Chapter 347: Chapter 346: The Holy Young Master Arrives
Shi Xiaole hadn’t been in a manor for long when the clan members of the Fengyu twin demons came knocking.
"Greetings, Holy Young Master. We should not stay here long. Please follow me."
The man appeared to be a wealthy old man, dressed in official cap, kneeling before Shi Xiaole.
After leaving, the man changed his demeanor, acting arrogantly and authoritatively. He led Shi Xiaole into a carriage and shouted loudly, commanding the caravan to slowly move towards the outskirts of the city.
Shi Xiaole noticed that the cultivations of everyone in the entire caravan were, at the very least, eighth level masters of the Spiritual-Passage Realm. The wealthy old man was a ninth level master of the Spiritual-Passage Realm, and the most intimidating were two people from another carriage who exuded a strength that reached the master-level of the Great Cold State’s Martial World!
Along the way, they were cautious and alert as though facing a great enemy.
On the third day, they were attacked by unidentified people, the leader of whom was a formidable expert of the Martial World level.
When the critical moment came, the two men inside the carriage leaped into action. They exuded a torrential demonic aura and killed the enemy.
The caravan roamed around Great Cold State for more than half a month, during which it was attacked three times, but each time, a new expert emerged and helped the caravan escape danger.
"What a meticulous plan. There are hidden experts lying in ambush at regular intervals. The strength of the Fengyu twinned demons clan far exceeds my imagination."
Shi Xiaole sat in the carriage without any opportunity to act.
In the meantime, he had even seen a friendly expert whose power was not weaker than that of Tidal Waves Sword Marquis appear and kill a ninth level peak expert of the Spiritual-Passage Realm with a single palm.
As the saying goes, ’a glimpse of a leopard through its spot reveals the whole leopard’. He hadn’t yet entered the two clans, but Shi Xiaole’s heart was already filled with utmost caution. On the other hand, it also proved the Fengyu twinned demons clan’s emphasis on him, leaving him unsure whether to rejoice or worry.
"Turn the carriage around. Go."
During the first half of the month, at the command of the wealthy old man, the caravan drove into rough mountain terrain, advancing deeper and deeper, and finally stopping in a very ordinary group of mountains.
"Holy Young Master, please."
Shi Xiaole followed the two demonic-ranked experts from the carriage. The wealthy old man and the others knelt on the ground, respectfully watching them leaving.
They walked for another five days.
Shi Xiaole secretly noted that they had changed a total of seven hundred and twenty-three positions, turned nine hundred and fifty-six corners, and finally, following the Array System, they entered a smoky area that suddenly appeared.
"So cautious!"
Shi Xiaole braced himself. This really was like dancing on the blade of a knife. If he revealed any flaws, he would definitely be left without a burial place.
"Greeting, Holy Young Master!"
In a farm that looked like a paradise, a large crowd of people was kneeling down. An invisible demonic aura hit Shi Xiaole’s face, causing his heart to tremble violently.
So many experts!
A rough scan with his mental power revealed that most of those over the age of fifty were all masters above the eighth level of the Spiritual-Passage Realm. Those around the age of thirty were mostly at the third or fourth level of the Spiritual-Passage Realm.
Shi Xiaole even saw a few young people in the crowd who had reached the Spiritual-Passage Realm.
If such a force emerged, it would be enough to shake the martial arts world of the nearby eight states.
"Everyone, please rise."
Shi Xiaole immediately went to help the two elderly men kneeling at the front, his expression filled with respect and emotion.
From the fragment memories of the Black Devil, he knew that the Lan and Huang families have always been loyal retainers to the Black Devil. Their manner of speech resembled a monarch addressing a subject.
"Holy Young Master, your old subjects have finally waited for you to come."
The two elderly men were trembling, with tears streaming down their faces.
However, Shi Xiaole would not be deceived by their weak appearances. The powerful aura inside the two was best described as turbulent demonic flames, their strength was terrifyingly immense.
Just by looking at the current heads of the Lan and Huang families, Lan Ye and Huang Huan, it was clear that these two elders must be the previous heads of the Lan and Huang families and thus the fathers of Lan Ye and Huang Huan.
"The Lan and Huang families have been loyal to my Zhong family since ancient times. My father has often told me not to forget the great righteousness of your two families. Elder Prime Ministers, you have worked hard!"
Shi Xiaole’s eyes were moist. Seeing the people who were kneeling all over the ground, he said, "Everyone, please rise."
Everyone stood up.
Most people were meeting the legendary Holy Young Master for the first time, naturally, they couldn’t help but secretly size him up. Shi Xiaole easily noticed that apart from a few people, most of them kept a calm face.
This made him smile wryly.
No matter how loyal the Lan and Huang families were, they ultimately had been separated for nearly six hundred years. Although they were taught to be loyal to the Holy Young Master as soon as they were born, Shi Xiaole believed that if he couldn’t demonstrate a capability that could win them over, there might be changes in the future.
"So this is the Holy Young Master. He doesn’t seem that impressive."
In the crowd, a young woman with wheat-colored skin secretly pursed her lips, whispering to a few other young people.
"Zizhi, you must not discuss the Holy Young Master privately."
Another more mature youth immediately scolded her.
"I think Zizhi’s right."
The third young man with a long face snickered.
Shi Xiaole had shown great prowess in the Black Devil Peak, once causing a sensation in the Martial World.
But the Fengyu twin demons clan was different from the others. They knew Shi Xiaole’s identity and naturally assumed he could, to a certain extent, reduce the influence of the demonic aura on him.
In other words, Shi Xiaole being able to contend with masters of the Martial World in the demonic aura does not mean his actual strength matches those masters, but merely that he took advantage of the demonic aura.
As for the one-vs-nine in Mount Dabie, though it amazed the Martial World, its value definitely falls short in comparison to fighting against a master of the Martial World.
So in the eyes of several geniuses of the Fengyu Clan, while Holy Young Master was innately promising, he was not out of reach and there was no need for excessive reverence.
Shi Xiaole followed Lan Tian and Huang Rong into the main hall. Although the two elders wanted him to take the seat at the top, he insistedly declined. After pushing back for a while, he finally sat down ’reluctantly’.
Such humility satisfied Lan and Huang greatly.
Indeed, if Shi Xiaole had acted arrogantly, they would still choose to be loyal to him, but they might feel that he is not mature enough to command respect.
It should be known, the reason why Black Devil Divine Monarch ruled the Martial World of the eight states on the Devil’s Path wasn’t just due to his power alone.
Those qualified to enter the main hall were the elites of both clans.
Shi Xiaole was fortunate that he received pieces of the Black Devil Divine Monarch’s memory. He intentionally spoke about some secretive and emotive incidents, causing those in the know to gradually show an understanding.
Shi Xiaole spoke with finesse, his words were succinct yet incisive. He casually conversed with everyone without giving off a feeling of deliberate modesty, leading many to nod in agreement.
This process also allowed Shi Xiaole to learn a lot of things.
For instance, this place was the retreat of the Rain Demon clan, as well as the most important place for the two major clans.
Every ten years, the two clans would select a group of elites from each generation to focus on martial arts cultivation here. The rest would be secretly sent into the Martial World, responsible for collecting information and controlling the dynamics of the Martial World.
This also explained why the few thousand people in this place were all the most outstanding individuals of the same age group.
After talking earnestly for a while, a strange light flashed in Lan Tian’s eyes, and he suddenly said: "I wonder where the Holy Young Master went in the past year or so, it has caused us old men to worry a lot."
"After being chosen by the Sky Edge Pavilion, I was secretly sent to a place to practice martial arts and wasn’t allowed to leave until recently."
Said Shi Xiaole.
Lan Tian stroked his white beard, nodding his head. It was unclear whether he believed it or not. Changing the subject, he continued: "We are curious about how the Holy Young Master lived during these years. Us old men would also like to meet the previous Holy Young Master. With father and son leading us, we are certain to bring back the past glory."
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh.
All eyes turned toward Shi Xiaole.
Shi Xiaole knew that the real test had arrived.
The biggest flaw in his borrowed identity as Xie Xiaofeng was that his past was a complete blank slate, impossible to investigate. He couldn’t hope to fool the smart crowd there with ordinary excuses.
If he didn’t pass this test, it was unlikely he would be executed immediately, but it would be difficult to win over their hearts.
Shi Xiaole let out a long sigh, saying: "Old Prime Minister Blue might not know about it, there was a secret river passage after the Red Manor. The passage led directly to the sea. The son of the Divine Monarch led his family and crossed the sea to Fusang. That was how they escaped a disaster. I was raised in Fusang since childhood."
Many people looked confused because they had never heard about the Red Manor.
However, Lan Tian and the others were trembling.
"So that’s how it is, no wonder we felt like the Holy Young Master suddenly appeared out of nowhere."
For certain reasons back then, the Black Devil Divine Monarch was cornered, so the Twin Demons of the Fengyu Clan ordered people to blockade that secret river passage and recorded it in the clan’s secret chronicles.
Lan Tian and the others were unaware of the reason and had always been wondering.
Hearing Shi Xiaole mentioning it, everything suddenly clicked — their ancestors had blocked the river passage in order to cut off the Divine Monarch’s family’s line of retreat to avoid being pursued. As a result, they felt even more convinced by Shi Xiaole’s words.
"My father is extraordinarily talented, and he’s currently in seclusion in Fusang to breakthrough to the nineteenth layer, the Heaven-devouring Earthly Realm. That’s why he had me come here first."
Following the principle of making shocking statements, Shi Xiaole released another astonishing piece of news.
Huang Rong’s eyes widened in shock, exclaiming: "What, the nineteenth layer?!"
They no longer had any doubts about Shi Xiaole.
Because only the living old head of the Fengyu Clan knew about this. Even Lan Ye and Huang Huan were not aware that the Heaven-devouring Demon Skill wasn’t eighteen layers, as everyone thought, but essentially nineteen layers!
"Back then the time was too short, even the Divine Monarch didn’t have time to master the nineteenth layer. The previous Holy Young Master truly has extraordinary talent. By the way, Holy Young Master, have you also practiced the Heaven-devouring Demon Skill to perfection? Even the Heaven’s Mandate Compass cannot sense your bloodline."
Huang Rong seemed to ask casually.
Shi Xiaole gave a slight smile and withdrew the Brahma-I Unity power which had been coverting the blood essence of the Black Devil, at the same time activating the Demon Jade Hand technique he learned from Sky Edge Pavilion. A strong demonic aura suddenly erupted from his body.
The aura belonged to the third level of the Spiritual-Passage Realm.
The reason he went from the sixth level of Spiritual-Passage Realm back to the third level, is because of the uniqueness of Heaven-devouring Demon Skill. It would devour one’s own power and cause one’s cultivation base and actual strength to regress upon reaching from perfect mastery to the peak.
Instantly, the compass needle at the side of the main hall began spinning rapidly and eventually pointing in the direction of Shi Xiaole.
"The Holy Young Master is indeed admirable!"
People rejoiced.
Even Lan Tian, who had doubts initially, discarded them at this moment, filled only with infinite joy and enthusiasm.
Since he could withstand the quintessence of the Devil Path and initiate the Heaven’s Mandate Compass, this fully proved his bloodline. If we step back and think about it again, if there is still any doubt, then knowing so many secrets that outsiders can never know of indirectly proves his identity.
Taking both aspects into consideration, there was absolutely no doubt about the identity of the Holy Young Master in front of them!
Shi Xiaole re-wrapped the blood essence with the Brahma-I Unity power, pretending to be finishing his technique. He thought to himself that he couldn’t just let them test him. He had to press down on their arrogance as well to prevent them from taking the initiative.
He then put on a serious face and said: "The reason I came this time was to see how many experts the Fengyu and Rain Demon clans have cultivated over the years, their quality, and whether they can shoulder heavy responsibilities. How about you two elders tell me about it."
Lan Tian and Huang Rong were taken aback, both thinking to themselves that the test from the Holy Young Master had come.
Lan Tian said: "In my humble opinion, the masters of our Lan and Huang clans are not inferior to any top power in the Great Cold State, regardless of their stage."
The people in the main hall were quietly proud upon hearing this. In terms of strength, they truly had the rightful capital to be proud.
"Oh? All talk and no action is not real kung fu. How about this, find someone under the age of thirty. If they can withstand three of my moves, I will admit you have skill."
Said Shi Xiaole leisurely.
