Chapter 308: Chapter 307: Ruthless Resolution
The area of the sixth level was half that of the fifth, and the top was surprisingly designed in a polygonal pattern, creating distinctly separated tiny spaces.
Without hurrying to move forward, Shi Xiaole waited patiently.
In rhythm with his heartbeat, a roll of parchment fluttered down, quickly grabbed by him. He unrolled it and, indeed, it perfectly continued the content of the previous parchment.
When compared side by side, Shi Xiaole confirmed that he now possessed a complete method for casting lower-tier spiritual weapons!
Without taking a close look, he stowed the two parchment rolls away and stepped into the small divided space.
Almost instantly, nine Sword Qi rushed at him from all directions. Each attack was as powerful as the full strike of a swordsman at the peak of the ninth layer of the Xuanqi Realm.
With the help of the Death Claiming Fourteen Swords, Shi Xiaole broke through the Sword Qi and quickly darted into the second small space, where the Sword Qi totalled to eighteen.
In the third narrow space, the Sword Qi reached a whopping thirty-six attacks. After only one move, Shi Xiaole was pierced through and his consciousness fell into darkness.
When he woke up again, he was back on the first floor of the Silver Bull Horn.
"To pass the sixth level, either my Sword Heart Realm would have to reach a higher level or my comprehension would have to improve significantly. Regrettably, neither can be improved in a short amount of time."
Recalling the scene just before, even Shi Xiaole could not help but be shocked. If he remembered correctly, there were a total of five narrow spaces. Did that mean he would have to endure as many as 144 Sword Qi attacks simultaneously?
In the premise of crossing over five realms, this difficulty was almost inhuman and simply shivered one’s scalp just thinking about it.
After glancing back at the entrance to the first level, Shi Xiaole suppressed his tumultuous spirit and left the Silver Bull Horn.
Swish, swish, swish.
Countless gazes, like searchlights in the darkness, turned to Shi Xiaole. There were those who were astonished, those who admired, and those who were envious.
"How is it him?"
Next to Zhang Silou, all the females of the Piaomiao Sect were dumbfounded.
Especially the Senior Sister. She was embarrassingly stunned. She had previously mocked Shi Xiaole, saying he was nothing compared to Divine Wind Young Master.
Now, truth was laid bare - a resounding slap to her face.
"Congratulations, Brother, for completing the miracle unseen for a thousand years in our Great Cold State. May we know your name?"
Someone rushed ahead and asked with his fists folded.
Seeing this, Shi Xiaole figured that his climbing of the tower had resulted in a response from the Silver Bull Horn. He couldn’t help but smile wryly and said, "You’re too kind, my name is Shi Xiaole."
Shi Xiaole? Picking up some small joys every day?
This was a simple and unique name, but the manner it was read added flavor. It was a good name.
"From this day forth, Brother Shi will become a name known throughout the Great Cold State. May I ask, where is your hometown?"
People were too curious about Shi Xiaole.
A common man would seem mysterious once placed under a certain light, let alone the sudden emergence of Shi Xiaole.
While the three geniuses were still struggling to climb the fifth level, he quietly reached the sixth - with qualifications that were simply unheard of.
"I’m from Qingxue State."
Shi Xiaole didn’t hide anything. Hiding would be useless, as it would be found out sooner or later.
"Qingxue State?"
Quite a few faces looked at each other, thinking they had misheard. The Qingxue State - where one could make it to the Feng dust list with just fifth-tier Spiritual-Passage realm cultivation?
"Gentlemen, I’m rather tired, if you’ll excuse me."
Not wanting to be treated as a spectacle, Shi Xiaole excused himself and prepared to leave.
"Wait a minute, Brother Shi!"
A voice rang out from the crowd, saying, "Don’t rush, Brother Shi. There is a rumor in the martial world that whoever can climb to the fifth level of the Silver Bull Horn will receive a reward. Brother Shi, did you receive something?"
As soon as these words came out, many still in shock awoke and looked strangely at Shi Xiaole.
Shi Xiaole’s heart tightened.
The person bellying sound was purposefully hiding in the crowd, making it hard to find out who it was. But who was Shi Xiaole? He followed the sound with his spirit and easily found the source.
It was a young man with a casually tied ponytail, wearing plain clothes, and looking unruly. He had an air of intrepid righteousness about him, but there was a cold smile on his face that completely contradicted it.
Shi Xiaole was undoubtedly caught in a dilemma.
No crime can stand before wealth.
If he said he had found nothing, who would believe him? It would instead attract more people’s curiosity.
If, in order to avoid trouble, he revealed everything, no one would believe him. They would only think he was trying to confuse them. After all, who would willingly present valuable items if they indeed had something good?
Unless he revealed the method for casting lower-tier spiritual weapons. However, Shi Xiaole couldn’t possibly reveal it as it would cause catastrophic events.
The young man with the ponytail clearly had hidden motives.
"Brother Shi, don’t take it to heart, it’s just an old saying in the martial world. It has been passed down for a thousand years, perhaps it’s just a joke. I merely mentioned it in passing."
The young man with the ponytail used a weird martial art. Although he was talking, his lips did not move, and the sound seemed to come from the opposite direction. Many people tried secretly to see who he was, but they all drew a blank.
Had it not been for Shi Xiaole’s spirit being stronger than ordinary Spiritual-Passage Realm experts, he would have been fooled.
Coldness rose in Shi Xiaole’s heart.
This man casually mentioned the ’ancient saying’ and how it had been passed down for a thousand years. He was reminding everyone else in hidden words, which made it extremely credible!
Sure enough, suspicious glints began to appear in many people’s eyes.
"Why hide yourself, Young man? If you have something to say, say it."
Shi Xiaole said.
"There’s no need. You, Brother Shi, are extraordinarily talented, while I am just an ordinary man. I dare not sully your presence."
He’s really asking for trouble now.
A young man with a ponytail sneered at Shi Xiaole. He hated those who were always at the center of everyone’s attention, those who absorbed all the glory, reducing others to mere backdrop.
Shi, you think you’re so capable, huh? Heh, with just a single comment, I can put you in the middle of a raging storm, we’ll see how long you can keep your smug face then.
"Would Brother mind showing himself, it’s time to meet everyone."
With a flash of movement, before anyone could react, Shi Xiaole had reached the young man with the ponytail and reached out grab him.
"Vertical Monkey Step!"
The youth with the ponytail was terrified. Without any time to think about how Shi Xiaole had found him, his body arched in a bizarre position and shot sideways.
Boosted by the internal power of the Xuan Qi realm, he burst out with full force. It shaked off Shi Xiaole’s grip, he heaved a sigh of relief, and shouted loudly, "Could it be that my words hit home..."
Before he could finish speaking, Shi Xiaole pointed with two fingers.
With two soft thumps, the ponytailed young man’s words were cut off abruptly, his body fell from mid-air, and was caught by Shi Xiaole, like a dog being picked up.
"That’s better. Brother, why were you running just now?"
Shi Xiaole said, unperturbed.
The young man with the ponytail was horrified.
Knowing that Shi Xiaole had reached the sixth level, it was clear that his fighting power was extraordinary, but to not even last two moves against him was a deep blow.
The people around also changed their expressions.
Some people recognized that the young man with the ponytail was Xu Shengquan, known as ’Haoyang Swordsman’. He had reportedly killed a Xuan Qi ninth tier beginner, his strength was quite impressive.
"You, let me go!"
With his acupoints sealed and being held in a humiliating pose, Xu Shengquan’s face reddened as he yelled.
"Brother Shi, Brother Xu tends to overstep with his words, but he means no harm. All of us are from the righteous path, why not let him go first."
Someone stepped forward to plead for him, who happened to be a friend of Xu Shengquan.
"Yes, Brother Shi, let’s calmly talk this out."
"Don’t spoil the mood."
Other people began to voice their thoughts as well.
None of the people present were fools, and Xu Shengquan’s motive to stir up trouble was clear. However, it cannot be denied that even if Xu Shengquan hadn’t raised doubts now, sooner or later, someone would still suspect Shi Xiaole of having gained rewards.
It was a matter of sooner or later.
Of course, Shi Xiaole understood that. But if someone harmed him intentionally, could he just ignore it?
"Brother Shi, I apologize for my inappropriate words earlier, I hope you won’t mind."
Seeing many people interceding for him, Xu Shengquan regained his composure. He believed that Shi Xiaole would not dare to do anything to him in front of everyone. However, he still needed to show the necessary attitude, a way to save face.
However, he would remember today’s humiliation, and would make sure to return it tenfold to Shi Xiaole when the opportunity arises!
Xu Shengquan thought maliciously.
Crack!
A crisp sound that silenced everyone.
"Uh, uh..."
Xu Shengquan’s face turned pale, a severe pain spreading from his neck which made him realize something. His eyes widened, for the first time in his heart, an overwhelming regret surfaced.
"You wanted to ruin me, and you thought an apology for inappropriate words would suffice?"
As Shi Xiaole released his grip, Xu Shengquan fell to the ground, panting heavily, then slowly ceased making sounds.
Shi Xiaole was not a bloodthirsty person.
If someone offended him unintentionally, he would choose to forgive. But if someone harbored malicious intent and tried to harm him, he would retaliate with thunderous fury, without a word of mercy.
"You..."
Everyone was shocked by Shi Xiaole’s ruthless and decisive actions.
Is this the righteousness of the martial world, shouldn’t you generously forgive and let go of the past, offering a chance for repentance?
From his appearance, temperament, and the heroic deed he just accomplished, Shi Xiaole perfectly fit the image of the ideal young hero of the martial world.
Many of the girls were already smitten.
But just now, he shattered all the positive impressions of him.
"Brother Shi, was that not a bit too excessive? After all, it was a life!"
Xu Shengquan’s friend screamed at him.
"I don’t have the habit of sparing enemies and giving them a second chance to harm me."
Shi Xiaole’s words left the other party speechless, all the words choked in his throat.
Many people were moved by his words.
They had experienced being harmed more than once by the same person. But isn’t righteousness all about granting reprieve when one can, to give the opponent a chance to repent?
Ignoring everyone, Shi Xiaole turned and left, and this time no one dared to stop him.
As for the martial arts masters stationed in White Mountain City, how many formidable ones would actually have time to watch a Xuanqi realm youngster fight the silver bullhorned demon?,
Even if there were any, they wouldn’t dare to make a move. In full view of the public, even if they seized the objects, they would still become a public enemy. It would be better to wait until Shi Xiaole was alone and then take him down.
However, what dumbfounded the masters following Shi Xiaole back to White Mountain City was that they actually lost track of Shi Xiaole.
