Chapter 423: Enemies Attack
Qi Chongzi!
When he saw this newest arrival, even Yan Junshan’s gaze was solemn. It seemed he would never have guessed that the Profound Green Saber Sect would send this ruthless character.
High Elder Qiu Mochi of the Flying Spirit Sword Manor and Grand Elder Lian Lengyue’s expressions revealed a barely perceptible hint of dread.
This was a Gathering Stars Realm saber cultivator renowned throughout the Southern Skies Province. He was highly influential even in the Profound Green Saber Sect, and he occupied a lofty position. Throughout the province, those worthy of being his opponent were so rare, you could count them on your fingers.
They said he once stood on the banks of Falling Star River and severed the current in a single slash. He was honored as the mightiest saber cultivator in the Southern Skies Province, the Rampaging Thunder Saber Monarch.
“Saber Monarch, I didn’t know you were coming. Forgive me for not greeting you earlier.” Yan Junshan went up to welcome him, but inwardly, he felt rather strange.
And here he’d thought that the Profound Green Saber Sect would, at most, send two of its Gathering Stars Realm cultivators. Who’d have thought they’d send a top-class expert like Qi Chongzi?
Although they were Gathering Stars Realm experts too, neither the Flying Spirit Sword Manor’s Qiu Mochi nor the Yuanyang Spirit Sect’s Lai Changxiao?were?Qi Chongzi’s equal!
“I heard this place hides an Absolute Yin Spirit Vein,” said Qi Chongzi, his gaze calm and indifferent. “I just so happen to need an Absolute Yin Spirit Vein to temper my cultivation.”
His voice clanged like metal crashing against mental, with shocking, murderous energy. As he stood there, saber strapped across his back, he instantly became the center of attention.
“Haha, Saber Monarch, with your assistance, we’re sure to claim the spirit vein!” Yan Junshan laughed heartily.
“Let’s begin, then,” said Qi Chongzi. He obviously didn’t want to waste any more time here.
“Saber Monarch, please wait momentarily. Our fellow Daoists from?Spiritmist?Temple have yet to arrive…” Yan Junshan had only just said this when…
Whoosh!
Something swept towards them from the distant skies, like a tidal wave. A figure rode upon the wave with grand and shocking momentum.
.
Before long, this newest arrival drifted down and landed before them.
His white robes were embroidered with complex cloud markings, and his eyes flashed with dazzling golden electricity. Every movement seemed capable of toppling mountains and destroying rivers, as if he could dominate the entire landscape.
When he arrived, many of those present felt suffocated, and their expressions changed dramatically.
Yan Junshan and Lai Changxiao were visibly stunned too.
“Dao-...?Daoist?Master Thousand Absolutes!” someone couldn’t help but exclaim.
Daoist Master Thousand Absolutes.
He was the youngest Gathering Stars Realm expert of Spiritmist Temple. It took him just ten short years to advance from the Origin Palace Realm to the Gathering Stars Realm. The extent of his talent and the profundity of his cultivation shook the entire Southern Skies Province.
The most interesting, conversation-starting thing about him was that?Daoist?Master Thousand Absolutes was seventh on the Southern Sky Province Gathering Stars Leaderboards, as well as the youngest member of the top ten.
It was no exaggeration to say that in the hearts of numerous cultivators, he was a legend as dazzling as the stars overhead.
Why did this guy come…??Yan Junshan’s heart sank.
The Rampaging Thunder Saber Monarch alone put enormous pressure on Yan Junshan.
Now that?Daoist?Master Thousand Absolutes was here, Yan Junshan realized that even if they managed to seize the Absolute Yin Spirit Vein, once everyone finished divvying it up, their Yuanyang Spirit Sect wouldn’t get much at all…
I planned to bring in tigers to eat the wolves, but instead, I wound up inviting them into my house!?Yan Junshan sighed to himself.
However, outwardly he said, “Greetings?Daoist?Master Thousand Absolutes.
The imposing and tyrannical white-robed?Daoist?Master Thousand Absolutes swept his gaze across the crowd before glancing at Yan Junshan. “Sect Master Yan, please introduce the situation. Then, let’s begin this operation immediately.”
His voice boomed like thunder, exploding in the crowd’s ears. Endless lightning seemed to crack and flicker within his eyes; it was extremely imposing.
“Alright.” Yan Junshan straightforwardly agreed, and before long, he’d explained the full situation.
“The One Sky Sword Pavilion’s Ling Yunhe? A single Gathering Stars Realm cultivator of the Great Qi dares make trouble here? He’s really throwing his life away,” snorted the Profound Green Saber Sect’s Qi Chongzi.
The One Sky Sword Pavilion was the top cultivation faction in the Great Qi.
However, it was obvious that Qi Chongzi didn’t care about that at all.
“If it’s been four hours since he ventured into Cold Emerald Valley, he’s either perished beneath the Profound?Snowfiend?Python’s fangs or run off with the valley’s good fortune already. Either way, we have to take action as quickly as possible,” said?Daoist?Master Thousand Absolutes coldly. His eyes flashed like lightning.
“If we encounter Ling Yunhe and his companions, what should we do with them?” asked Qiu Mochi of Flying Spirit Sword Manor.
“They either die, or they give up the valley’s good fortune,” said?Daoist?Master Thousand Absolutes. He was already shooting toward Cold Emerald Valley.
When the others saw this, they no longer hesitated. All of them followed his lead.
Before he left, Yan Junshan told the ordinary disciples to stay behind and guard the entrance. He only brought Lai Changxiao and four Origin Palace cultivators with him.
……
Deep within the cave.
Su Yi hovered above the lake, his expression tranquil. He didn’t move in the slightest.
His mind was completely immersed in profound, miraculous enlightenment.
During his time in the Origin Dao, he needed to comprehend and master nine types of Dao Charm.
These were, respectively, metal, wood, water, fire, earth, Yin, Yang, wind, and thunder.
These nine types of Dao Charm could fuse to create three types of peerless Dao Charm: the five elements, Yin and Yang, and wind and thunder.
This was what it meant to cultivate the five elements, refine Yin and Yang, and manifest wind and thunder!
As a result, when Su Yi heard that the Cloud Python Mountains hid an Absolute Yin Spirit Vein, he decisively chose to seek it out.
Suddenly, the Profound Snowfiend Python said, “Someone’s here. I’ll go take a look.”
As it spoke, it hurtled out of the cave.
“Qing Ya, you and Fellow Daoist Yuan Heng are to stay here and keep watch,” ordered Ling Yunhe. With that, he turned and followed the snake.
Outside the cave.
Yan Junshan stopped a good distance away and pointed at the entrance. “Everyone, please look. The Absolute Yin Spirit Vein is hidden in there. We came here earlier, but there was an utterly terrifying Profound Snowfiend Python coiled before the entrance. Even working together, we were no match for it….”
As he said that last part, he couldn’t help but grimace.
“There are no scars of battle here, and the Profound Snowfiend Python is nowhere to be seen. Don’t tell me Ling Yunhe’s group has already ventured deeper into the cave?” said Qiu Mochi gravely.
The others were beside themselves with confusion too.
It was then that—
The snow-white python shot toward them. Its red eyes swept across the group, and its pupils constricted slightly.?So many Gathering Stars Realm cultivators!
“Everyone, that vicious creature has appeared!” Yan Junshan and the others were instantly solemn and on guard. They knew the python was far more terrifying than an ordinary Gathering Stars Realm cultivator!
However, before Yan Junshan and his companions could react, Ling Yunhe shot out of the cave after the snake.
“We’re in for trouble!” When Ling Yunhe saw the situation outside, his heart sank, and his expression was grave.
Even ignoring the others, there were four Gathering Stars Realm experts! Furthermore, two of their auras made even Ling Yunhe feel a powerful sense of impending crisis.
The four of them aside, there were quite a few Origin Palace cultivators here too!
“Fellow Daoist Ling, why are you consorting with that vicious creature?” Yan Junshan’s eyes bulged. He almost dared not believe what he was seeing.
He’d considered countless possibilities. The only thing that?hadn’t?occurred to him was this: Ling Yunhe and the Profound Snowfiend Python were actually working together! This was unquestionably unbelievable.
The others were stunned too. All of them wore different expressions.
Ling Yunhe took a deep breath, then said gravely, “Everyone, we’ve already claimed all good fortune to be found here. Please, go back.”
“You’re the One Sky Sword Pavilion’s Ling Yunhe? I’ll give you just one chance. Take your people and?scram?this instant. Or else, I’ll be sure to take your head!” said?Daoist?Master Thousand Absolutes. His words were tyrannical, his momentum intimidating.
The Rampaging Thunder Saber Monarch stroked his jaw and stared at the serpent. “This Profound Snowfiend Python’s cultivation is extraordinary. I’ll capture it and bring it back to guard our sect’s gates.”
Yan Junshan sighed. “Fellow Daoist Ling, you can see the situation for yourself. Even if you join forces with that vicious creature, you cannot possibly stop us. I urge you to hurry up and leave. Otherwise, should this come to blows… I’m afraid there’ll soon be new sets of dried bones to decorate the valley.”
Ling Yunhe’s expression was unsightly; Su Yi’s attempt at enlightenment was at a critical juncture.?If this group barges in, it’ll mean big trouble.
“No need to waste words with them. Just attack,” said the python icily. Its snow-white body shone with misty, pale blue light, and terrifying yao qi spread out around it.
It opened its mouth and unleashed a pale blue frigid breath attack, which enveloped Qi Chongzi.
It was obvious that Qi Chongzi’s words had provoked it.
“Like an egg smashing itself against a rock!” Qi Chongzi snorted coldly, took hold of the saber strapped to his back, and swung it.
Boom!
Vast swaths of misty white saber light and rampaging silver lightning filled the skies and descended, their destructive power sweeping outward.
It was visible to the naked eye: as the saber swept downward, it easily dispersed the light blue frigid breath attack. Furthermore, its power didn’t decrease in the slightest; it continued toward the Profound Snowfiend Python.
“Go!” The python opened its mouth, and a bone sword covered in pale blue frost shot out and blocked the saber. When the two weapons clashed, sparks scattered, and the shockwaves burst the nearby boulders and vegetation into powder, leaving spider-web-like cracks on the ground.
“Clever beast! Today, I’ll be sure to capture you alive. No one can even think of standing in my way, no matter who they are!” Qi Chongzi laughed heartily, gripped his saber, and charged into the fray.
“Ling Yunhe, we gave you a chance, but you didn’t treasure it. Now, I’m going to take your head!” Practically simultaneously, Daoist Master Thousand Absolutes snorted coldly and charged through the skies, his sleeves billowing around him. He stretched out his right hand and swung his fist, like a god beating a heavenly drum. He was aiming directly at Ling Yunhe.
Boom!
The skies shook.
This was the youngest Gathering Stars Realm expert of Spiritmist Temple, and his cultivation was extremely powerful. In just one punch, he displayed enough power to dominate heaven and earth.
Ling Yunhe had no choice but to retreat. He waved his sleeves, and four Dao Swords rose into the air, forming a Four Beasts Formation. His sword qi was dense and imposing as he met his foe head-on.
Rumble~!
Fighting broke out instantaneously.
The nearby mountains trembled, and the vegetation was burnt to cinders. The rampant energy currents swept away the icy mists covering the valley, clearing the skies.
In but an?instant, Ling Yunhe and the python found themselves suppressed. Both paled in comparison to the opposition.
There was really nothing for it; their foes were among the strongest Gathering Stars Realm experts in the Great Xia’s Southern Skies Province. Both were domineering and terrifying.
When he saw this, Yan Junshan got complacent. He bellowed, “Everyone, attack together! Take them out, and the Absolute Yin Spirit Vein is ours!”
He’d only just said this when Lai Changxiao sprang into action, charging at Ling Yunhe with the intent to kill.
The Flying Spirit Sword Pavilion’s Qiu Mochi, meanwhile, charged at the Profound Snowfiend Python.
Ling Yunhe and the python instantly found themselves at a complete disadvantage. They were in grave peril!
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