Chapter 519: Chapter 518: Trial Recruitment
The visitor was tall, standing about nine feet high, wearing a long silver-gray shirt, his snow-white hair carefully combed back to expose a gloomy face dotted with brown spots.
It was the Suzerain of the Three Nights Sect, the Three Nights Ancestor.
After scanning the surroundings, the face of the Three Nights Ancestor became even uglier.
Two of the three protectors were dead, along with twenty-one of the twenty-eight Dragon Gate Realm eightfold experts. In a single day, over half of the Three Nights Sect elites were gone.
The Devil Path is different from the Righteous Path. Unless there are subordinate relationships, killings often occur between them, the strong devouring the weak, continually growing stronger through killing.
Because they believe, the world is cruel, only those who have walked through mountains of corpses and seas of blood can become true powerhouses. This logic is very similar to the breeding of Gu (venomous insects).
The Three Nights Sect was only a quasi-first-rate power in Xuanwu State, often clashing with other Devil Path forces of the same level. If their elites lost over half of their strength, how could they fight with others?
Thoughts like this filled the Three Nights Ancestor’s mind, stirring up the murderous intent in his face as he roared, "Old man will butcher you!" He raised his hands high and struck down hard towards Shi Xiaole.
Shi Xiaole dodged to the side, and immediately a huge slash mark of a hundred meters long appeared on the square. Countless broken stones were thrown up, swallowed and ground to dust by the bright and white rebounding sword aura.
The might of a single slash was incredibly powerful.
"The Ancestor is mighty!"
"Please, Ancestor, do not hesitate to take action, kill this thief!"
The disciples and powerhouses of the Three Nights Sect were overjoyed.
Many people were witnessing the Three Nights Ancestor’s sword technique for the first time, feeling that he was invincible, with a momentum far superior to Shi Xiaole’s.
The surviving Right Protector was hiding far away, secretly deciding to assist the Ancestor from the side, ready to take action to stop Shi Xiaole immediately if he showed signs of escape.
"His Vigorous Air level slightly exceeds mine."
Landing lightly on the ground, Shi Xiaole looked forward.
The peak of the ninth level of the Dragon Gate Realm, is much different from the Spiritual-Passage Realm, and even the peak of the ninth level of the Xuanqi realm. Only perfecting a low-grade first-class internal power cultivation may reach this state.
It was rumored that in ancient times, the Dragon Gate Realm had ten levels. This tenth level was now the peak of the ninth level of the Dragon Gate Realm.
So, while the cultivation level of the Three Nights Ancestor was only slightly higher than that of the three protectors, his real strength was far superior.
While pondering, the magnificent sword aura came again. This time, instead of dodging, Shi Xiaole chose to resist head on.
Clang!
The terrible shockwaves passed down the blade onto Shi Xiaole, numbing his arm, causing him to retreat twenty meters, while the Three Nights Ancestor merely shuddered slightly.
"I’ll kill you slowly to show you the consequences of offending the Three Nights Sect."
A layer of icy aura centered around the Three Nights Ancestor, swiftly spreading, making it snow in mid-air. In the blink of an eye, the square was covered in a white layer.
The disciples of the Three Nights Sect gasped. Some who couldn’t retreat in time were forced to circulate their power to hardly break the frost off their limbs.
"Night Light Great Cold Slash!"
His eyes seemingly emitting cold air too, the Three Nights Ancestor made a swing with his sword, a massive black sword light turned into a beam under the blessing of 50% true ice intent. Wherever it reached, frost formed, even the air was filled with ice. The sunlight refracted off, creating a dazzling light that was impossible to look at directly.
The lower half of the black sword light suddenly collapsed, a swords’ tip was stuck in there.
Relying on Yi Sword Skill, Shi Xiaole had hit the weak point of the technique. However, under this strike, the upper part of the black sword light condensed even further, and slammed down.
Clang, clang, clang.
Swift as the wind, Shi Xiaole waved his sword thirteen times, the first nine strokes smashed the black sword light, and the last four strokes attacked the Three Nights Ancestor from different angles.
All this might seem long when narrated, but it all happened in an instant.
Clang, clang, clang, clang.
This time it was the Three Nights Ancestor who was forced to retreat, even bleeding slightly from the tiger’s mouth (part of the hand).
Despite his stronger attack, he couldn’t match up with Shi Xiaole’s speed. For every one sword strike he made, Shi Xiaole could make four stabs.
"Scoundrel!"
Feeling great shame, the Three Nights Ancestor retreated rapidly, widening the distance between them. To deal with this speed-type expert, he must have enough space to utilise his absolute killing move.
As he retreated, the Three Nights Ancestor was secretly accumulating power, he made a swing with his sword, dragging out a long tail from the blade.
The moment the sword tail appeared, the entire square suddenly darkened. Snow seeds floated down from within, causing the entire void to seem like it is freezing. The air even stopped flowing.
Three Nights Sword Technique first form—Three Nights Cold Sky.
Endless cold energy surged, and without frowning, Shi Xiaole swiftly waved his right hand. The speed was so fast that there were vertical or horizontal arms and sword shadows.
These arms and sword shadows likewise dragged out rolls of sword Qi. All of them combined into a pattern, and suddenly printed on the black night.
Crack!
An astonishing thing occurred for everyone in the Three Nights Sect.
The invincible Three Nights Sword Technique by the Three Nights Ancestor suddenly shattered, many sword Qis rushed out from the cleavage gaps of the sword Qi patterns. Not only did they fail to harm Shi Xiaole, but they turned many disciples of the Three Nights Sect nearby into frozen statues.
In martial arts, speed is invincible.
This saying did have some truth to it. At least Shi Xiaole, with his unimaginable speed, managed to break the Ancestor’s killing move.
Surprisingly, the Three Nights Ancestor didn’t get angry. Seeing someone nodding in the distance, he sneered, "Kid, do you think you have won? Earlier, I was merely feigning weakness to deceive the enemy."
Just as the words fell, a white light curtain thirty feet in diameter suddenly surged up from the bottom of the square, enveloping the Three Nights Ancestor and Shi Xiaole.
The sudden appearance of Shi Xiaole in the Three Nights Sect made the Three Nights Ancestor suspect that the latter had mastered the method to break through the Array System. Thus, he dared not reveal his true strength for fear that he would be unable to detain Shi Xiaole and that his secrets would be revealed.
Now, the Array System in the square was more sophisticated than the Sect Protection Array. It was secretly arranged by him more than a hundred years ago, and without the power of a top-level Lord, it was impossible to break.
"Lie down for me, Three Nights Great Cold!"
With the same first move of the Three Nights Sword Technique, this time as the sword swung, not only the entire square darkened, but a bizarre crackling sound was also made in the air. Upon close inspection, countless black ice blocks made up a rapidly flooding ice river, heading towards Shi Xiaole.
Sixty percent of the True Intent of Ice!
It turned out that the Three Nights Ancestor deceived everyone. He was not a top-tier expert below the level of the Lords, but a bona fide lower-rank Lord.
When the gap in strength is too wide between the both parties, the best tactical maneuver would be futile. The Three Nights Ancestor seemed to have already pictured the tragic scene of Shi Xiaole being frozen by the black ice river.
The elites of the Three Nights Sect who had been worrying earlier, felt great relief. The Ancestor was indeed an ancient being, having lived for over two hundred years was not in vain.
"That’s fine, I’ll use you to test my sword."
Just as disaster was about to strike Shi Xiaole, his body’s sword intent suddenly retracted. He seemed to merge with the air, brandishing his sword lightly with his right hand.
The first move of the Wind Extreme Sword Technique, Gentle Breeze Passing the Court.
Rip.
The sound of a piece of cloth tearing echoed. Silently, a straight crack appeared in the black ice river. Almost simultaneously, the Three Nights Ancestor felt his hair stand on end and without a second thought, he dodged backwards.
A thread of blood spurted into the air.
The Three Nights Ancestor touched his own face, his palm was fully stained with fresh blood. His eyes widened in shock followed by a deep sense of fear.
What kind of sword skill was this? If he hadn’t dodged quickly, it wouldn’t be his face that was cut, but his throat.
"My current strength should be on par with a lower-rank Lord."
Despite having an estimate of his own strength, seeing the effect of that sword just now, Shi Xiaole couldn’t help but feel very satisfied.
Even in the formidable Xuanwu State, a Lord-level expert can shake the Martial World with a mere stomp. If he wanted, Shi Xiaole was now fully qualified to be a Sect Master of a quasi-first-class power.
"Let’s deal with the matter at hand first."
With a sharp look in his eyes, Shi Xiaole performed another Gentle Breeze Passing the Court.
This time, the Three Nights Ancestor only had time to block the right side. His left shoulder and arm were directly chopped off at the root, and blood splattered out like water.
"Mercy, swordsman!"
The Array System on the square was originally activated to prevent Shi Xiaole from escaping. The Three Nights Ancestor never expected that it would now become his death warrant.
"Heartless Wind and Rain."
Ignoring the other party’s plea for mercy, Shi Xiaole executed the second move of the Wind Extreme Sword Technique. Numerous needle-like Sword Qi viciously drilled into the Three Nights Ancestor’s body. Amid a series of sharp stab sounds, he fell to the ground, turning into a pool of unrecognizable bloody mud.
Hiss!
It is said that those who follow the Devil Path have cruel and ruthless methods, but at this moment, everyone from the Three Nights Sect, from Elders to disciples, were startled by Shi Xiaole’s sword skill.
What’s the difference between being hit with this kind of sword technique and being slowly tortured to death?
"Don’t be afraid everyone. This man is trapped in the Array, and temporarily unable to escape. We might as well take this opportunity to join forces and kill him."
The square was in chaos but it was the surviving Right Protector who quickly calmed the situation and shouted out loud.
With the Array System trapping Shi Xiaole, no matter how fast he was, he could only move within its range. There were tens of thousands of people in the inner circle alone. If they joined forces and launched an attack, they could surely blow him into nothingness.
"Good idea!"
"This man deserves to die!"
Without any hesitation, many people activated their Internal Power, aiming to kill Shi Xiaole together.
"It’s you who are going to die."
Breaking out from the Array easily, Shi Xiaole swung out his Heartless Wind and Rain.
Swish, swish, swish, swish, swish...
Like mowing a wheat field, large swaths of experts screamed as they fell to the ground, their bodies turning into sieves. Many of them had already launched attacks. This interference resulted in the explosive mix of internal power and Vigorous Air inside the crowd, leaving large piles of bodies in pieces.
"He’s not a human, he’s a ghost. Run for your life!"
All were so terrified that their souls almost jumped out of their bodies. They couldn’t care less about anything else and only knew to flee desperately.
Ignoring ordinary disciples, Shi Xiaole targeted the strong ones in the Three Nights Sect, killing one at a sight, none could withstand his single strike.
Half a 2-hour period later, the scene finally quieted down.
"Where is the hidden scripture?"
Shi Xiaole turned to the Right Protector.
"Master, please follow me."
The latter showed utmost loyalty and without hesitation led the way.
Originally with his mental strength, he wouldn’t have fallen for Shi Xiaole’s Unrivaled Soul Transformation, however, he was terrified to the point that his spirit became unsettled, that’s why he fell into the trap.
