Chapter 1112: Chapter 1111: Unparalleled (Part 1) (20/20 update for poonlo)
"Is this guy looking for death?"
Seeing Shi Xiaole agree to Beigong Jue’s request with imperial confidence and then prepare to leave with both Beigong Jue’s corpse and Ling’er, Tuoxu Tuo was dumbfounded.
Any sane person would not wish to have any relation to Beigong Jue at this time, which was equivalent to making enemies with the entire Martial World of the Western Region. It wouldn’t matter whether you had one Kirin, two, three, or even ten—it would be useless.
"Such righteousness and bravery could only be for the secrets of the East Victory village. Maybe that young girl knows something,"
a young lama beside Tuoxu Tuo said, his eyes gleaming.
This reminded everyone present, but then they shook their heads. If the Kirin was really playing this game, then he was seriously underestimating people of the world.
The things he thought of were certainly not beyond the thoughts of others. It wasn’t just the martial artists of the Western Region; even the masters of other paths would not sit idly by and let Shi Xiaole leave with someone. This was simply the rhythm of making enemies with the entire Martial World!
"People do not die if they do not seek death. I’m curious to see how long this kid can hop around."
The corners of the Wind Thunder Blade Queen’s mouth curved slowly, her otherwise pretty face taking on a few traces of ferocity and thinness.
It was said that the Kirin was unparalleled in combat strength, crushing all of equal rank, but that was definitely based on who the opponent was. No matter how powerful an individual was, it was impossible to overpower all experts of the same realm.
Not to mention the experts on the Emperor List, among the fifteen people blocking the way, three were ranked within the top sixty-five. Taken individually, their strength was greater than that of the Kirin.
Unlike most spectators, Ling Jingsi was so anxious he didn’t know what to do. He resented Shi Xiaole’s presumption, but he also secretly admired the son of his old friend, especially Shi Xiaole’s demeanor when agreeing to Beigong Jue’s request, which seemed as if Shi Xuanzhong had taken over his body, reminding Ling Jingsi of the past.
Clenching his fists, Ling Jingsi fought the impulse to step forward. Acting now would serve no purpose and might even hinder Shi Xiaole. He only hoped that Shi Xiaole could hold on a little longer!
"Too impulsive."
In the Dreamy Sect camp, the Sect Leader, with a black veil across her face and crow’s feet at the corners of her eyes, shook her head greatly.
Behind her, Ren Mengzhen said unexpectedly: "Master, if he dies, and the link to the Medium of Blood Yang is lost, my talent will much diminish."
The Sect Leader suddenly turned around and coldly said, "You little wench, are you trying to urge your master to her death?"
Ren Mengzhen smiled: "I’m just stating a fact. Mengzhen knows that a smart master like you wouldn’t go looking for trouble, especially the kind that’s unsolvable."
Ren Mengzhen looked up at Shi Xiaole, who was surrounded by a group of experts from the Emperor List, her eyes flickering.
She really couldn’t figure out this person. He knew everything, played his conspiracies well, yet often liked to do dumb things that even a fool wouldn’t do.
In such a situation, did he really think he could turn things around by himself?
Whoosh!
Just then, Shi Xiaole, carrying a corpse and Ling’er, charged brazenly ahead. Midway, the Cleansing Evil Sword drew a deep cyan sword light, slashing straight ahead.
The three masters of the Demon Sentiment Path happened to be in the direction of the sword light’s attack. Always vigilant, they promptly swung their weapons to meet it.
Clang.
A few sparks flew, but there was only a single, very brief sound.
Under the slash of the deep cyan sword light, the weapons of the three masters withstood only for a moment. It wasn’t a matter of great strength disparity, but that of speed. A vast wave of Sword Qi, exploiting the coordinated flaws of the three, struck toward the blue-robed master.
"Not good!"
The three masters were simultaneously shocked.
Previously, when Shi Xiaole defeated the Fiery Flame Child Emperor, everyone had witnessed his speed. Little did they know that with the Cleansing Evil Sword, his sword speed was even faster, almost beyond imagination.
The blue-robed master only had time to block in front of himself when, unexpectedly, the Sword Qi brushed against the weapon, skewed slightly, and still half of it pierced through his shoulder.
Thud!
The blue-robed master was thrown back, a scream accompanied by bloodshed.
"What?!"
The spectators ready to take advantage of the situation were incredibly shocked. The blue-robed master, ranked 107th on the Emperor List, was actually defeated by the Kirin in a single move.
It should be noted that at the level of the Emperor List, winning in a few thousand moves was considered a trouncing, a few hundred moves indicated overpowering, a few dozen meant an instant defeat. One move—this was an instant kill among instant kills, signifying a vast gap in strength between the two sides.
Defeating the blue-robed master in one move was something not even the top fifty experts on the Emperor List might accomplish.
However, it quickly dawned on the crowd that Shi Xiaole’s strength could not be measured in such a way. This youngster’s advantage lay in his speed and skill, causing those slightly less strong than him to quickly fail, hence, his power couldn’t be judged by the number of moves made.
Even so, everyone became more cautious, each unleashing their ultimate moves, bombarding Shi Xiaole in his attempt to break out.
Boom, boom, boom...
One shockwave after another, each stronger than the last, erupted, creating deep cracks upon intersection. Shi Xiaole was like a fish swimming through the storm, finding and exploiting gaps, fluidly moving, and with a few flashes, he reached the weakest part of the encirclement.
"Wisdom Heart of Enlightenment, fill my deficiencies."
A chant of Buddhist scripture rose, and in front of Shi Xiaole appeared a gate radiating with Buddhist light. Sword Qi pierced into it, causing the light gate to wobble but not break.
With this obstruction, Shi Xiaole missed an opportunity and had to retreat backward. It wasn’t until then that many martial arts masters reacted, each of them filled with a mix of shock, anger, and faint dread.
If it hadn’t been for Master Wisdom, Shi Xiaole likely would have successfully broken through their siege. If word got out, it would be a humiliating disgrace for everyone involved!
But on the other hand, it also proved the masterful skill in combat and quick reaction of the young man, which had reached a peak rarely seen by others in this world.
"Formless Sword!"
As he retreated to dodge attacks, Shi Xiaole suddenly surged forward, narrowly slipping into a gap left by the residual waves. His timing was so precise that it left many spectators in utter astonishment and with chills running down their spines. With Shi Xiaole launching his sword, a cyan sword light fiercely penetrated the light gate.
Boom...
The light gate shook violently, fractures appeared on its surface, but then quickly vanished as if they had never existed.
"Hahaha, Master Wisdom is truly extraordinary!"
The Six Great Evil Stars from the Nine Lethal Gate laughed heartily.
Master Wisdom, the second-greatest master of the Secret Sect, ranked only below Dezhi Shangshi, held the sixty-first position on the Emperor’s List. Most crucially, he was known for his defense prowess; even the top ten masters ranked above him would struggle to break through his defenses in a short time.
Shi Xiaole? Impossible.
With Master Wisdom holding him back, everyone’s morale surged. They swiftly dispersed into different positions and took turns launching assaults at Shi Xiaole.
Sometimes the Six Great Evil Stars attacked together, other times the three grandmasters combined forces with the two Protectors from Absolute Orchid Valley, or three Heavenly Venerate Envoys coordinated with another three grandmasters, never giving a moment’s respite.
Such a dizzying and relentless attack tightened the spectators’ nerves. The more they watched, the more they were shocked. At this point, not only Kirin’s admirers but even those who had come just for the spectacle felt compelled to admit their respect for Kirin.
It couldn’t be helped, facing a gauntlet of fifteen Emperor’s List martial arts masters, including three ranked well above him, with the rest not as high but each unique in fighting style, they could fight above their rank through combination attacks.
Yet even under such circumstances, Kirin, with a sword alone, never showed signs of weakness—an incredibly impressive feat!
In every generation, there is but one leading genius. He is Shi Xiaole, for comparing the Fiery Flame Child Emperor to him is like comparing the light of a firefly to the glorious moon. How laughable that some still speak of them in the same breath!
"Benefactor should not have overreached. Please stay behind," said Master Wisdom.
Under the old man’s tender and kind gaze, ten light gates emerged in the void, slowly revolving around Shi Xiaole at the center.
Through the ten light gates, Shi Xiaole saw various fates for himself: some successfully escaping, some being intercepted, and some being killed on the spot, even Ling’er was cut in two... Each scenario evoked a familiar feeling, as if he had experienced them before.
"This is Master Wisdom’s ’Gate of Wisdom.’ One who falls into it will have their spirit scattered. With my power, don’t even think of breaking free easily. That young lad is going to suffer a disadvantage," spoke Gao Kun, the second clan leader of the Yiling Clan, transmitting his thoughts telepathically.
Several other masters of the Spiritual Path also looked on with solemn expressions.
For in the realm of the Spiritual Path, Master Wisdom was considered among the top five in the world. Even they would not have a full certainty of breaking the ’Gate of Wisdom’ immediately, more likely to be ensnared themselves. Of course, they could also cause Master Wisdom to stumble, but that would likely result in mutually assured destruction.
Under these circumstances, they couldn’t fathom how Kirin could find a solution.
Indeed, however strong an individual might be, unless they reached a forbidden level, facing fifteen peers from the Emperor’s List would be unlikely to end well.
In the moments of hesitation from Shi Xiaole, the Heavenly Venerate Envoy, ranked sixty-sixth on the Emperor’s List, made his move.
With no intention of mercy, he swung his bifurcated halberd, its gleaming light flashing like a viper’s forked tongue, frenetically targeting Shi Xiaole’s vitals.
Three of the Six Great Evil Stars, the Grand Protector of Absolute Orchid Valley, and two other grandmasters also took advantage of the timing to unleash their killing moves—all focused on Shi Xiaole in a concerted assault.
Some shook their heads in secret, some observed coldly from the sidelines, and a very few drew their blades and swords.
"Spiritual Path martial arts, you think to trap me?"
Shi Xiaole was merely astonished at Master Wisdom’s methods, but to say they could trap him was utterly impossible. Let’s not forget that his spiritual power had actually transcended the Void Origin Realm. Not to mention Master Wisdom, even the Forbidden Martial Emperor would be of no use.
"Extreme Divine Tribulation!"
Since his opponent showed no mercy, Shi Xiaole didn’t either, and ruthlessly activated the strongest technique in the ’Sacred Heart Four Tribulations,’ which was also one of his reserve killing moves.
Boom...
As if struck by a giant hammer, Master Wisdom, who previously looked composed, now wore a face of sheer horror as he staggered back, causing the ten light gates to shatter as well.
Shi Xiaole’s body shot forward first, avoiding the multitude of attacks. He then directed the ’Extreme Divine Tribulation’ at the second Protector of Absolute Orchid Valley blocking his path.
"Splurt..."
With far lesser spiritual prowess than Master Wisdom, the latter spat blood in agony, eyes wide with disbelief at Shi Xiaole.
As the encirclement tore open, Shi Xiaole, without a second word, dashed forward, not looking back as he swung his sword ten times in succession, his fearsome speed forcibly repelling the Six Great Evil Stars.
