Rise of the Sword Son-in-Law

"Junior brother Ping’an, the cave of the Vajra Giant Ape is just ahead. This ape usually guards its cave and barely moves an inch. To obtain the Fiery Sun Fruit, there are only two methods—either lure it away or kill it. We tried luring it away before but the thing simply won’t leave its cave by more than a hundred meters," Song Qing spoke.

"That’s right, every time we lure it more than a hundred meters away, it stops chasing us," Li Mu added.

"So, we have no choice but to kill it," Song Qing continued.

"Kill, we must kill it, that beast even roared at me and spat all over me," Wang Qi said angrily.

"However, the strength of this Demon Beast is comparable to a Cultivator of the Ninth Layer of the Sea-Splitting Realm. Just us alone will not suffice to kill it," Xu Ping’an said.

These people can’t really be planning to go to their deaths, can they?

"Junior brother Ping’an, you needn’t worry about this. I have a Superior Grade, Second Rank Giant Sword Talisman. Demon Beasts within the Third Rank simply cannot withstand the power of this talisman, and even if that beast gets hit by my Thunderclap Talisman, it will undoubtedly die," Song Qing said as he produced a talisman.

Xu Ping’an glanced at the talisman.

A Superior Grade, Second Rank Giant Sword Talisman?

This guy actually has such a treasure?

Hey!

No, this isn’t a real Superior Grade, Second Rank Giant Sword Talisman, but an unfinished product. Its power is probably only comparable to an Intermediate Grade, Second Rank Giant Sword Talisman.

If it were actually used, it would at most manage to kill a Cultivator from the Fifth Layer to the Seventh Layer of the Sea-Splitting Realm.

The key is, this unfinished product can’t be recognized by ordinary people.

It was obvious that these three were aware of this; otherwise, they wouldn’t need his intervention.

Even with just the Thunderclap Talisman, they could kill the Vajra Giant Ape.

Now, asking him to join clearly had another purpose.

"So impressive, Senior brother Song has such an item. I was indeed overly concerned. Since we have this, why don’t you directly kill it with the talisman yourself?" Xu Ping’an pretended not to notice the flaw of the talisman and spoke.

"Junior brother Ping’an, you might not know, but although the talisman is powerful, activating it takes about three breaths’ time. Once it’s activated, the beast would instantly retreat back into its cave, making it impossible to kill," Song Qing shook his head and said.

"That’s right, although the beast isn’t intelligent, it’s extremely cunning and doesn’t give us the time to use the talisman," Li Mu followed.

"So, what do you need me to do?" Xu Ping’an asked.

"We want you to activate the talisman. When the time comes, we’ll hold it off, and you’ll secretly activate the talisman in hiding. We’ll buy you time; with your cultivation, you’re more than capable of activating the talisman," Song Qing handed the Giant Sword Talisman to Xu Ping’an as he spoke.

Upon hearing this, Xu Ping’an inwardly sneered.

As expected, there’s a conspiracy!

They’ve been waiting for him in this exact spot.

If it were a perfect Giant Sword Talisman, then fine, it could kill the Vajra Giant Ape with a single strike.

But this is just an unfinished product; using it would surely deal the Vajra Giant Ape a heavy blow.

Once the Vajra Giant Ape is seriously injured, then he will face its endless fury.

By then, the Vajra Giant Ape would be intent on killing him alone.

And these three could take the opportunity to slip into the cave and snatch the Fiery Sun Fruit.

As for him, being chased by a Second Rank, Seventh Layer Vajra Giant Ape—even if it’s injured—he wouldn’t likely survive with just ordinary Second Rank, First Layer cultivation.

So, this is the calculation of the three present.

An ordinary person might truly think they are entrusting the safest task to him, but Xu Ping’an knows that these three people are full of ill-intent.

"Senior brother Song, how could that be right? Why don’t I help the two senior brothers hold off the Vajra Giant Ape while you execute the Giant Sword Talisman?" Xu Ping’an said, displaying an embarrassed demeanor.

"Junior brother Ping’an, out of the four of us, you have the lowest cultivation. Naturally, you should handle such a safe task. Besides, with your cultivation, it’s uncertain if you could hold off the Vajra Giant Ape," Song Qing hastily added.

"Exactly, Junior brother Ping’an, we’re also considering this for your own good. What if you get killed by the Vajra Giant Ape? Wouldn’t that be a loss not worth the gain?" Li Mu remarked.

"Do what your strength allows!" Wang Qi also chimed in.

Listening to the three of them, Xu Ping’an became even more convinced that they genuinely wanted to deceive him.

"Alright then, since the three senior brothers said so, I shall fulfill the mission," Xu Ping’an accepted the Giant Sword Talisman.

Upon hearing his response, the three of them were overjoyed.

They then took turns praising Xu Ping’an.

Xu Ping’an’s heart sneered coldly.

Want to stab me in the back? We’ll just see who outsmarts whom!

"Junior Brother Ping’an, when we lure out the giant ape, you’ll activate this talisman and then kill it in one fell swoop," Song Qing said to Xu Ping’an with a smile.

"Alright!" Xu Ping’an agreed decisively.

After that, Song Qing and the other two gave a few more instructions and then made their way towards the cave.

As they attacked the cave, the Vajra Giant Ape inside was attracted, letting out a thunderous roar, and then charged toward the three of them.

"Junior Brother Ping’an, take action!"

Song Qing shouted loudly and then, along with Li Mu and Wang Qi, launched an attack, holding the Vajra Giant Ape at bay.

Xu Ping’an stood in the jungle, but did not activate the so-called Giant Sword Talisman.

He was not foolish. If he did as they said, he would be waiting to be hunted down by this giant ape.

Time ticked away slowly.

The three gradually found themselves unable to match the Vajra Giant Ape, all of them frowning deeply.

"Damn it, why hasn’t Xu Ping’an made a move?" Li Mu cursed angrily while fending off the attack of the Vajra Giant Ape.

Song Qing also frowned tightly.

It had been more than ten breaths of time now, and if the Giant Sword Talisman were activated, it should have been completed by now.

"Could that guy have noticed something?" Li Mu continued to ask.

"He shouldn’t have, my Giant Sword Talisman has a flaw, but it’s not noticeable by the average person," Song Qing replied.

"Pfft!"

Just then, Wang Qi, with his spear, was smashed by a punch from the Vajra Giant Ape, spewing out a mouthful of fresh blood.

On the other side, Li Mu was also shaken by the attacks of the Vajra Giant Ape, his Qi-Blood roiling and suffering serious injuries.

Even Song Qing was starting to struggle, with a trickle of fresh blood spilling from the corner of his mouth.

"Junior Brother Ping’an, is it ready?" Song Qing shouted in the direction where Xu Ping’an was hiding.

"Almost, Elder Brother Song, I wasn’t familiar with the method for activating the talisman before, but I’ve started reactivating it now," Xu Ping’an replied.

Song Qing breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this.

"Everyone, hold on a bit longer, he didn’t spot the flaw," Song Qing said.

Wang Qi and Li Mu, upon hearing this, bravely faced the onslaught.

However, the attacks of the Vajra Giant Ape were so ferocious that they caused their internal organs to quake, their Qi-Blood to surge wildly, and they couldn’t stop vomiting blood.

Another five breaths of time passed!

Song Qing glanced at the thicket where Xu Ping’an was, but there was still no movement.

"Xu Ping’an, is it ready?" Song Qing shouted furiously.

"Almost there, just a little longer!" Xu Ping’an’s voice continued to ring out.

Song Qing spat out a mouthful of blood fiercely, unwilling to give up like this, he could only grit his teeth and continue to withstand.

But even he was so battered by the Vajra Giant Ape that his ribs broke, and the other two fared even worse.

Time went by for another three breaths, yet still, there was not the slightest movement in the thicket.

"Bastards, we’ve been deceived!" At this moment, Song Qing finally realized something and immediately cursed in anger.

Li Mu’s eyes also turned bloodshot, overtaken by an urge to kill.

As for Wang Qi, his rage was unceasing as he bellowed, "They all deserve to die!"

Struggling to escape a hundred meters, the giant ape did not pursue, and all three breathed a sigh of relief.

But as they entered the thicket, their liver and gallbladder nearly split in terror.

A hundred-meter-long Second Rank Eighth Layer Purple-patterned Single-horned Python was coiled within the thicket, eyeing them hungrily.