Chapter 555: Chapter 554: A Chance Encounter with Three Eccentric Characters
Nine Profound Mountain, located in the central region of Xuanwu State, is a vast mountain range.
Contrary to what the people of Lele City expected, Nine Profound Mountain was not desolate, nor did it have any sense of gloom. Instead, it was shaded by forests and populated with many birds and flowers. The mountain range was adorned with peculiar peaks and waterfalls—it could be considered a terrestrial paradise.
The mountain range clung to the concept of central prominence; mid-region elevation exceeded more than three thousand meters, gradually levelling at the outskirts. From a bird’s eye view, it looked like an irregular nonagon. This very structure, unfortunately, was not conducive to gathering aura—it was a place of dispersing energy.
Hundreds of years ago, numerous sects had invited geomancy masters to assess this area, but all had rejected it due to its structure. Over time, Nine Profound Mountain became a forbidden area in the central region where people seldom tread.
As Shi Xiaole stepped onto Nine Profound Mountain, he felt an intangible energy gradually dissipating from his body. It was an indescribable feeling.
"Is this ’aura’?"
Shi Xiaole smirked mildly, not taking much notice.
"City Lord, this place is vast. Where exactly do you plan to establish the sect premises?"
Zhu Ling asked a question that everyone was concerned about.
"We have several locations in mind, but let’s start with the southeastern part for now."
Shi Xiaole looked towards the highest peak.
Several?
Everyone was confused.
It was understandable that a large sect would occupy a considerable tract of land. But from Shi Xiaole’s words, it seemed he intended not merely to cover a large area, but to construct multiple sect premises?
Soon, everyone followed Shi Xiaole to the highest peak in the southeastern region of Nine Profound Mountain. From there, they could view hundreds of miles in the distance—an expansive panorama.
Along the way, Zhu Ling and the Lele City elders had already contacted hundreds of craftsmen from the central region. With the engineering blueprints given by Shi Xiaole, Zhu Ling spread them out on the ground, allowing the craftsmen to study the designs in preparation for construction.
"Such grand ambition!"
The craftsmen couldn’t help but exclaim.
Even Zhu Ling and the high-rank individuals from Lele City were captivated by the buildings depicted on the blueprints.
Shi Xiaole had previewed the scrolls and felt amazed as well.
From what was already known, Shui Lingping’s Array System, painting skill, medical skills, geomancy knowledge, and now even architectural design, were all master-class. It seemed there was nothing she didn’t excel in.
"Pardon my bluntness, but constructing a mansion of this scale will cost at least tens of millions of silver taels, and it will take several years," said the leading craftsman after thoughtful consideration.
"Money isn’t an issue. However, taking several years is too long. Please, Master Tian, hire as many laborers as possible to expedite the construction."
The land of East Victory was unlike any place in his previous life. It was unimaginably vast, and commerce was highly developed. In just a few years, Lele City had generated an income of tens of millions of silver taels in the eight martial arts states.
In fact, it’s not that the Dynasty’s large sects lacked money; they simply lacked the capability to secure their resources. Without power, their vast wealth could be seized at any moment.
Shi Xiaole had plenty of money. What he lacked was time.
"With Young Master Shi’s assurance, I rest my mind," chuckled the lead craftsman.
In the past, he had undertaken numerous sect construction projects and knew that martial artists were not short of money. Seeing Shi Xiaole’s extraordinary demeanor, he assumed him to be the son of some sect master, preparing to make a big move.
After instructing on some important matters, the hundreds of craftsmen went to their respective positions. Some went to purchase materials, others to recruit manpower. By the third day, preparations were well underway, and Nine Profound Mountain had instantly become bustling with activity.
The people of Lele City, for the time being, were living in tents. Some spent their time practicing martial arts, while others, under Shi Xiaole’s guidance, were setting up the Array System.
This Array System was something he had obtained from Shui Lingping. Its specific power was unknown, but Shui Lingping assured Shi Xiaole that it could help him withstand any powerful enemy for more than a 2-hour period.
As for more powerful Array Systems, they required both materials and attainment to set up. Even if Shui Lingping did have such options, with Shi Xiaole’s basic-level knowledge, he wouldn’t be able to set them up.
...
Half a month later.
In a remote pile of boulders...
Shi Xiaole sat cross-legged, fully engrossed in his cultivation.
At a certain moment...
A layer of silver-grey aura enveloped him, spiraling faster and faster. When the speed reached its limit, it suddenly stopped. Upon closer inspection, it hadn’t stopped, but rather, its speed was so fast it deceived the naked eye.
Poof!
A colossal boulder, weighing ten thousand jin, that was fifty meters away, suddenly shattered into dust. Only then did a silver-grey ring appear around it, while the ring surrounding Shi Xiaole had already vanished—it was merely an afterimage left in its original place.
"Undying Seven Illusions has finally reached perfection."
Opening his eyes slowly, Shi Xiaole’s irises were filled with an unpredictable light.
Over the past few months, he had spent a two-hour period each day reading Buddhist scriptures, and had gained a certain understanding and grasp of the essence of Bodhidharma. Coupled with the innate affinity for Devil Path martial arts granted by his dark gray demon bone, the two factors finally coincided today, allowing him to fully master the Undying Seven Illusions technique.
In terms of upfront power, the mastery of Undying Seven Illusions didn’t match the Wind True Intent and the Heavenly Sword combined with the Wind Extreme Sword Technique; yet, its lethality surpassed them.
Compared to the past, this martial art technique’s attack method had become more elusive, its moves unpredictable. Shi Xiaole had a premonition that with this skill, he could easily defeat the likes of the Eight Fingers Mysterious Lord.
Yet, this wasn’t all.
The attack power was merely an added bonus of the Undying Seven Illusions. What truly excited Shi Xiaole was its greatly improved transformation effect.
In the past, the Undying Seven Illusions could transform about eighty percent of an advanced lord’s attack power, and the remaining twenty percent would directly harm Shi Xiaole. Now, the transformation efficiency had been boosted by approximately thirty percent.
What did this signify?
It meant that as of now, Shi Xiaole, relying solely on the defense offered by the Undying Seven Illusions, could completely withstand the attack power of an advanced lord, rendering him invincible!
Perhaps the attack power of top lords far surpassed that of advanced lords, but even facing such figures, Shi Xiaole wouldn’t be as helpless as he had been in the past.
"Now, facing top lords, I am at best, capable of defending myself. I’m still not strong enough to compete against them."
Shi Xiaole didn’t get complacent.
He was deeply aware of the weight of his responsibility. He believed that it wouldn’t be long before the news of him starting his own sect here would spread, and then someone would inevitably have designs on it.
Especially having heard that the likes of Xiahou Zong had greatly enhanced their power.
Standing up, Shi Xiaole went to the southeastern peak of Nine Heavens Mountain.
There, construction work was in full swing. Master Tian, the craftsman who had extensive connections, managed to find several groups, amounting to tens of thousands of people, all working on the mountain- some moving stones, others hammering wooden stakes- under the generous financial support of Lele City. It was a scene of bustling activity.
In just over half a month, the outlines of the mountain gate were faintly visible.
After making a round, satisfied with the quality of work, Shi Xiaole was about to go and see the people of Lele City when his heart suddenly stirred, and he shot off towards the south.
Soon after, he caught up with a mysteriously lurking figure. The latter had revealed his presence by inadvertently stealing some craftsmen’s food.
Meandering left and right, Shi Xiaole arrived at the foot of Nine Heavens Mountain, and quickly saw the person slipping into a cave.
"Young man, the scholar, come and eat something."
A gruff voice said.
"Old man, where did you steal this from?"
A soft female voice asked.
"I didn’t steal it. I just borrowed it. After this is all over, I will return it."
Barely had the gruff voice finished speaking when a third person laughed bitterly, "Brother, the owners have already come to reclaim their property, I’m afraid you won’t get a chance to return it."
As soon as these words fell, the light inside the cave dimmed suddenly. The three people turned their heads and saw a tall and graceful young man in a blue robe blocking the cave entrance.
"Young lad, when did you get here?"
The golden-haired old man in a golden robe squinted his eyes. His aura was somewhat threatening.
His spiritual power had been dispersed just now, but not many people in Xuanwu State could hide from him. Who exactly was this boy?
"I’ve just arrived. The old predecessor took my stuff without informing me. Isn’t it a bit inappropriate?"
Shi Xiaole’s gaze surveyed the three figures. As he noted their outfits and aura, he guessed their identities and his eyes deepened somewhat.
"If I’m not mistaken, the young man is the recently famous Shi Xiaole. People in the martial world say you are extraordinarily powerful, capable of rivaling intermediate lords, but looking at you now, it seems they’ve severely underestimated you."
A handsome middle-aged man leaning against the stone wall, dressed in silver with silver hair, shook his head. His face looked somewhat weak; he was the Silver Sword Gentleman, one of the three odd men.
Among the three odd men, his spiritual power was the strongest and he had set up the Array System outside the cave. Unfortunately, he couldn’t stop Shi Xiaole, causing a stir in his heart.
"Young man, I don’t want to hurt you. But your mistake was discovering us three. So, I can only trouble you to stay here for a while."
Ever since the three odd men took the top lower-class spiritual weapon, Jade Moon Axe, from the cave of Illusion Lord, they had been hunted by many. These included both the Righteous Path and the Devil Path. They had been on the run for several months.
Of course, a lower-class spiritual weapon wouldn’t normally hold such importance for the martial world sects.
The problem was, once during an attack, Jade Axe Lady accidentally activated the deep power of the Jade Moon Axe, and discovered that it wasn’t a lower-class spiritual weapon, but a middle-class one!
This made the three men virtually public enemies in the martial world. Wherever they went, their pursuers followed, and even the long-hidden old monsters joined the hunt.
Even with their top lord power, the three men had faced life-threatening situations several times due to the omnipresent traps of the Heaven and Earth Net Force.
This time they escaped to the Central Territory. Jade Axe Lady was poisoned, and Silver Sword Gentleman was severely injured, so the Golden Saber Elder rashly stole food from the mountain’s craftsmen, which attracted Shi Xiaole.
In the eyes of the Golden Saber Elder, disregarding whether Shi Xiaole would leak the news or not, for the safety of his two friends, he had to detain him.
Without any hesitation, Golden Saber Elder launched himself into the air, like a golden arrow shot from a bow. As he was mid-air, he used his right arm as a blade and cleverly struck towards Shi Xiaole.
Despite having sustained injuries in recent days and his skills not as strong as during his peak period, Golden Saber Elder was, after all, a top lord. When he made this strike, he was confident that even an advanced lord would have trouble easily evading it.
