Chapter 1077: Chapter 1076: Where Does the Confidence Come From (Extra for ’poonlo’, 15/20)_1
"Impossible, Young Hero Shi, you saved my life, and I’m profoundly grateful," said the elder. "How could I, for my own sake, let you put yourself in danger?"
Hearing Shi Xiaole was going to stand up for him, the Purple Wood Sword Emperor, moved by the gesture, hastily tried to dissuade him.
His popularity in the Martial World’s Void Origin Realm circle in Daxia was exceptional. Besides his astute and diplomatic ways, the key to his reputation was his sense of righteousness and reason, not forcing others to act on his behalf under the pretense of friendship.
Otherwise, back on Nine Heavens Mountain, the Purple Wood Sword Emperor could have made a request; with Shi Xiaole’s character, he likely wouldn’t have refused.
Shi Xiaole smiled, not bothering to justify himself, only saying to the Purple Wood Sword Emperor, "That old brother over there is the former Master Shenzong."
"What?"
The Purple Wood Sword Emperor looked at Uncle Wang, who was old and frail, so thin a gust of wind could blow him away, his expression showing bewilderment. Once he came to his senses, he quickly clasped his fists in a salute, calling himself junior repeatedly.
Uncle Wang didn’t put on airs and amiably smiled, stopping the other.
"If that is so, I’m troubled for your help," the Purple Wood Sword Emperor said, bowing deeply.
Shi Xiaole alone certainly couldn’t make the Tri-Color Sect compromise, but add Uncle Wang, ranked ninth on the Emperor List, and that changes everything. Moreover, there was Yan Zhenning, who looked quite ordinary but, if he was in the company of Shi Xiaole and Uncle Wang, how could he be just another person?
After having the Purple Wood Sword Emperor point the way, the Divine Eagle screeched and soared into the clouds, disappearing from sight.
...
The Tri-Color Sect, situated in the Sunset Plains of the Western Region. Legend had it that when the sunset sank to the horizon, the last ray of sunlight would shine upon this place, thus giving Sunset Plain its name.
As the dominant force of the Martial World in the surrounding six countries, the Tri-Color Sect’s palace was decorated with red, gold, and gray, grandiose in layout and extravagant in adornment, outshining the royal cities of some smaller Western Region nations and visible from a hundred miles away.
Inside the glittering golden hall at the center of the Tri-Color Sect,
The Thri-Color Great Emperor, who looked like a man in his seventies and wore tricolored hemp clothes, was picking up a wine cup, warmly greeting the two guests below him. As a powerful figure in the locality, not many could merit such personal hospitality from the Thri-Color Great Emperor, but the two sitting there certainly had the credentials.
"Golden Face Great Emperor, I toast to you," said the Thri-Color Great Emperor.
He raised his cup first, emptying the wine in one swig, then inverted the empty cup downward, indicating not a drop was left.
"Delightful!"
The man known as the Golden Face Great Emperor, indeed had skin shining with a golden luster, his lips as if dusted with magnesium powder. Despite his bizarre appearance, no one dared to ridicule him.
On the Emperor List, the Golden Face Great Emperor ranked ninety-first, above the Thri-Color Great Emperor. The two were old friends who often gathered to drink and chat.
The man in the black cloak across from the Golden Face Great Emperor, the Thri-Color Great Emperor, dared not underestimate either; he was the Yinhua Sword Emperor from the Bei Liang dynasty, ranked ninety-third on the Emperor List.
It was said that he met the Golden Face Great Emperor by chance this time and, feeling downhearted, came along to seek some amusement.
"Yinhua Sword Emperor, what exactly troubles you? We are somewhat acquainted, so feel free to share," the Golden Face Great Emperor said with a smile after three rounds of drinks.
"It’s nothing, just a trivial matter, not worth mentioning," replied the Yinhua Sword Emperor, waving his hand dismissively.
His venture to Nine Heavens Mountain hadn’t been witnessed by many outsiders, the latest issue of the Martial World’s journal hadn’t published anything about it, so the news hadn’t spread extensively yet. The Yinhua Sword Emperor naturally would not expose his own shortcomings.
In his heart, he firmly believed that without the Cleansing Evil Sword, Shi Xiaole was not his match.
Just as the Thri-Color Great Emperor was about to clap his hands to have his subordinates bring in the newly captured peerless beauty for their enjoyment, a thunderous roar came from outside the hall, along with a faint sense of powerful Array System energy.
"Sect Leader, it’s terrible, someone is attacking our sect’s protective array!"
Someone outside the hall shouted.
Bang!
The Thri-Color Great Emperor crushed the wine cup in his hand.
The Tri-Color Sect had a long-standing history of notoriety in the Western Region, if not for committing every conceivable atrocity, then for its infamous reputation. There had been do-gooders in the past who came to cause trouble, but in the end, they all ended up chopped to pieces and fed to the dogs by the Thri-Color Great Emperor.
It was unexpected that, after his name appeared on the Emperor List, someone still dared to come. Could it be a higher-ranked individual?
Suppressing his anger and murderous intent, the Thri-Color Great Emperor dashed out of the hall in a flash.
As guests, the Golden Face Great Emperor and the Yinhua Sword Emperor, of course, wouldn’t just sit idle; they too flew out, eager to see which mighty person had come knocking.
Outside the Tri-Color Sect.
Shi Xiaole, standing high in the sky, looked down at the Tri-Color Sect experts rushing out at the noise, silent.
Even though the sect’s protective array was reinforced by more than a dozen peak Void Origin Realm arrays and was intricately laid out, with his mental power, he could breach it in at most a two-hour period and sneak in. But Shi Xiaole didn’t want to do that. He sought a full and exhilarating battle to test his progress.
"Kid, do you have the heart of a bear and the gall of a leopard to seek trouble at the Tri-Color Sect? If you know what’s good for you, leave immediately. Once our Sect Leader shows up, you’ll not be able to get away even if you want to!" an elder yelled, though he hid within the safety of the array.
Other Void Origin Realm Martial Emperors of the Tri-Color Sect, usually fierce and ruthless with countless lives on their hands, were now only hurling verbal abuses, with no one actually daring to come forward.
Indeed, Shi Xiaole’s reputation was too formidable. In the courts and in the common places he was well-known, but in the Martial World, he could be described as someone everybody knew and recognized.
Upon seeing him and thinking of the strength at the Heavenly Realm level, who wouldn’t realize it? There were a few Heaven Realm Martial Emperors who didn’t believe in superstitions and really wanted to try Shi Xiaole, but ultimately, they didn’t dare to take action.
Since these Void Origin Realm Martial Emperors didn’t make a move, the rest were even less daring.
In fact, today, if it had been someone else with strength no less than Shi Xiaole’s, Tri-Color Sect wouldn’t be so stifled.
But the tragedy of Nine Profound Mountain had too great an impact; this kid was completely abnormal. Equal realms meant crushing defeat, not just empty talk, but a truth verified by countless facts, and no one dared to challenge him easily.
"Leave? How could I leave without your Sect Leader coming out?"
Shi Xiaole said indifferently.
"You..."
All the high-ranking members of Tri-Color Sect were furious. What a Shi Xiaole, this was outright ignoring them! But they really didn’t dare to do anything. Even if all of them rushed out, he could still leave at ease, and it might even result in some deaths.
Above the clouds, Purple Wood Sword Emperor watched this scene, speechless for a long time. One person had Tri-Color Sect so angry they dared not speak out. Could he be seeing things?
Uncle Wang and Yan Zhenning were both laughing. Along with Divine Eagle, they were all enveloped by Uncle Wang’s energy, undetectable by anyone else.
"May I know if you are the Kirin Sword Emperor?"
Accompanied by an earth-shattering roar, Tri-Color Divine Light burst from the array system, illuminating heaven and earth. Within the light, an old man dressed in a three-colored robe stepped out, his face dark and murderous.
Shi Xiaole fixed his gaze on the opponent and nodded slightly. The aura was strong, indeed a top-notch Heaven Realm Martial Emperor.
"A friend’s daughter of mine has been captured by you. Release her immediately."
Tri-Color Sect committed many atrocities, and besides, Shi Xiaole had no intention of peacefully resolving the situation, directly using a commanding tone.
"Kirin Sword Emperor, aren’t you being too arrogant?"
Upon hearing these words, the entirety of Tri-Color Sect went into a collective frenzy, and the Thri-Color Great Emperor’s face even turned white with rage.
Even if it were someone ranked within the top eighty on the Emperor List, they wouldn’t dare to speak to him in that tone. After all, while those could defeat him, they couldn’t kill him. Angering him would just invite numerous means of harassment for the offending party and their supporting powers.
This mere rank one hundred and nine, where did he get the confidence?
"You only need to answer me, whether you will release them or not."
Shi Xiaole pressed on step by step.
The Thri-Color Great Emperor’s chest heaved; given his temper, he should have slapped him by now, but the person opposite was no ordinary individual. Even if he could repel him, he couldn’t kill him, and he’d also make a formidable enemy. No one dared to belittle the talent and future of the Kirin.
After some thought, the Thri-Color Great Emperor decided to swallow his anger for the moment and said with a pot-like voice, "Who is your friend’s daughter? I’ll have someone release her."
Purple Wood Sword Emperor, upon hearing these words, first couldn’t believe his ears, then was overjoyed. He hadn’t expected that without Uncle Wang lifting a finger, Shi Xiaole had settled everything.
Shi Xiaole himself was stunned, shocked by his opponent’s ability to endure, but the biting dogs don’t bark. Seeing the hateful look in his opponent’s eyes, he knew the man must hate him to the core.
After finding out the appearance and name of Purple Wood Sword Emperor’s daughter, the Thri-Color Great Emperor waved his hand.
Soon after, a delicate-looking girl was brought out. She was somewhat bewildered by the scene until she heard her father’s call and learned she was escaping the ordeal, only then did she weep with joy.
"I have done as you asked, if there’s nothing else, you should leave now."
The Thri-Color Great Emperor snorted coldly.
The daughter of the Purple Wood Sword Emperor, Chen Lihua hesitated for a moment, then said to Shi Xiaole, "Young Hero Shi, in the Tri-Color Prison, there are many innocent people suffering terribly, not living like humans at all."
Those captured by Tri-Color Sect either became laborers or tools for venting beastly desires. Chen Lihua couldn’t hold back her words as she thought of the tragic states of these people, whose happy families had been destroyed.
But whether Shi Xiaole would stick his neck out for them, she wasn’t sure.
To her surprise, upon hearing these words, Purple Wood Sword Emperor suddenly scolded, "Lihua, what nonsense are you spouting!"
Shi Xiaole taking action today was already exceedingly righteous. If his daughter pushed him further, it would undoubtedly deeply offend Tri-Color Sect. If he turned a blind eye, it would reflect badly on him if word got out.
Not to mention, Shi Xiaole didn’t have the power to save everyone. Her words had put him in an impossible position, caught between right and wrong!
Chen Lihua was also impulsive at the moment and turned pale after a bit of thought.
Shi Xiaole looked at the Thri-Color Great Emperor and said, "Since I’m doing a good deed, let’s do it thoroughly. Release all the prisoners."
"What did you say?"
There’s an end to what one can bear, and the Thri-Color Great Emperor thought he had been tolerant enough, but some people seemed to be getting carried away, mistaking his concession for weakness.
"As martial artists, we should stand up for justice in the face of injustice, shouldn’t we?"
Shi Xiaole stated blandly.
"But it’s fearsome to overreach beyond one’s abilities and get burnt. Let’s leave, or don’t blame me for being rude."
The Thri-Color Great Emperor was on the brink of rage.
"Then let’s see the truth under our hands."
No one expected that the first to make a move wasn’t the Thri-Color Great Emperor, but that domineering Shi Xiaole. With one sword strike, his sword light, like a shooting star, aimed directly at the Thri-Color Great Emperor’s face.
