With a loud boom, dust flew everywhere, and the palm strike that had been so imposing was forcibly interrupted.
Before Shen Qingxian could clearly see what had happened, he saw that brand-new roof beam fall squarely on Xiang Die's head, practically flattening him to the ground. The huge impact even knocked the pillar binding Luo Hanchuan and Ning Ling'er askew.
This plot twist was so stiff it was practically unwatchable. If Shen Qingxian were still a reader of The Proud Immortal Demon Record, he would definitely smash his phone and curse the melodrama at this point. A perfectly fine, magnificent new residence—how could the roof beam suddenly collapse? Even if it was to let the protagonist escape death, this turn was too forced. Negative review!
However, clumsy as the method was, the effect was immediate. Ning Ling'er had already fainted from fright, and after a struggle, Luo Hanchuan was inexplicably loosened from his bonds. On the other hand, Shen Qingxian was still pinned to the ground by the Spirit-Binding Rope, watching Luo Hanchuan stand there stunned beside the flattened Xiang Die, sinking into a silence...
Just like that... it was over?
The System had already made its stance clear: the ironclad rule that remains unbroken for ten thousand years is that the protagonist cannot die. In other words, once the protagonist's life is threatened, a death talisman is triggered! Shen Qingxian had deliberately goaded Xiang Die into attacking Luo Hanchuan precisely to utilize this rule and kill with a borrowed knife. Although doing so was unscrupulous, Luo Hanchuan wouldn't actually be harmed. If he hadn't done this, Shen Qingxian might have met his end right then and there. And by tricking Luo Hanchuan this once, taking the long view, there would still be opportunities to grind favorability in the future.
But.
Lingxiao Feike Jumo, what do you take the readers' intelligence for!
He had barely finished the thought when Xiang Die overturned the roof beam and leaped up.
He roared in fury, "Shen Qingxian! The people of the Lingxiao Sect are indeed despicable, shameless, and scheming! What sort of demonic trick did you use just now to frame me from behind?"
Shen Qingxian was truly innocent. This had nothing to do with him, really. The biggest culprit should be Luo Hanchuan.
Xiang Die pressed on relentlessly, "You were indeed deliberately tricking me, trying to divert my attention so you could launch a sneak attack. Otherwise, why would this roof beam suddenly fall and hit me precisely?"
So you noticed the unreasonableness of it too? Your intelligence isn't beyond saving then. Shen Qingxian felt somewhat gratified.
Xiang Die sneered, "You think this can subdue me? Dream on. Unless cut by an immortal treasure sword, the Spirit-Binding Rope cannot be severed by ordinary methods. Don't even think about struggling free."
...I just praised you and now you're being stupid again. You don't just show your weaknesses to people!
Also, are you afraid I won't see where you put the Liufeng Sword? You even went so far as to specially expose it from your waist under your cloak and pat it!
Shen Qingxian really couldn't hold it back and took a moment to communicate with the System: "So... I'm just asking, do all villains follow this routine?"
The System said: 【To ensure the User can smoothly pass the primary stage tasks, after activating Low IQ Mode, the villain's intelligence is set below average.】
Shen Qingxian gave a big thumbs up: "Thanks. I have to say, your Low IQ Mode design is really user-friendly. High praise, high praise."
Xiang Die gnashed his teeth, "I won't listen to a word you say this time! Die, Shen Qingxian!"
Shen Qingxian shouted, "One last sentence!"
Under the power of Low IQ Mode, Xiang Die actually stopped: "What last words do you have?"
Shen Qingxian thought for a moment and asked, "How does it feel to sleep with a sixty-year-old man?"
"..." While Xiang Die's face twisted in rage and his whole body trembled, Luo Hanchuan suddenly lunged forward from behind!
He snatched the Liufeng Sword hanging at Xiang Die's waist and drew it from its sheath. The room filled with clear, snowy light.
A silver shadow flashed, and the Spirit-Binding Rope on Shen Qingxian snapped apart.
One could only blame the fact that this small boss Xiang Die's intelligence in Low IQ Mode was below average; seeing a living person like Luo Hanchuan standing behind him, he just treated him as dead.
Xiang Die screamed, "This is impossible—"
Enough! I won't listen anymore! I don't want to hear the routine lines before a boss dies! The corner of Shen Qingxian's mouth twitched. He gathered all his spiritual power into his right hand and struck out with a palm, hitting Xiang Die in the chest. The latter immediately flew out like a kite with a broken string.
This was the first time Shen Qingxian had personally "killed" someone. Yet he didn't soften his hand in the slightest.
Because first, this was a book; second, this was a demon who had killed countless people; and third, if he didn't act, he would be the one to die.
Shen Qingxian glanced at the miserable state of "Xiang Die"—limbs twisted, bleeding from all seven orifices—then turned his head, using those three reasons to flood his brain with bullet comments, brainwashing himself.
Luo Hanchuan's face, still somewhat childish, turned slightly pale.
Shen Qingxian forced himself to appear calm, slowly stood up straight, regulated his breathing, struck a pose, and turned to Luo Hanchuan: "First time seeing 'eliminating demons to guard the Dao', scared?"
He paused, then continued: "If one wishes to 'guard', one must 'eliminate'."
Luo Hanchuan gritted his teeth and blurted out, "Just now..."
Shen Qingxian said, "You want to ask, if the roof beam hadn't suddenly collapsed just now, what your Shizun actually planned to do?"
Shen Qingxian had suffering he couldn't voice. He really wanted to tell Luo Hanchuan, Don't worry, you definitely won't die, the roof beam would definitely have collapsed. But could he say that?!
He could only pretend to be profound: "Are you reproaching your Shizun?"
Luo Hanchuan shook his head, his expression sincere: "No. If I can give my life for Shizun, it is an honor for this disciple."
...Shen Qingxian was shocked by the degree of his pure goodness!
Shen Qingxian thought for a moment and chose a rather ambiguous phrasing.
"Then I will tell you this too. Even if something happens to me, you will not come to any harm."
This was the absolute truth. Even if Shen Qingxian died a hundred times, the protagonist Luo Hanchuan with