slumped over the table, snoring and fast asleep.

That's to be expected. Just look at the mountain of wine jars piled up in the hall, and you can tell how much the two of them drank. Although more than half of it went into Fang Xiu's stomach, Da Ben also drank quite a bit. Since he didn't use his internal energy to counteract the effects, he naturally got drunk.

"...Giddy up...giddy up...!"

The sound of a horse-drawn carriage could be heard in the distance, accompanied by the neighing of horses and the rumbling of wheels, gradually approaching the inn.

Upon hearing the sound, he put down his wine bowl, used his internal energy to expel the alcohol from his body, and sat up straight, looking towards the door. His childhood idol had arrived.