Chapter 757: Chapter 756: Not Giving Face (Extra update for Ghost Ghost, 2/2, asking for votes!!)
Tiantai Cliff.
Clouds and fog, the sound of cascading water pervades the air.
"Brother Shi has arrived."
The woman sits peacefully on a rock encircled by the creek, her delicate feet submerged in the water, appearing more transparent than the clear stream itself.
Every encounter with Shui Lingping left Shi Xiaole with a sense of beauty, a beauty devoid of lust. Or rather, she makes ordinary people self-conscious of their own filth, deterring any disrespectful thoughts about her.
Shi Xiaole sheepishly nods, "Pardon the intrusion. ’No one visits for no reason, just like no one goes to the temple without a wish,’ I’m afraid."
"And, what brings you here this time?"
With a smile, Shui Lingping strokes her beautiful hair flowing over her shoulder and asks.
"The Heavenly Hidden Fruit has appeared on Nine Heavens Mountain."
Shui Lingping sighs.
"I’ve researched. Prior to the maturation of the Heavenly Hidden Fruit, the Yin and Yang energies within hundreds of miles are tremendously disrupted. It won’t go unnoticed."
If possible, Shi Xiaole would not wish to seek help from Shui Lingping, but he can’t find any other solution.
Even the Array System Grandmaster of Tian State can’t hide the anomalies caused by the ten major Exotic Fruits. If it was that simple, they wouldn’t be considered the ten major Exotic Fruits.
From the expected date of the Heavenly Hidden Fruit’s maturation, even if the news leaks, the powerful forces Shi Xiaole fears wouldn’t be able to arrive in time. But what if they seek revenge afterwards or use him as an experiment?
Moreover, how can anyone be sure there are no hidden forces in Xuanwu State?
Of course, one might suggest simply abandoning the Heavenly Hidden Fruit and opening up Nine Heavens Mountain, which would then ensure peace. Yet, facing such a rare treasure, Shi Xiaole was unwilling to give up without a fight.
"Brother Shi, how can you entrust me with this secret? Aren’t you afraid that I might leak it?"
"If the lady wanted to harm me, I wouldn’t stand a chance, even with nine lives. After all, the lady is probably the only person in this world to whom I can entrust all my secrets without reservation."
Shui Lingping remains silent, Shi Xiaole cannot decipher her thoughts.
After a while, she finally says,"The ten major Exotic Fruits are tied to the mysteries of heaven and earth, their magic is inexplicable. I do have a method to hide their anomalies, but it would also decrease the effectiveness of the fruit."
Shi Xiaole is inwardly shocked.
Her skills are indeed extraordinary - this is something even the top-tier forces cannot accomplish.
"Speaking of which, I do have a simpler solution. I’m just not sure if Brother Shi is willing to give it a try."
"Please enlighten me, Lady."
After hearing her words, Shi Xiaole hesitates momentarily, and then says, "Let’s do as you suggested!"
Cast away fortune given by heaven, only chaos will follow.
However much Shi Xiaole sought ultimate safety, he was incapable of surrendering the rare Heavenly Hidden Fruit. Such an action would negate his unwavering martial path.
In Wuling Villa’s crucial development period, how would his retreat affect the perception of people like Xin Zhuliu?
At least for now, he would make every effort to try until his actions began affecting others adversely..
...
At some point, a sea of black and white, smoky haze spanned several hundreds of miles across Nine Heavens Mountain. On the left was black, the right, white. As the aura flowed, white slowly invaded the black, concealing all things within the mountain.
As the most powerful force in Xuanwu State, Wuling Villa was never short of attention and almost immediately, news of the situation spread rapidly far and wide.
"A haze of black and white?"
"Yang energy swallowing the Yin?"
Several days later, a group of Martial World folk gather quietly around Nine Heavens Mountain, staring dumbstruck at the colossal spinning yin-yang disk in the distance.
Within the group, there are those who have had extensive experiences and carefully look at the Yin-Yang disk only to turn pale.
Several days later, a piece of news began to spread wildly among the major forces of Xuanwu State.
"The Three-Transformation Yin Fruit has appeared on Nine Heavens Mountain!"
The Three-Transformation Yin Fruit, one of the Exotic Fruits in heaven and earth, is renowned for its astounding ability to resolve Yin energy in this world.
If a martial artist consumes it and combines it with their own ability, their healing power would improve multiple times over, even by tens of times. It could even effortlessly cure chronic or harsh diseases.
Low-tier martial artists who dwell within the Martial World often suffer injuries, but they’re usually superficial and non-life-threatening. As their cultivation increases, the probability of getting injured decreases, but when injury occurs, it tends to be far more severe than superficial wounds.
This is particularly true for terrestrial immortals. Minor injuries are inconsequential, but grave injuries can be extremely difficult to treat, some irreparable. This is where the devastating effect of the Three-Transformation Yin Fruit comes into play.
Perhaps for terrestrial immortals born into top-tier forces, the Three-Transformation Yin Fruit is not rare. However, it is for the solitary Earth Immortals.
Suddenly, the eyes of everyone in the Martial World of Xuanwu State are once again fixed on Wuling Villa.
"Chief Leader, is everything really all right?"
At the top of Yinfeng Pavilion’s vast platform, Zhu Ling wears a worried face.
From this vantage point, one could easily take in the breathtaking scenery of the entire villa, but Zhu Ling is not in the mood for it. Ever since Shi Xiaole decided to use an array system to disguise the Heavenly Hidden Fruit and lead others astray, her heart has been in her mouth and she hasn’t been able to sleep.
The Three-Transformation Yin Fruit might not be comparable to the Heavenly Hidden Fruit, but it’s still one of the top-tier Exotic Fruits, tempting to many. Given the Chief Leader’s own abilities and the power of Wuling Villa, they might not withstand the onslaught from a significant number of Earth immortals.
As for the Nine Heavens Array System, it has a time limit. It might withstand for a while but not forever.
"We’re afraid that once the fruit matures in ten days, those who fail to get it might vent their frustrations and seek revenge."
Zhu Ling sighs.
"Don’t worry, I have a plan."
Are there Earth Immortals in Xuanwu State?
In the past, Shi Xiaole might have denied it, but Shui Lingping told him that there are.
The real number of Earth Immortals in the Flying Horse Dynasty is much higher than the Martial World knows.
Some of them are recluses who disdain fame and fortune or harbor greater ambitions, and others lurk beneath the surface of the Martial World, concealing their terrifying backgrounds. A large portion are driven by the imperial court!
Of course, the Heavenly Hidden Fruit must not be revealed, or else the only fate awaiting Shi Xiaole and Wuling Villa is complete annihilation, with no one able to save them.
The Three-Transformation Yin Fruit is different.
Unless one is burdened with incurable injuries, its effectiveness is rather insignificant.
Those who are hiding in the darkness are unlikely to reveal themselves for such a thing.
So, to ensure the effects of the Heavenly Hidden Fruit, Shi Xiaole is gambling; betting that those people will not make a move.
The enemies he would have to face would most likely be those Earth Immortals, who had retired from the Martial World but were burdened with severe ailments. This narrowed the scope and reduced the difficulty substantially.
Of course, if there were any tremendously sharp-eyed individuals who could spot the flaws in Shui Lingping’s Array System and recognize the Heavenly Hidden Fruit, there would be nothing more to discuss. Shi Xiaole would immediately open up Nine Heavens Mountain and give up the fruit.
Life was peaceful.
However, more and more people in the Martial World were coming to the outskirts of Nine Heavens Mountain. Despite the calmness, an oppressive atmosphere echoing the phrase ’calm before the storm’ permeated the air.
"Kirin, come out and meet me!"
Eight days before the Heavenly Hidden Fruit matured, someone finally showed up at their doorstep.
This was a haggard old man wearing a straw hat and patched-up clothes, floating in mid-air. His overwhelming aura dispersed the white fog for several kilometers, creating a realm where no force could penetrate.
An Earth Immortal, and not just any Earth Immortal.
"I am Ghost-faced Yinqiao, here to request the fruit. Kirin, I won’t take something for nothing; I will return this favor in the future."
The old man’s voice echoed in all directions.
"What, he’s Ghost-faced Yinqiao, and he’s still alive?"
Many faces in the distance wore expressions of horror.
Ghost-faced Yinqiao: once a prominent figure in the Tian State over two hundred years ago, his feats had been recorded in the annals of history, resulting in some people at the scene remembering him.
Who would have thought that this ancient man, thought to be long-dead, was actually alive and well.
"Before Ghost-faced Yinqiao disappeared, he was already an inscrutable powerhouse. Just how far has he come now?"
People couldn’t help but wait to see how Wuling Villa would react.
After all, who would have the courage to offend him, apart from an Earth Immortal? This is the biggest reason why the Martial World of Xuanwu State has remained uneventful to this day.
"Kirin, are you not going to entertain me?"
Ghost-faced Yinqiao sounded slightly annoyed.
His withdrawal from the Martial World years ago wasn’t voluntary. It was due to a severe injury he had suffered. Despite more than two hundred years of treatment, his injuries remained to be fully recovered, even having healed 90%.
Upon hearing news of the Three-Transformation Yin Fruit, Ghost-faced Yinqiao rushed here right away.
While others are wary of Kirin’s future, he didn’t have such concerns.
If his injuries can’t be healed, he can only survive another ten years tops. Thus, he could care less about possibly offending the creature. Of course, it would be better if the other party cooperates a bit.
With a flash, Shi Xiaole in his sky-blue robe, appeared opposite to Ghost-faced Yinqiao.
"You are Kirin? If you agree to give me the Three-Transformation Yin Fruit, I promise to help you with anything that is reasonable in the future."
Ghost-faced Yinqiao showed a smile that he thought was kind.
"I’m sorry, esteemed senior. I have a use for the fruit."
Shi Xiaole politely declined.
"Won’t you reconsider? As far as I know, you are not injured, why not perform a good deed? Besides, I have a few old friends. There is always a time in the Martial World when you need to ask for others’ help."
"I have made up my mind."
Seeing that Shi Xiaole was unmoved by his words, Ghost-faced Yinqiao’s face slowly darkened. Here he was, pleading earnestly, and yet he was met with indifference.
"I heard your martial arts skills are extraordinary, I wonder if you dare to spar with me?"
Nine Heavens Mountain has the Nine Profound Array, Ghost-faced Yinqiao knew he couldn’t take down Shi Xiaole, at least not before the Array System ceased to function. However, he couldn’t just leave without dignity. If he could, Ghost-faced Yinqiao would like to publicly teach Shi Xiaole a lesson, to let him realize the depth and height of the world.
"Let’s not, it’s unnecessary."
Shi Xiaole turned around to leave.
"You want to leave?"
An axe light abruptly appeared from the sky. The storm whipped up by the axe light made the surrounding white fog churn violently, causing a thunderous vibration.
Boom rumble rumble...
The ground began to shake mildly.
"What incredible power!"
The spectators in the back couldn’t help but gasp.
Very few of them had seen an Earth Immortal before, but according to the Martial World collection, they could roughly judge that Ghost-faced Yinqiao’s attack was at least at the Fifth Tier level.
"For all these years, apart from healing, I have not let down my cultivation for a single moment. I have long possessed a Sixth Tier level of prowess. Boy, if you aren’t giving me a way to live, I will not spare your face either!"
Ghost-faced Yinqiao laughed heartily inside, as he swung his axe three times, each swing more intense than the last.
"Why the fuss."
His figure flashed and Shi Xiaole narrowly dodged through the axe light.
