Chapter 494: Encountering Skirmishes in Dreamland
Translator: Transn Editor: Transn
A thick mist had risen, enveloping all of the rivers, lakes, and forests inside the Jade Garden Forest.
When the mist dissipated, everything seed to have returned to normal. If one took a careful look around, however, one would realize that the void was gently swaying like waves. What was before one’s eyes felt both real and unreal.
ng Qi was reluctant to allow soone’s breath to be fixed on him because he carried too many secrets. Even so, for his safety, he accepted Su Li’s kind gesture.
It was not as if he did not have the ability to cut off Su Li’s breath if there was any chance that his identity might be exposed!
None of the talents who attended the Sumptuous Fruits Banquet withdrew from the challenge. Even if they were well aware of how weak they were in comparison with Xuanzhen and the rest, they still entered the dreamland. The figured they might very well encounter battles with top masters like Xuanzhen, Aunt Bai, and Killing Blade as soon as they entered, and could be eliminated early. They had no ambitions to erge to the top. If they could hide and beco the last few to leave the formation, it would be a kind of win!
The aged Emperor chuckled as he watched them make their way over the waves and enter the dreamland formation. “Most of the ti, we’ll be able to watch the battles instantly as they occur. Other tis, so as not to weaken the effect of the formation, mist and dark nights will materialize in certain areas and obscure our view. After all, so people are more skilled at sneak attacks and not head-on confrontations. We have to give them a fair chance. Of course, my esteed ministers, you are all free to use the breath attached to your disciples to sense their surroundings. It wouldn’t be obscured by the mist nor the cover of the night.”
His clear and complete explanation gave the ministers no reason to raise any objections.
The three princes – Crown Prince, Prince Jin, and Zhao Heng – were the last to enter the dreamland.
ng Qi felt his body pass through layer after layer of damp and heavy waves. The waves then dissipated to reveal a canyon stretching before his eyes.
He lifted his head and saw the horizon pressed into one fine line. On both sides were precipitous cliffs covered in lush green.
Five disciples of aristocratic families dressed in brocades stood in the middle of the canyon. They appeared uncertain as they took in the environnt.
They instantly spotted ng Qi.
“Killing Blade!”
“Su ng!”
“To think we’ll really co across him!”
Quiet sounds of exclamations ca from the disciples, who all looked to be on guard. They wanted to retreat, yet they also feared that ng Qi would hunt them down and leave them no chance to fight back.
ng Qi gripped his saber in his right hand and walked toward them without expression. His every step seed to grate on their hearts, making them tremble all over. They felt that Killing Blade seed to have beco several degrees taller right before their eyes.
His pace, neither slow nor fast, carried a suppressive air. It was unbearable for the five disciples. If he was slower, that would have given them the opportunity to discuss counterasures. Yet they would have preferred it if he was quicker. It would be much better to die and reincarnate quickly.
“My esteed subjects, your disciples still lack experience. They’ve completely lost their composure under Killing Blade’s pressure.” The aged Emperor rubbed the puffy bags under his eyes as he smiled at the high official, Song Shouren, and the other ministers.
The five young masters were the top disciples of the Song family of Luyang and the Zhang family of Longnan.
“They were born relatively late into the year and the highest cultivation among them is rely Eight Apertures. It’s inevitable that they’ll fear Killing Blade who is sure to make a breakthrough at any ti.” Song Shouren smoothened his beard with his hand, exuding the unmistakable grace of one from an aristocratic family.
“Born comparatively late…” The aged Emperor smiled, not continuing the rest of his words. The five disciples appeared to be one or two years older than Su Ziyuan, not the other way around.
Zhang Yuanli, the legitimate son of the Zhang family of Longnan, ca from a scholarly family. All emotions vanished from his expression as he said in a quiet voice, “There are at least five of us and it’s narrow here. It’ll be hard for him to dodge and weave around us. We might not lose if we go up against him full-force. Even if we can’t win, we can at least find a chance to run. It’s better than being hunted!”
Song Quanlue of the Song family nodded. “Senior Brother, your Grand Sun Sky-burning Palm is great. My Houtu Life-and-death Swordsmanship isn’t weak either. So are all of you, my brothers. Let’s give him a worthy challenge and look out for an opportunity.”
Just as the five of them steeled their determinations and saw a rise in their montum, bright laughter ca from ng Qi. He accelerated his pace and his steps beca as heavy as an elephant’s, shaking the ground each ti his foot landed. In a flash, the montum of the disciples faded.
Song Quanlue took in a deep breath, pointed his sword and drew the outline of upright, unafraid plum blossoms that were brimming with vitality. His killing intent was hidden sowhere deep inside, appearing entirely inconspicuous.
Zhang Yuanli and the others separated in a practiced fashion. One brandished a palm akin to the Grand Sun, the other brandished a sword akin to the heaven. Both targeted the vital parts of ng Qi’s body.
“Clang!” ng Qi unsheathed his saber and lifted it high up, before slashing downward with a terrifying force.
“Clang!”
Under the force of such a terrifying slash, Song Quanlue was unable to unleash the changes in his sword art. Like an embroidery needle coming across a rumble roller, all the exquisite layers of movents were all blocked. He had no ti to unleash the rest of his techniques before the sword and saber t.
He felt the skin between his thumb and forefinger split open and his sword flew out of his hand.
A thought crossed his mind at that mont, sothing his elders had once said: “One’s true sword technique relies not on his sword, but on his practice…”
ng Qi slashed Song Quanlue’s sword in one stroke and twisted his body with a kick of his heel. His saber, like a growing dragon, cut in the direction of Zhang Yuanli and the others.
“Clang, clang, clang, clang!” Each strike landed on ng Qi but the pale golden glow remained untouched without dissipating.
The saber cut at an angle as if it was a long stick, sweeping them away with terrifyingly dreadful strength.
Several flashes of light later, the five disciples disappeared one after another. They were whisked away by their family elders.
ng Qi ended the battle in just a couple of minutes, moving so quickly that the ministers did not even have the ti to comnt on anything.
“You know the disparity in your strengths…” Song Shouren stared at a shad Song Quanlue with a stern expression.
Song Quanlue hung his head low with his face flushed red, unable to lift his head.
The other spectators exhaled sharply. It was likely that Killing Blade did not even use half of his strength in dealing with those disciples.
ng Qi stepped out of the canyon, carrying his saber. He saw soone walking out of the wilderness towards him. It was Aunt Bai.
“Haha! Rather than arriving early, it’s far wiser to arrive opportunely.” Her breath surged. Her desolate and barbaric air was like that of high mountains and ridges. It was as if she was a terrifying and vicious beast.
ng Qi narrowed his eyes and felt sothing heavy weighing on his body as if the ground was binding him. His every movent required more strength than he was used to.
He had planned on first evading Aunt Bai and those on her level, clearing away the miscellaneous participants, and eting up with Ruan Yushu and the others before they were defeated. That way, he would have at least 70 to 80 percent odds of success. However, life never follows one’s expectations.
“To think I’d et him so soon…” Zhang Yuanli cald his emotions and began to observe the battles inside the dreamland. Excitent colored his expression when he saw that Killing Blade had encountered Aunt Bai.
Even though Killing Blade was the top fighter of the Ranking List of Young Masters, he could not be discussed along the sa lines as Aunt Bai.
Would Killing Blade be eliminated right in the beginning?
This particular encounter had captured the attention of most of the spectators. Compared to other scuffles happening in the dreamland, the collision between masters was evidently more interesting.
Aunt Bai laughed heartily. “I’ve long wanted to battle you once again!”
She charged at him, throwing him a straight punch with a heavy, frightening fist. She was so strong that her force seed capable of shattering mountain peaks. That feeling of oppression and of near collapse made ng Qi feel short of breath.
What was even more frightening was that, behind her, the ground was like a large cage that encompassed everything. It was beyond difficult to execute any Body Movents or changes or even speed up. It was as if he could only et her at her strength and confront her head-on!
“Then let’s fight!” ng Qi roared, his tongue bursting open with spring thunder. Following this tremor, he broke away from his binds and unleashed his simple and unadorned bladesmanship. However, every strike was heavier than the one before as if there was muffled thunder on the horizon slowly descending on the ground.
He had chosen to confront Aunt Bai head-on. His muscles knotted and swelled underneath his clothing as if he had beco a beast wrapped in human skin.
“Clank, clank, clank!” The jangling sounds rang nonstop. The muffled sounds agitated even the disciples of aristocratic families in hiding, sending them running pathetically.
And yet, stunningly, ng Qi managed to resist Aunt Bai’s attack without being forced to take a step back. His strength seed on par with hers!
“Since when could the top fighter of the Ranking List of Young Masters contend with a Half-step Exterior Scenery master promoted from the realm of Oneness of Heaven and n…” Song Quanlue watched with his mouth open, dumbstruck.
In his eyes, ng Qi had beco a monster clad in human flesh.
Song Shouren cast him a glance and said dully, “It’s not that he doesn’t want to roam and avoid the brunt of her attack. She had drawn the strength of the earth to bind him, preventing him from making any Body Movents. He can only fight her, hand to hand.”
“But… But his force…” That was the point that Song Quanlue could not accept the most.
Song Shouren’s eyes were brimming with cruelty. “His cultivation thod is based on strength. The current strength of his strike is on par with that of an ordinary Half-step. He isn’t far beneath Aunt Bai. Furthermore, after entering the Oneness of Heaven and n realm, he can borrow so of the Nature Force.”
He paused and said, “More importantly, each of his strikes targets her weakest points. What he lacks in strength, he makes up in other aspects. He appears not to be at a disadvantage at all. This is the advantage of the realm of his movents over hers.”
“Of course, based on Aunt Bai’s realm and strength, her ferocity will only rise even higher as the battle progresses, while Killing Blade will be bound even tighter. The outco of the battle will gradually be visible.”
Once he understood this, Song Quanlue once again returned his attention to the fight and focused wholeheartedly on the monts ng Qi thrust his saber.
He saw that each of ng Qi’s strikes, though flat and straight, were in accordance to Dharma and Logos. It gave rise to bolts of thunder sending tremors across the void, hitting Aunt Bai right on the side of her fist. If not for the fact that she was wearing a Precious Weapon glove, ng Qi might have succeeded!
The cultivation thods passed down throughout generations in the Song family were the Houtu Life-and-death Sword and the Benevolence Saber. So, Song Quanlue was quite familiar with bladesmanship. The more he watched the battle, the more disturbed he felt. It was as if he was watching a family elder demonstrating his bladesmanship and he slowly beca engrossed in it.
“Bang, bang bang!” The saber and fist collided with a horrifying force.
Aunt Bai’s feet remained unwaveringly rooted to the ground with little movent. On the other hand, ng Qi was executing multiple changes.
She abruptly too a deep a breath and held a fist before her chest to block his attack. It felt as if the mountain had moved with her. Her force did not appear weakened in the slightest with the shift.
ng Qi’s saber traveled in an arc across the horizon, using the void to contain the might of his montum.
“Pfft!” Under their oppressive breaths, the saber and the fist appeared locked together. Subsequently, both their attacks produced the whizzing of gales that drifted far and wide, disturbing their respective Qi pivots.
Aunt Bai and ng Qi looked to be in deep thought and dashed in retreat at the sa ti, both in different directions. They stopped fighting.
They knew now, after exchanging blows, that it would take them a long ti to determine a victor between them. If their comrades were defeated, they would be in imnse danger. Thus, they separated and decided to first et up with their respective teams.
Those watching from outside the dreamland sighed in disappointnt.
While ng Qi was running, he saw layers of mist enveloping him and the sky began darkening above his head.
He unleashed his Will-projecting and put up his guard against sneak attacks by constantly drawing feedback from his surroundings.
Just then, he could sense a potent murderous intent!
It did not originate from a spar-like hostility; rather, it was a true desire to murder!
Outside the dreamland, the audience had shifted their attention sowhere else once they saw Killing Blade disappear inside the mist.
The aged Emperor leaned into his seat, his expression as calm as ever as he stared at the sky.
…
Changle, North Zhou Dynasty.
Inside a horse carriage, Gao Lan was holding a cup of fine wine and looking at the gleaming light reflected on the waves on the surface of the lake.
“Who is that invited here, I wonder? Why do you have her belongings?” His expression was cold and his gaze disdainful.
Right at that mont, a figure walked out of from the woods surrounding the lake with a temperant as graceful as an immortal. With a white muslin covering the figure’s face, it was hard to get a good look at her.
Sothing shifted in Gao Lan’s eyes, appearing sowhat agitated. “You didn’t die?”
Without getting up or taking a step, he was in front of the veiled woman in the next instant.
The veiled woman exuded a carefree deanor. In a quiet voice, she said, “I ca due to fate and will leave for the sa reason. It’s true that she has died.”
Gao Lan’s expression beca incredibly downcast before reassuming his unfeeling mask. Sneering, he replied, “To think the principal disciple of Shui Yue Nunnery would be Mystic Fairy, Nirmanakaya.”
Mystic Fairy turned her head and began strolling by the river. “The roots of Mystic Fairy’s relationship with the various influences of the dieval tis have never been shallow. It’s not the evil spirit.”
Gao Lan stared deeply at her without speaking. He walked up next to her, shoulder-to-shoulder.
The two of them fell into a peaceful silence and, without either of them realizing it, made a complete walk around the lake.
Feigning nonchalance, she asked, “Where’s your Saint Emperor’s Token?”
“I’ve given it to Disillusionnt Demon when he ca to exchange for it. It was useless in my hands anyway,” he replied. Recalling what had happened, he could not help sneering. “Now that I think about it, I still need to thank him. If not for the item, how is it possible for to secretly confirm my path and escape such trappings.”
“rely possessing the Saint Emperor’s Token alone isn’t enough to condense it in secret…” Mystic Fairy said, staring at the lake.
Gao Lan snorted and his tone beca incredibly cold. “I still have her remnants. Disillusionnt Demon didn’t ask and I deliberately didn’t ntion it either.”
She said nothing and Gao Lan beca silent as well. The two of them continued their walk, making yet another round around the lake before going their separate ways. Neither of them turned their heads.
…
Inside the palace.
Zhao Wuyan was grasping a token entirely embedded with precious stones on its front. His entire body exuded a mysterious dark golden glow that was constantly shifting; his breath was terrifyingly fearso.
Outside his door, Purple Roc Arrester Liu Shengming quietly stood up. He watched what was going on inside montarily before turning around to walk to Tai Chi Palace.
When he reached out his hands to push the doors to the palace open, he saw heavenly throne coiled with nine dragons as well as a withered, thin old man holding up a bluish-white lamp next to it.
However, what caught his eye imdiately was a young woman dressed in white sitting on the throne.
She exuded a pure and holy air. Her appearance was delicate and perfect. Her hands, as fair as jade, were placed on top of the golden yellow armrests of the throne as she leaned back. Her expression was dignified as her entire person burst with might.
Reviews
All reviews (0)