Chapter 569: Chapter 568 Seven-Colored Little Bead (Extra for ’Raised Little Dragon Girl’, 9/9)
Thanks to the medicine from Wuling Villa, the handsome young man woke up after being unconscious for several hours. The first thing he asked was to see Shi Xiaole.
"Quickly take me to see your Villa’s Master, otherwise...he will regret it for his whole life!"
Biting his teeth, the handsome young man roared.
Zhu Ling observed that he was not making any false expressions. She ordered someone to take him to the main guest hall in the villa while she went to inform Shi Xiaole.
After waiting for less than a quarter of an hour, just as the handsome young man was becoming impatient, a young man in a blue robe walked in. In actuality, he could be more appropriately called a teenager.
He had black hair, tied up with a blue ribbon at the back of his head. His hair neatly hung over his back, revealing his stunningly handsome face. Two strands of hair fell on his forehead and gently touched his cheeks as he moved, giving him an air of casual elegance.
"Brother, I am Shi Xiaole. You were eager to see me. May I ask what urgent matter you have?"
So this is Shi Xiaole?
The handsome young man had heard this name more than once, but he hadn’t expected the man himself to be this distinguished, to the point where even he couldn’t help but be amazed.
Somewhat inexplicably, the handsome young man felt a bitter taste in his heart. But he quickly suppressed this emotion and coldly said, "Shi Xiaole, I only have one question for you: do you remember Xia Yunxi?"
Shi Xiaole was startled and quickly asked, "What happened to her?"
The handsome young man sadly said, "Yunxi and I went to the Rainbow Mountain Range together, but something happened there. We don’t know what her current situation is."
Turns out this man was Qi Wei. According to his statements, he and three others had formed a team of brothers and sisters, and had entered the most mysterious Rainbow Mountain Range in Yingzhou over a year ago.
By sheer luck, Xia Yunxi and two others found a hidden cave after treasure hunting for nearly a year, where they stumbled upon something astonishingly valuable.
Unfortunately, they inadvertently triggered a mechanism that leaked their aura, attracting other treasure hunters in the Rainbow Mountain Range. They temporarily saved their lives with the automatic array system inside the cave.
However, those who attacked the cave were all formidable experts local to Yingzhou. As the news spread, even more people rushed over.
It happened that Qi Wei was out hunting for fresh food at the time, tired of eating compressed food, so he narrowly escaped. But knowing that the array system couldn’t hold for long, he desperately came to find Shi Xiaole.
The other three who made the vow with him knew how deeply he loved Xia Yunxi and were willing to do anything for her. But by chance, Qi Wei learned from Lei Jiaxin that Xia Yunxi seemed to be involved with Shi Xiaole.
You could say that Shi Xiaole was the person Qi Wei least wanted to face and was most jealous of. But for the safety of Xia Yunxi and others, he had to put aside his male pride and seek help.
After finishing his story, Qi Wei stared intently at Shi Xiaole, eager to see his reaction.
If he was nonchalant or casually sent someone with him to save the others, Qi Wei would do everything in his power to prevent Xia Yunxi from continuing to love such an inconsiderate man.
Without hesitation, Shi Xiaole said, "Rainbow Mountain Range? Alright, I’ll set off right now."
No sooner had the words left his mouth than his figure disappeared from the hall. Qi Wei murmured, "I hope it is not too late, Yunxi. If he can save you, I... I..."
Without bringing anyone with him, Shi Xiaole immediately set off from Wuling Villa riding Qingfeng.
Qingfeng was now more spirited. Its full-speed sprint was as fast as a ninth level Spiritual-Passage realm expert and had astounding stamina, capable of running for a day and night straight.
Though Shi Xiaole was fast, his stamina was not as good as Qingfeng’s. So all things considered, it was still faster to ride Qingfeng.
...
Yingzhou.
At the Rainbow Mountain Range, a mist of violet and bright red filled the air. It was the rainbow mist, a unique phenomenon at the Rainbow Mountain Range. Ordinary people inhaling it would experience spiritual hallucinations with no cure.
The deeper into the mountain range, the denser the rainbow mist. At the core, even ordinary Xuanqi realm experts couldn’t enter.
In the past month, the Rainbow Mountain Range had been ten times more busy than usual. Many Spiritual-Passage Realm experts gathered around a mound at the core, their faces revealing urgency and eagerness.
"Hit it hard for me!"
A bald swordsman roared, and dozens of Spiritual-Passage Realm swordsmen raised their swords. The brilliant light from their swords aimed at the mouth of the mound, pushing the barrier that covered the entrance inward by three feet, before it sprang back.
"Tiger and Wolf Blade Marquis, did you skip a meal or something?"
A young man, fanning himself, jested.
"Hmph, if you, the Flying Marquis, have the guts, why not switch with me?"
The Tiger and Wolf Blade Marquis retorted.
As one of the strongest in Yingzhou, he naturally had the temperament of the mighty and had long driven other sect’s experts a few hundred meters away.
However, the Flying Marquis before him was different. This man, not even thirty years old, was already a first-level Dragon Gate Realm expert. Yingzhou recognized him as the top genius, and his strength was no less than the Marquis’.
The Flying Marquis just smiled and said nothing.
Only a fool would step up and take the lead. Even if they could break the barrier, their strength would be significantly depleted by then. How would they compete for the treasures in the cave?
"If anyone inside is wise, open the array system. Or when it is broken, I will not make it easy for you!"
The Tiger and Wolf Blade Marquis yelled into the cave every now and then while directing his followers to attack the array system.
Inside the cave stood one man and two women.
The man was stunningly handsome, although he looked a bit tired and wretched. The two women were rare beauties, one in an apricot dress and the other in a blue robe, both with expressions of indescribable anxiety.
After enduring for more than a month, the barrier of the array system was becoming thinner. It seemed that it would be broken in just a few days.
"Lei Big-sister, Xia Little-sister, if the Array System cracks open, ignore me; I will hold them off."
Determination flashes in Li Jiuding’s eyes.
Amongst the four sworn siblings, his martial arts skills were the highest, reaching the peak of the Spiritual-Passage Realm. He had a responsibility and a duty to protect the two girls.
The lady in a light yellow dress, with her oval face, and especially plump cherry lips, radiated brightness and warmth, sorrowfully smiles: "Brother Li, how could Sister Lei and I leave you behind. If we die, we die together."
The two martial arts experts outside the cave were at the Dragon Gate Realm; how could one Li Jiuding stop them? Plus, she wouldn’t abandon her companions to save her own life.
Lei Jiaxin stares at the cave entrance, suddenly turning around to march determinedly into the cave, and swung her sword at the suspended Seven-Colored Little Bead.
Clang!
A seven-colored hue radiated from the surface of the Seven-Colored Little Bead, dissipating the Sword Qi with ease.
"Sister Lei, what are you doing?"
Xia Yunxi hurriedly restrained her.
"It’s this cursed bead that has cost us our lives, I’m going to smash it."
Lei Jiaxin remained infuriated.
Up till now, the three of them still couldn’t figure out what was so special about this Little Seven-Colored Bead except its extraordinary mysteriousness.
If they could give it to the people outside the cave to save their lives, they wouldn’t hesitate. But the Array System was not under their control and the character of the Tiger and Wolf Blade Marquis was highly questionable. The other party would most likely silence them once and for all.
And to dig an escape route from within the cave was impossible. The entire cave was covered by the Array System, and with their level of skill, they could barely make it budge.
In order to comfort the other two, Xia Yunxi said, "We haven’t seen a trace of Brother Qi so far. Perhaps, he’s gone for help."
Li Jiuding shook his head with a bitter smile: "In all of Yingzhou, there are only a few people who are more formidable than the Tiger and Wolf Blade Marquis and the Flying Marquis. Qi Third Brother has no acquaintance with them, how can he possibly bring them here?"
"Even if he could bring in the experts from other regions, it would take too much time. By the time they arrive, time will have run out. Moreover, Qi Third Brother doesn’t know any martial arts experts at the Dragon Gate Realm."
For most regions in Shuntian, experts at the Dragon’s Gate Realm were like those at the pinnacle of the pyramid, a common person may not encounter them more than a few times throughout their life.
Lei Jiaxin suddenly glanced at Xia Yunxi and sighed in disappointment, saying nothing.
Subsisting on rationed food, the three of them spent another three days in silence in the cave. Their hearts filled with despair, they seemed to be reminiscing about their lives.
This day, under continuous attacks, only a thin layer was left of the Array System barrier in front of the cave; it was on the verge of breaking at any moment.
"Let’s give it all we’ve got!"
The face of the Tiger and Wolf Blade Marquis turned crimson with excitement, his hand holding the blade trembling.
The seven-colored aura emanating from the cave was so powerful that even the Rainbow Mist had to retreat. It was obvious that the object was an extraordinary treasure that he simply must possess.
The Flying Marquis steps back, fully vigilant, his eyes blinking continuously.
"Finders keepers, haha."
Just then, several strong figures rushed forward, falling outside the cave entrance in the blink of an eye.
These were the strongest martial artists in Yingzhou. They had heard the news and arrived early but had found places to rest and prepare since the Array system had not been broken.
The corners of the Tiger and Wolf Sword Marquis’s mouth twitched, but the die had already been cast. They would break the Array System first and deal with the rest later.
Ten times.
Twenty times.
On the thirty-second attempt, the sharp blade finally broke through the Array System in the cave. A strong rush of energy surged in, only to be destroyed by Li Jiuding’s punch.
"Sister Lei, Sister Xia, I’m going ahead first!"
The situation outside the cave brought no glimmer of hope. Li Jiuding laughed heartily, the glow from his fists enveloping his body. Carrying his lifetime of beliefs and strength, he courageously pushed forward.
"Brother Li!"
Lei Jiaxin, swift as ever, smiled faintly and caught Li Jiuding’s hand, advancing at his side.
"I love you."
The soft voice echoed in Li Jiuding’s ears, making him stunned. But the next moment, his face changed dramatically. His beloved by his side showed a sudden surge in power, her veins bulging on her skin, obviously ready to use a self-destruct method.
Li Jiuding understood. Lei Jiaxin wanted to die with him. Using their two lives, they intended to buy the last ounce of hope for Xia Yunxi.
"No!"
Xia Yunxi screamed in anguish. Suddenly, she grabbed the Seven-Colored Bead and swallowed it. At the same time, she sprang forward, also using a self-destruct method.
If death was imminent, why should she allow the people outside the cave to benefit?
On the verge of death, she felt no fear as anticipated. Mostly, it was regret. Doomed to die here, like one of those countless, nameless martial artists.
In the years to come, would her masters, her brothers and sisters in the fortress occasionally think of her?
And him, what would he feel when he heard the news about her?
