"The difficulties ahead are nurous, and the entire world is hunting down. It’s hard to ensure my identity won’t be exposed, I’m afraid..."
Shi Xiaole had decided to go, but still seed hesitant.
Han Yanfa chuckled with a sleazy look, "Hall Master Shi, the Sect Leader has said that if you complete this mission, the Saintess will be promised to you as a bride."
"I’m not interested in the fairer sex."
Rembering the temptation exuding from Xi Xianglei’s very bones, and her proud disdain at considering all n beneath her, Shi Xiaole felt a strange stirring in his heart and quickly suppressed that emotion.
Han Yanfa eyed him with suspicion from left to right, then laughed again, "The Sect Leader also said, once Hall Master Shi is successful, you will be promoted to the fifth Protector, with the authority to command any of the sect’s twenty sub-halls at will, acting first and reporting later."
These words did, in fact, move Shi Xiaole.
Although those in the Divine Sect he had dealt with were far from normal, he couldn’t deny that each was an exceptional expert in their own right. Han Yanfa himself, for instance, was definitely much stronger than the likes of the Dark Lance Emperor and others.
One could easily imagine the plethora of experts hidden within the nineteen sub-halls. In such chaotic tis, every bit of extra strength ant a better chance of self-preservation.
Moreover, the people of Nine Heavens Mountain could not remain cloistered forever; they had to make contact and cooperate with the outside world at so point.
"Hall Master Shi, opportunities like this do not co often, and once missed, they may never return. Action speaks louder than words. If Old Han wasn’t forced into recruiting disciples due to his overwhelming handsoness, how could it be your turn?"
Han Yanfa was anxious on the side.
Shi Xiaole automatically filtered out his ramblings and nodded, "It is both honor and duty to exert oneself for the Divine Sect. I accept this mission."
Han Yanfa seed to breathe a sigh of relief and gave a thumbs-up, "Hall Master Shi is truly loyal and righteous!"
After praising each other for a while, Shi Xiaole suddenly asked, "By the way Old Han, where did Bai Lingsheng go?"
After the battle in Sky City, the sixth-ranked expert in the world had vanished, which also piqued Shi Xiaole’s curiosity.
"That old geezer got beaten by so badly he was rolling in his own filth. Probably licking his wounds sowhere. A re defeated underling, not worth ntioning."
Shi Xiaole had a gut feeling Han Yanfa was lying, but since the old geezer was notorious for bragging without batting an eye, it was hard to tell the truth from falsehood and Shi Xiaole had to let the topic slide.
Apparently having urgent matters to attend to, Han Yanfa left after resting for one night. Three days later, Shi Xiaole also left Nine Heavens Mountain through a secret passage, disguised as a sallow-faced, middle-aged man around forty years old.
...
The Great Xia Dynasty, located to the south of the Flying Horse Dynasty, shared more than half of its borders with it, while the other half was separated by layers of steep mountains.
Now, border frictions between the two great dynasties had intensified, with both sides reportedly deploying large armies that could start a war at any mont; checkpoint inspections had beco ten tis stricter than before. Shi Xiaole decided to take the mountain path, since his traveling speed ant little delay.
Half a month later.
Shi Xiaole arrived at a border town within the Great Xia Dynasty, Willow Leaf Town.
"Hmm?"
Upon entering, he imdiately felt as if he were being watched by so ferocious predator in a flood. It wasn’t that soone was deliberately following him—it was the intense spiritual force scanning every person entering or leaving the town!
"Oh my son, how miserably you have died!"
On the roadside, a woman was kneeling and wailing in grief, beside her lay a gaunt corpse, skin and bones, its face twisted and cold, seemingly subjected to so terrible suffering before death.
As he walked on, Shi Xiaole noted dead bodies all over the town, with deaths matching the one he had seen earlier. The sound of crying, wailing, gongs, and drums filled the air, along with paper money for the dead drifting in the sky, adding an eerie touch to the town.
Occasional constables and martial artists weaved through the crowd, all hastening on their way.
It was only when Shi Xiaole extended his spiritual force that he learned from overheard conversations that these people had fallen into great misfortune. They had intended to help the citizens, but within just a few days, one after another of their companions had died mysteriously.
Fearful, most had chosen to leave. Those who remained were either newcors or exceptionally courageous.
Without a sideways glance, Shi Xiaole took a tour around the town, and as the sky darkened, he walked without any apparent concern toward the forest outside the town.
"Esteed guest, the night here is quite dangerous. You might as well squeeze into Yizhuang for the night and depart tomorrow."
A spirited and impressive voice suddenly rang out, followed by a flash, revealing a young woman blocking Shi Xiaole’s path, with two n accompanying her.
Shi Xiaole’s pupils contracted.
It was not the woman’s martial skills that were particularly impressive, but because, to his shock, she was an old acquaintance.
Years ago, when Shi Xiaole was venturing through Cold State in search of clues about Shi Xuanzhong, he had entered Red Jade Temple (Chapter 300) and uncovered a base of the Three Talents Association there, where he t Black Hibiscus, a woman who loved to uphold justice, along with her two younger brothers.
Looking back, those were years gone by. He had thought they would never et again, yet they had unexpectedly crossed paths here. It was just like Black Hibiscus; knowing about the situation here, she would undoubtedly want to step in and help.
"Tomorrow is no safer. My advice is for you to leave as quickly as you can," urged Shi Xiaole.
A decade ago, Black Hibiscus was in the eighth layer of the Xuanqi Realm, and now she had rely reached the first level of the Spiritual-Passage Realm—a sadly ager improvent. The two younger brothers were only at the ninth level of the Xuanqi Realm, and one of them, the man with the date-colored face, had even lost his right arm, showing the ravages of ti.
This was the reality for most in the Martial World: risking life and limb amid blades and swords. Missing an arm or leg was common, and losing one’s head just ant being covered by a few inches of earth. Forgotten in an instant, as if they had never existed.
Black Hibiscus said, "Thank you for your concern, but as martial artists, we are ant to be chivalrous. How can we cower in fear? If you’re intent on leaving, go now, and rember not to linger on the road."
The trio turned to leave.
"Hey."
Shi Xiaole smiled, "I’ve suddenly lost the desire to leave. May I join you?"
Black Hibiscus looked skeptical, and the man with the amputated arm, with a flash of anger, drew his sword and said, "Boy, are you trying to take advantage of my sister? Hide your vile ambitions!"
The bald man’s expression turned cold.
In those years, they had encountered many such incidents, and several tis their sister had nearly been violated. Consequently, they were naturally wary of strange n.
Black Hibiscus stopped the two of them and said to Shi Xiaole, "The people from the Martial World here are resting at Yizhuang, where they can watch out for each other. If you don’t mind, co join us."
How could Shi Xiaole not hear the warning in her words? He smiled and, despite the cold looks from Zhang Wu and Lin Cheng, followed the three of them to Yizhuang.
Looking around, there were a total of sixteen martial artists there, with the highest cultivation being the third layer of the Dragon Gate Realm and the lowest being the seventh layer of the Xuanqi Realm—all a bunch of daredevils.
Shi Xiaole sighed inwardly.
The sixteen were naturally curious about Shi Xiaole’s arrival and sowhat vigilant. Shi Xiaole introduced himself as Le Yan, a wanderer who just happened to pass by and decided to rest here.
A few of them nodded their heads, acknowledging each other, and then went back to chatting amongst themselves.
That night, seeing Shi Xiaole sitting alone without anyone to talk to or any food to eat, Black Hibiscus brought him a roasted chicken leg and then returned to her original spot.
Not long after, she walked out of Yizhuang with Zhang Wu and Lin Cheng.
Shi Xiaole quickly asked for the reason.
"By the rules, every night so people take turns standing guard to prevent the killer from attacking by surprise. Tonight, it just happens to be their turn,"
a man who looked like a beggar said.
At midnight.
Suddenly, the sound of a chilling wind rose within Yizhuang, faintly accompanied by the wails of tornted spirits.
"The killer has co!"
"If you have the guts, stop hiding in the shadows and co out!"
The sixteen experts sprang up from the ground, unleashing powerful Vigorous Air and Internal Power, but the wailing grew louder instead of subsiding. A flash of blade light tore through the sky, as Black Hibiscus and her companions rushed back from the streets upon hearing the commotion.
Shi Xiaole sighed. This woman really had an overwhelming sense of justice—anyone else would have probably fled long ago.
"Offer up your spirit, qi, and soul, and I will grant you eternal life,"
a voice from the darkness declared, pouncing toward a square-faced man, who swung his sword in response, only to have his attack dissipated by a single breath from the attacker. The crowd was horrified; Fang Zhen was the strongest there, yet he couldn’t stand against the assailant’s breath. How could they possibly fight this?
The sense of righteousness in their hearts seed insignificant in the face of life and death. So fled desperately, so made symbolic gestures with their swords, but only two or three people shouted and charged forward.
Black Hibiscus was also a bit afraid, but after only a mont’s hesitation, she gritted her teeth and boldly charged out. Seeing this, Zhang Wu and Lin Cheng had no choice but to follow.
But one was even faster. With a sword thrust, he illuminated the entire Yizhuang. The highly restrained sword light, like a teor from the Sky, struck heavily on the shadowy figure.
Thump...
The shadowy figure was smashed into a row of walls and collapsed thousands of ters away.
Hiss!
Those rushing forward and those retreating all stared at Shi Xiaole, dumbfounded.
Shi Xiaole had already approached the shadowy figure, engaging in close combat. With his current level of power, he was unmatched below the Void Origin Realm. Unfortunately, this shadowy assailant was a genuine Void Origin Realm Martial Emperor.
Upon entering the town, Shi Xiaole had noticed this, but fortunately, it seed the shadowy figure had a serious injury that greatly reduced his strength.
"Damn!"
The Fearful Martial Emperor’s face turned ashen.
The martial arts he cultivated were unique, requiring the absorption of the fear emanating from humans to grow stronger and heal. Hence, he had been creating terror to slowly devour the spirit, qi, and soul of the people. With his real strength, he could have easily wiped out the town.
But at such a crucial mont, an obstacle had erged.
"Fearful Demon Nightmare!"
Stretching out his hand, the Fearful Martial Emperor’s body was shrouded in demonic qi, plunging the entire town into a deathly stillness. Even thousands of ters away, Black Hibiscus and the others looked ashen.
Thankfully, at the critical mont, a sword beam shattered the fearful atmosphere; otherwise, the people in the town would have been scared to death alive.
"I’ve morized your aura; wait for !"
Severely wounded and unable to fight for long, the Fearful Martial Emperor dropped a ruthless threat and vanished with a few flashes.
Shi Xiaole shook his head and, using Vigorous Air, swept up Black Hibiscus and the other two, taking them to the outskirts.
"Swordsman..."
At this mont, the minds of Black Hibiscus and her companions were blank, utterly unsure of what to say.
"What happened here is not for you to deal with; leave as soon as you can. Here are so secret manuals for you to cultivate. People like you who stand up for justice should live longer."
Looking at the secret manuals in their hands, the three of them felt as if they were dreaming, while the noble figure had already departed. Black Hibiscus shouted, "Swordsman, who exactly are you?"
He was called Le Yan.
Le Yan, Shi Xiaole, could it be...
Black Hibiscus was hooked by a mory from many years before, trembling all over.
Shi Xiaole, of course, wasn’t showing off but was tracking down the Fearful Martial Emperor by following his aura, leading to another day and night of fierce battle, during which they overturned mountains and created vast wastelands.
The Fearful Martial Emperor was badly injured, which drastically affected his performance. Ultimately, he managed to narrowly escape using a secret technique.
"I’ve done all I can."
Killing a Void Origin Realm Martial Emperor was still too much of a stretch for Shi Xiaole. Looking at the trail of destruction, he finally understood the importance of the Golden Abyss Alliance.
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