Chapter 279: Chapter 278: Harmony between Heaven and Earth
The power of high masters in the Spiritual-Passage Realm is beyond the imagination of martial artists in the Xuanqi Realm. This power isn’t only reflected in internal power but also on the level of intent.
Those who could become high masters in the Spiritual-Passage Realm are all individuals with exceptional talent. After years of comprehension, their intent-focusing skills are at least 50%, most exceed 60%, which are considered as uniquely accomplished.
There are even those who have accomplished in several level of intents and combining these intents with advanced martial arts; their strength can be described as unimaginable.
With three high masters in the Spiritual-Passage Realm attacking together, to everyone else, Shi Xiaole was undoubtedly doomed.
As the violent aura hit head-on, Shi Xiaole, instead of panicking like everyone expected, instantly pressed the cylinder that he had prepared beforehand, and with the sound of piercing, a needle rain erupted.
Storm Pear Blossom Needles.
"Would it work?"
The high master from the Guan Family waved his hand, his internal power disintegrating the needles, immediately sweeping a large area clear. The other two also charged forward and released their internal power like solid rods, brutally jabbing at Shi Xiaole.
Pu,pu.
The ground was pierced through. Shi Xiaole narrowly dodged, feeling a sense of shock inside. This was just the aura radiated by the high masters of the Spiritual-Passage Realm, and it had nearly injured him.
Compared to a high master in the Spiritual-Passage Realm, his cultivation level was still too low, completely not on the same level.
"You both, hand this kid over to my Guan Family, and you will be considered friends of my Guan Family in the future."
The high master from the Guan Family, a loose-haired man, said.
The other two, faces covered, did not say a word and directly attacked Shi Xiaole.
"Soul-Breaking Finger!"
The loose-haired man turned cold, pointing out his two index fingers at the same time, two bamboo-like points of light simultaneously attacked the other two.
As three high masters in the Spiritual-Passage Realm began fighting, the scene became chaotic. Being enveloped in the aura, Shi Xiaole constantly shifted left and right, like a little boat in a storm, in danger of capsizing at any moment.
"Annihilation of All Spirits!"
At a certain moment, the loose-haired man from the Guan Family grinned and performed his long-prepared kill move. Chaotic finger beams burst out with no hint of trajectory, each beam powerful enough to kill a top-ranked martial artist in the Xuanqi Realm.
The other two high masters in the Spiritual-Passage Realm, after all, were independent cultivators, their martial arts were not as exquisite as the Guan Family’s high master’s, they immediately retreated.
In the splattering blood, Shi Xiaole’s shoulder was pierced. Had it not been for his reflexes, his heart and forehead would have been shattered.
"Come here."
The loose-haired man, as if he had anticipated this, sidestepped and with a sinister smile, reached out his palm to grab Shi Xiaole’s head.
As for the current situation, Shi Xiaole didn’t regret it because even if he were submissive, the other party would still find any reason to take action against him. When people want to enact blame, they never lack for excuses.
Moreover, as a swordsman, he would never beg for mercy.
As for death, he never even thought about it.
No one would believe it if he said so, but the reason he just got injured was simply to feel the attack of a high master in the Spiritual-Passage Realm and to know the gap between them.
Seeing the loose-haired man’s palm descend, Shi Xiaole, with a thought, turned his hand and took out the iron plate from the system space, blocking himself with his internal power.
The next moment, a yellow glow rose from the small holes on the surface of the iron plate, which enveloped an area of 50 square feet around it.
"What the hell is this?"
The loose-haired man from the Guan Family was horrified to find that under the illumination of the glow, the life acupoints, exclusive to Spiritual-Passage Realm, were strangely blocked by some power. His realm fell rapidly and dropped to the same level as Shi Xiaole, the Third level of Xuanqi Realm.
The power of his palm was greatly reduced and was easily dodged by Shi Xiaole.
"Is this what you got from the stone chamber, the inheritance of the Sword Marquis really was stolen by this little thief."
The loose-haired man’s face showed a hint of greed and his shout attracted many peoples’ attention.
Shi Xiaole laughed, the laughter cold.
"This is... Heaven and Earth Harmony Array Plate?!"
A high master in the Array System noticed this place, stared at the iron plate in Shi Xiaole’s left hand for a while, and his face turned pale.
As the name suggests, Array Plate is a carrier that condenses the Array System, equivalent to carrying Array System with you, which is very convenient to use. However, more than half of the method to manufacture the Array Plate had been destroyed in the major conflict between the righteous and demonic cultivators.
Rarely seen in the world today.
The Heaven and Earth Harmony Array Plate is extremely rare among the Array Plates. Once the internal power is inputted, the Array Plate will burst out with a strange aura. No matter who comes close to a certain range, their realms will become the same as the user’s.
"Could it be that the one who broke into the seventh stone chamber was really him?"
Many people looked complicatedly, firmly believing that the Heaven and Earth Harmony Array Plate was what Shi Xiaole had brought out from the seventh stone chamber.
Swoosh.
Sensing danger, the loose-haired guy retreated swiftly while secretly activating his internal power, preparing to kill Shi Xiaole once he got out of the yellow glow.
However—
No matter how fast the loose-haired guy was, how could he be faster than Shi Xiaole? Both having the same Xuanqi Power, but with the 45% increment from Shi Xiaole’s Wind Intent Realm, his speed immediately increased to an extent that other martial artists at the same level could not attain.
While his body was moving, Shi Xiaole slashed forward with his sword.
"Annihilation of All Spirits!"
The loose-haired man quickly moved both hands. However, his proud finger beams were so fragile under Shi Xiaole’s Qingyang Sword Qi that they instantly vanished like a turbulent stream.
With a splash, a piece of flesh flew up.
The loose-haired man screamed and howled angrily with red eyes, "You little thief, you dare to hurt me!"
"Not only do I want to hurt you, but I also want to kill you."
Executing the Bird Crossing Skill, Shi Xiaole stabbed forward with his sword. There were crackling sparks everywhere, just like when a meteor streaks across the night sky and brushes out brilliance.
The speed of the Meteor from the Sky was too fast, especially when used by a person as talented as Shi Xiaole. It constantly aimed at the loose-haired man’s flaws, regardless of how he sidestepped, he still couldn’t escape the sword’s sharp edge.
"I can’t possibly lose to you, Extinguishing Palm!"
Blood flowed out of the man with disheveled hair like an unchecked fountain. Seething with madness, his injury worsened, his right palm extended and drew up a pitch-black storm.
The realm he comprehended was the rare one of dark intent. This realm did not increase attack power, but it could bewilder the enemy.
Especially since he was a master in the Spiritual-Passage Realm, he had long comprehended it to the level of grand completion, which could even bewilder the opponent’s mind. Combined with the second-rate high-quality extinct palm, it was infinitely powerful.
Facing this palm attack, more than ninety percent of martial artists would be defeated. After all, the disheveled man only had his cultivation suppressed, his comprehension of intent and martial arts theory were still at the Spiritual-Passage Realm level.
However, all this fell into Shi Xiaole’s gaze and failed even to stir his emotions. Without stopping, he swung his long sword to the left and right.
Under the support of ninety percent Sword Heart, intersecting Qingyang sword Qi cuts off the storm of palm power like steel prongs. The momentum was unstoppable, and it directly hacked off the right hand of the disheveled man.
The latter screamed ceaselessly and turned to escape.
Shi Xiaole raised his third sword high.
"Stop, you brat, or my Guan Family will pledge enmity with you!"
Frightened and furious upon witnessing this scene, Old Master Guan could almost burst a blood vessel.
A master in the Spiritual-Passage Realm was a pillar to every pinnacle force. Because only one in ten thousand could advance to this realm, each one was an extraordinary talent. Additionally, Spiritual-Passage Realm masters had lifespans far exceeding ordinary people, reaching an incredible 200 years. They provided long-term assistance to one’s force.
Over the years, the Guan Family had only accumulated several dozen Spiritual-Passage Realm masters. Losing even one was hard to bear. If they lost too many, even the Guan family would be crippled.
Old Master Guan’s anger had another cause.
He always believed that the Guan family had the situation under control, Shi Xiaole was merely a fish on the chopping block, to be manipulated at will. Yet, who could expect that the latter had the Heaven and Earth Harmony Array Plate, waiting here all along?
Before Old Master Guan could finish his words, Shi Xiaole’s sword had already been slashed. The pure blue sword Qi brushed past the empty space and flickered across the disheveled man’s body.
The disheveled man was still in a forward rush, even escaping the range of the three-yard light. Suddenly, his body split in two, collapsing separately on either side.
This scene made many people’s hearts skip a beat.
In the Martial World of Qingxue State, masters in the Spiritual-Passage Realm were held in the highest regard; they were revered anywhere they went. Even the top forces would treat individuals of this level with the utmost respect, regarded as honored guests.
Yet, right under their eyelids, a Spiritual-Passage Realm master was cleaved in half!
"You brat. Heaven and earth alike, I promise my Guan family will certainly kill you."
The murderous voice of Old Master Guan filled all directions.
Shi Xiaole was indifferent.
What a joke! If he didn’t strike today, would these people let him go? Since it was destined to be a fight to death, well, he might as well kill decisively.
With the array plate in his left hand, Shi Xiaole raised his eyes, first looking at the two Spiritual-Passage Realm masters who had previously attacked him.
Wham-wham.
Their hearts tightened; they attacked from six yards away. The immense internal power, however, was blocked by the light emitted from the array plate.
Upon channeling internal power into the plate, the light expanded from three yards to six yards, Shi Xiaole then counterattacked.
"Not good!"
"Dodge it quick!"
The two of them felt their realm plummeting. As they simultaneously made their moves and retreated quickly, they could not escape the lock of the sword Qi.
With one move of the Fire Scale Eclipse, the sword Qi intertwined in a web-like pattern, trapping and continuously pounding the two like a meat grinder. By the time the sword Qi dissipated, the two masters of the Spiritual-Passage Realm were reduced to a bloody pulp, dead beyond doubt.
Hiss!
Everyone sucked in a cold breath, including the young man in a wooden crown and the old man in black clothes, whose whole bodies turned cold.
Those were masters in the Spiritual-Passage Realm. When they were young, each was a prodigy among a million, but the two of them were dealt with by one strike. Just how strong was Shi Xiaole?
Before the crowd’s awe had subsided, they saw Shi Xiaole activate his flying skill and voluntarily rush to the battlefield where the Guan Family and Bali Family resided.
"What does he want to do, could it be..."
Everyone was taken aback, their blood froze.
As soon as he stepped onto the battlefield, Shi Xiaole immediately aimed at a Spiritual-Passage Realm master of the Guan family. The brilliant and glaring sword Qi struck the latter, causing him to vomit blood. At the last critical moment, the leader of the Asura Mansion took action and saved the former’s life.
"Shi Xiaole, what do you want?"
The head of the Asura Mansion demanded.
"To kill."
Shi Xiaole calmly replied. As he spoke, he raised his power to the limit. The light emitted from the array plate covered a radius of ten yards, encompassing everyone in the vicinity.
"You..."
"Such an arrogant brat!"
What does this mean, is he preparing to challenge dozens of Spiritual-Passage Realm masters single-handedly? Everyone was stunned, followed by overwhelming fury.
"You should know, doing this means becoming enemies with the entire martial world of Qingxue State! Withdraw now while it’s still possible, or else..."
The leader of the Asura Mansion squashed down his anger, narrowing his eyes.
At his signal, the masters of the Spiritual-Passage Realm from forces such as the Asura Mansion, Twin Absolute Palace, Bali Family, and Spring Garden all gathered together.
And the masters of the Floating Rain Pavilion, Snow Listening Mountain Villa, Xu Family and other forces also stopped. They loathed the attitude of the bigger forces, but they didn’t offer Shi Xiaole assistance against everyone either.
"Shi the Dog, you have such a murderous heart, you will be a disaster to the martial arts world in the future. Today, sparing you is not an option!"
The masters of the Spiritual-Passage Realm from the Guan Family and Green Willow Villa sneered.
If it were one or two, they would simply turn and run. But the scene was filled with dozens of Spiritual-Passage Realm masters, each of whom were once outstanding figures in the martial world.
The significant factor was that no one knew that the Asura Mansion, Twin Absolute Palace, Bali Family, and Spring Garden had secretly trained a combined attack array system, which could double each person’s strength. Once the array was formed, it could multiply the power by another four times. Under such circumstances, dealing with Shi Xiaole would be more than enough.
They could only blame it on the latter being overly outrageous—if he had reduced the light from the array plate and dealt with them individually, they really would have been helpless against him.
