Chapter 228: Chapter 216: Luoding Mountain
"King Yun, you..."
The Emperor of the Empire struggled to his feet from amidst the rubble. Although he wasn’t seriously injured, for the majestic Emperor to be sent flying so unceremoniously was an utter humiliation.
"Killing you would be no more trouble than crushing a cockroach! I’m asking you a question now, and you will answer. Otherwise, don’t think for a second I wouldn’t dare to kill you!"
A cold glance swept across the Emperor of the Empire’s face, making him shudder uncontrollably. He didn’t dare utter another word of protest.
"Where is the Divine Wind Empire’s branch of the Assassin Union, who is there, and who is the president?"
Nie Yun fired off three questions in a row.
"The Assassin Union?" The Emperor of the Empire trembled upon hearing the name. "King Yun, why do you suddenly ask about this union?"
"You don’t need to know why. Just tell me where it is!"
Nie Yun snorted.
’Although I suspect the Emperor of the Empire wanted me and that Demon to destroy each other,’ Nie Yun thought, ’I have no concrete proof, so I don’t want to expose the matter just yet.’
’If I do, I’ll be in direct conflict with the Royal Family. Even though Fengg Yu, the Royal Family’s strongest fighter, is weaker than me, a family that has ruled the Empire for so many years must have plenty of hidden tricks up its sleeve. It’s best not to confront them unless I have no other choice!’
’Besides, I still haven’t found my parents and the others. I can’t be too reckless. If I push them into a corner, they might do something desperate, and that would put my parents in danger.’
"The Assassin Union is on Luoding Mountain, in the easternmost part of the Imperial Capital. It’s a quaint little courtyard, but inside are countless assassins who specialize in stealth and assassination. It’s said they can even assassinate an Ultimate Venerable Powerhouse..."
Sensing the dissatisfaction in the young man’s tone, the Emperor of the Empire didn’t dare ramble and quickly explained.
"Luoding Mountain?"
An image of the mountain immediately surfaced in his mind.
’Luoding Mountain is just a small mountain, much shorter than Baihua Mountain. It’s barren, with no flowers, green grass, or trees—only loose rocks and a few small temples.’
’There’s no telling how long those temples have been there. In my past life, I just thought they were scenic decorations. I never would have guessed they were the hidden stronghold of the Assassin Union!’
"Yes, it’s on Luoding Mountain. As for who the union’s president is, I really don’t know. After all, I don’t have much contact with that kind of organization..."
The Emperor of the Empire hurriedly tried to distance himself from the matter.
"You had better be telling me the truth this time. If I find out you’re lying again, the consequences... will not be something you can bear!"
With a snort, Nie Yun leaped into the air. True Qi erupted from his body, and he shot off like a cannonball. In an instant, he vanished from the Imperial Garden, flying straight toward the eastern part of the Imperial Capital.
’He’s gone...’
Watching the young man fly into the distance, the Emperor of the Empire wiped the cold sweat from his brow again.
’I don’t know why, but every time I interact with him, I tremble all over. It’s an indescribable fear.’
’Thinking about it, his strength is immense, but I’ve met people who are even stronger, and I’ve never felt this way before.’
’He’s young, but the bloodlust he carries is even more potent than that of some battle-hardened generals!’
After a moment of reflection, he finally understood why.
This young man, Nie Yun, was not old, but for some reason, the sheer weight of his killing intent surpassed that of a veteran general. Moreover, he seemed to have no regard whatsoever for imperial authority. The Emperor had a feeling that if he had spouted any nonsense just now, his head would already be on the floor.
"Sir, I have said what you instructed me to. What should I do now?"
Wiping away the cold sweat, the Emperor of the Empire turned to look in a certain direction.
He was looking toward a circular gateway. As soon as he finished speaking, a figure walked through it—it was none other than the young guard at the Ultimate Venerable Peak.
"Heh, very good! As long as we can capture him, we’ll have the leverage to force his master to hand over the Phecda Sword..." A smile played on the young guard’s lips, a glint in his eyes.
* * *
"Master, the Assassin Union must have been prepared if they dared to move against Young Master Yangg Yan and the others. If we just charge in like this, I’m afraid we’ll walk right into a trap!"
Zi Tong said in a rumbling voice, swishing his massive tail as he looked at the mountain range not far ahead.
"I know that!"
Nie Yun said, hovering in the air with an icy gaze.
’The Assassin Union specializes in assassination; their methods are surely not simple. Though I have faith in my own strength, there’s no guarantee they haven’t made preparations. My own death would be a small matter, but if I die, I won’t just fail to save my parents—I’ll lose everything!’
’So, I must be careful with every step. I can’t act rashly!’
"I don’t care how many powerhouses this Assassin Union has. If Yangg Yan and Feng Xiao were truly killed by them, I will make every last one of them die!"
With a cold snort, a fist-sized Jade Gourd appeared in Nie Yun’s palm.
This was the very gourd he had obtained from Zhang Luo, the City Lord of Luonan City, and it was filled with Heart-Devouring Poison.
’It’s only because I’ve lived two lives and have vast knowledge that I was immune to this poison’s effects. Any other Ultimate Venerable, even if they couldn’t be defeated in a fight, could be killed with no chance of survival by activating this poison!’
"You three wait here. Once the fighting starts, kill anyone you see. Don’t let a single soul escape—not even a chicken or a dog!"
Hearing the sinister chill in the young man’s voice, the three Demon Beasts all shivered.
’Ruthless!’
’Too ruthless!’
’As Demon Beasts, they were used to being vicious, but they never expected their master to be even more ruthless than them!’
SWOOSH!
Ignoring the three Demon Beasts’ shock, Nie Yun blurred and shot toward the temple closest to the center.
Before he even arrived, an immense pressure slammed down on the temple like the world was collapsing. With a deafening RUMBLE, the massive temple, several hundred feet wide, collapsed by more than half.
"President of the Assassin Union, get the hell out here and face me!"
His voice was like a tsunami, echoing throughout the entire mountain range.
"What?"
"Someone dares to use force against our Assassin Union?"
Nie Yun had collapsed the largest temple with his first move, sending a violent shockwave through the entire mountain.
In an instant, countless figures swarmed out like locusts; it was impossible to tell where they had all been hiding.
Every one of these figures exuded a gloomy, cold, and cruel aura. A single glance was enough to tell that each of them had blood on their hands and had killed many people.
"I am the branch president of the Assassin Alliance’s Divine Wind Branch. Might I ask which Ultimate Venerable of the Empire you are? To act in such a way is exceedingly rude, is it not?"
After a moment, a middle-aged man emerged, surrounded by the crowd. He looked at Nie Yun, his eyes flashing like lightning.
’Ultimate Venerable Peak? I never expected a master of this level to be hidden here!’
With a casual glance, Nie Yun had discerned the man’s cultivation—Ultimate Venerable Peak!
’I thought the Divine Wind Empire only had those few Ultimate Venerables who were known to the public. It seems the waters of this Empire run much deeper than I imagined!’
’But so what if the waters run deep? If you dare to provoke me, I will make you pay a price you won’t forget in this life—or even in the next!’
