Chapter 1059: Chapter 1058: Attack of the Burial Martial Artist_1
"So heavy."
It was a mere flick of the wrist for Shi Xiaole to slay the three from the Eight-sided Martial Emperor, all his attention now fixed on the Sky Pillar Axe. The first impression the axe had given him was its weight—not in terms of poundage, but in its imposing aura.
It was as if he wasn’t holding an axe, but a magnificent and grand mountain. Shi Xiaole could be certain that the power contained within the Sky Pillar Axe must be terrifying.
Subconsciously, he swung the axe forward.
Boom!
A fissure ten zhang wide erupted from where the axe struck, sprawling all the way to the horizon, beyond sight, causing many to gasp in astonishment.
"Worthy of being a high-grade Spiritual Weapon, it increased my attack power by fifteen percent. However, this is just an ordinary move; if I were to use sword techniques, I might as well be bare-handed."
There isn’t much in common between an axe and a sword, so using an axe to perform sword techniques not only fails to enhance the power of the sword moves, but might also be detrimental.
So, in the end, the Sky Pillar Axe couldn’t increase Shi Xiaole’s strength, but its value was incalculable.
If a master of axe techniques were to emerge from the Nine Heavens Mountain in the future and prove themselves loyal, it could be given to them, or he could simply trade the Sky Pillar Axe for more rare resources. In any case, it would definitely be beneficial.
As everyone watched the Sky Pillar Axe in Shi Xiaole’s hands, they couldn’t help but sigh internally. Today’s battle had undoubtedly solidified Kirin’s unshakeable position in the Martial World.
Particularly Xuanming Taoist Emperor and Thunderbolt Emperor, both were secretly guessing, estimating Shi Xiaole’s rank in the Flying Horse Dynasty, whether it was within the top twenty or the top fifteen?
Even if it was just the top twenty, it would be earth-shattering. Once the news spread, perhaps the top echelons of elite sects would be losing sleep.
The Four Symbols Sword Emperor, Black Absolute Emperor, and Unfathomable Leg Emperor retreated far away, each suffering injuries to varying degrees, their powers perhaps remaining at only seventy percent of their peak. Not to mention facing Shi Xiaole, even the Ink Emperor might prove too much for them, leaving them simmering with rage.
What they didn’t know was that the Ink Emperor was also having a tough time.
According to Jingyun Pavilion, there were five high-grade Spiritual Weapons, two lost, one each obtained by Xuanming Taoist Emperor and Kirin, there should be one more.
But he had no confidence in securing the last high-grade Spiritual Weapon, all because the Black Absolute Emperor and his fellow emperors had been injured. The reason Xuanming Taoist Emperor and the others did not dare lay claim to the second high-grade Spiritual Weapon was due to the checks and balances of the crowd.
Now, with three of those capable of maintaining the balance injured—even adding himself to the equation—he was no match for Xuanming Taoist Emperor and Kirin, not to mention the covetous Thunderbolt Emperor and Ice Emperor nearby.
As for the other Martial Emperors of the Void Origin Realm, they were merely spectators, of not much use.
Indeed, as the Ink Emperor anticipated, at this moment, whether Xuanming Taoist Emperor, Thunderbolt Emperor, or Ice Emperor, each harbored different thoughts in their hearts.
"I wonder what the next high-grade Spiritual Weapon will be."
Shi Xiaole couldn’t help but think of the Cleansing Evil Sword; were he to obtain it, with his strength, he would likely defeat the Four Symbols Sword Emperor with ease, without needing to exert his full power.
However, such things could not be forced; overly insisting on them might result in inner demons.
Besides, even if it were indeed the Cleansing Evil Sword, Shi Xiaole had no certainty he could seize it.
Peace returned to the front of Jingyun Pavilion. Some people had already left, severely wounded, fearing for their own safety. Others sat in meditation to heal their injuries, preparing to vie for the next wave of medium-grade Spiritual Weapons.
But what was common among them all was the automatic distancing from the four figures at the forefront, knowing that the appearance of the last low-grade Spiritual Weapon would inevitably lead to a terrifying conflict.
One day.
Two days.
Within three days, Jingyun Pavilion erupted thrice. Most of the time, Shi Xiaole meditated, only making a move when he saw a top-tier medium-grade Spiritual Weapon to his liking. He harvested abundantly, acquiring a total of five top-tier medium-grade Spiritual Weapons.
Among them was a sword named "Peak Severer," sharp enough to cut through hair blown in the wind, its keenness rivaling that of the Spring Fury Sword. Shi Xiaole found it exceedingly suitable to wield.
Thunderbolt Emperor and the others naturally had their share of gains. Of course, everyone was holding back their strength, only competing for some of the top mid-grade Spiritual Weapons, avoiding taking too much. Provoking everyone would have been troublesome.
It is worth mentioning that, during this period, with the covert assistance from Shi Xiaole, the Mandarin Duck Sword Pair surprisingly also obtained a top mid-grade spiritual sword. Many cast envious looks, but out of respect for Shi Xiaole’s might, no one dared to make a move.
The fourth day.
The fifth day.
The last high-grade Spiritual Weapon was late in appearing, but everyone was sufficiently patient. After all, what was a mere few days, even half a month, or a month?
But plans cannot keep up with changes, an event that took everyone by surprise occurred.
On the sixth day, a pervasive scent suddenly wafted over from afar. Spread by the strange, wild winds, a light pink fog obscured the skies, like boundless waves, soon enveloping the entire Jingyun Palace.
"Ah..."
Screams—agonized, terrified, infuriated—rang out from all directions, echoing back and forth. Accompanying these were extremely faint slicing sounds.
"Is this... Soul-burying Incense?!"
"The Burial Martial Artists have come!"
Inside and outside of Jingyun Palace, numerous experts displayed looks of panic.
If there was anything in the Heavenly Desire Origin that could truly terrify people, it wasn’t the highly powerful Void Origin Realm Martial Emperors, but rather the mysterious Burial Martial Artists.
No one knew where they came from or which force they belonged to. They knew only that these figures, like machines of slaughter who appeared in recent years, killed on sight, asking no questions and taking no sides.
The martial skills of the Burial Martial Artists weren’t considered strong, at least not compared to the Void Origin Realm Martial Emperors. However, the Soul-burying Incense they carried had the power to strip even Void Origin Realm Martial Emperors of their abilities, rendering them helpless fish on the chopping block.
In the past, there had been more than one sighting of the Burial Martial Artists horrifically dismembering Void Origin Realm Martial Emperors.
Throughout the palace, blood sprayed high as the gray-clothed Burial Martial Artists, shackled in iron chains, split into several groups. Like merciless envoys from hell, they cruelly slaughtered every expert in their path.
Some were Dragon Gate Realm Lords, some were Earth Immortals of the Divine Border Realm, yet under the influence of Soul-burying Incense, they couldn’t even exert one hundredth of their strength.
The commotion quickly reached the front of Jingyun Tower.
"Damn it, the Burial Martial Artists have come, we must strike first."
Thunderbolt Emperor suddenly stood up.
The Soul-burying Incense had different effects on martial artists of varying levels. Void Origin Realm Martial Emperors had somewhat stronger resistance and could hold out for around a quarter of an hour. But after a quarter of an hour, their strength would plummet dramatically.
There was no need for Thunderbolt Emperor to remind them; all the Void Origin Realm Martial Emperors present took action, including the injured Black Absolute Emperor and others, who all flew out together.
Outside Jingyun Palace.
A group of gray-clothed figures leisurely listened to the killing cries inside.
"Hehe, we finally lured you all inside, and now you want to come out? Wishful thinking."
The lead gray-clothed figure was a pale-faced young master, flicking an iron fan, with iron chains as thick as fingers hanging all over his body, like ornaments.
