Chapter 891: Chapter 890 Sweeping Through the Martial World_1
A sword thrust delivered instant death.
People rubbed their eyes, certain they hadn’t seen wrong, Shi Xiaole had instantly killed the Crack Earth King, an Invincible Earth Immortal.
But wasn’t this too inconceivable?
The so-called Invincible Earth Immortal represented a master whose aspects all reached the pinnacle of the Divine Barrier Realm, and in a sense was the limit of Terrestrial Immortals.
Therefore, even though the heights of Invincible Earth Immortals varied, the gap was very, very small, so small that ordinary people could not discern it.
However, the scene just now, where was the clash of two Invincible Earth Immortals? It was basically a grown man beating a child, a complete and utter crushing.
In a trance, people recalled the Young Dragon, that existence who purportedly beat all the Terrestrial Immortals without defeat. Compared to the Kirin, he was hardly any different, right?
But let’s not forget, when the Young Dragon reached this step, he was already over fifty years old, whereas the Kirin, at most, was no more than thirty-five!
Thinking of this, everyone was disquieted. Their blood rushed as if sprayed from a pump, racing through their bodies, foreheads heated, and skin bristled with goosebumps.
People realized that something huge had happened.
They said the Kirin lacked staying power and couldn’t be compared with the other eight Heaven Kings, with many crying him down everywhere. But the truth was, this prodigiously talented young man had once again undergone a earth-shaking transformation where no one could see.
He vanished from Sword Evaluation Elegant Mountain and when he re-emerged into the world, his brilliance was like before, no, even more dazzling than the past, nearly scorching the eyes of mortals.
What martial inadequacies, what innate deficiencies, the so-called common sense, rules, and iron laws, none applied to Shi Xiaole. It was as if his existence was to break convention, to create miracles.
Watching the composed, nonchalant Shi Xiaole and recalling some of the Martial World’s self-righteous assertions, everyone found it laughable.
From the beginning, they were wrong, attempting to fathom a prodigy with the eyes of ordinary men was foolish.
And Shi Xiaole was a prodigy among prodigies, recognized with a litany of battle honours as the number one talent of the Flying Horse Dynasty!
"You, you..."
The Demon Heart King’s face turned ashen with fear, his heart nearly leaping out of his chest, even his calves twitching slightly.
How could it be possible, how could someone under forty possess such peerless strength? Even the Young Dragon, even the Martial Emperor, couldn’t have been this powerful at such an age!
Xiao Wuchang had long been fed a healing pill by the Devil Path heroes and was recuperating on the side. Witnessing everything that just transpired, he felt an icy chill seeping out of his body.
Like many in the Martial World, he believed the Kirin’s reputation to be inflated, but only when truly facing the man could he understand how formidable his aura was.
His gifted talents, his unyielding pride, in front of this person, they were all crushed so thoroughly he couldn’t even lift his head, nor retain a sliver of will to resist.
The most ironic part was, from beginning to end, the other party had not even spared him an extra glance.
Was this the foremost prodigy, the Kirin who once dominated the entire Martial World?
Xiao Wuchang felt utterly powerless and laughed bitterly without reason.
"Go!"
"This man is undefeatable!"
No one knew who yelled, but in an instant, the heroes of the Devil Path scattered in all directions, fleeing like birds breaking free from their cages, a pressing mass spreading out, many even burning their essence blood to hasten their escape.
Shi Xiaole didn’t even look, casually waving his hand as countless strands of azure Sword Qi blended into the wind, shooting out rapidly. The sky was like dumplings falling, as clumps of people hit the ground by the moment, their fate unknown.
After one strike, the crowd thinned out instantly, this shockingly profound power didn’t just frighten the heroes of the Devil Path; even the heroes of the Righteous Path were terrified, each gaping in awe as if witnessing a divine miracle.
Shi Xiaole did not strike again.
If he wished, he certainly could have killed many more, but it was pointless.
The Devil Path was the Devil Path, aside from the few who did evil, harming the heavens and earth, quite a number of them were merely branded devilish for having different philosophies from the Righteous Path.
Who can truly discern the false from true, good from evil?
In comparison, his own status was probably the one everybody wanted to eradicate as devilish.
Shi Xiaole chuckled bitterly.
"Meeting you surpasses your fame, Young Master Kirin is truly a divine being. I’ve traveled far and wide, seen countless people, but no one can stand shoulder to shoulder with you," said Qian Yuanchen, as he approached with Nie Guanting.
Having practiced sword for a lifetime, Qian Yuanchen admitted he had never seen a swordsman like Shi Xiaole. There was no one before, and probably none to come. He was a person beyond the mortal coil, destined to stir upheavals in the world’s future.
Nie Guanting kept shaking his head.
He could imagine, once today’s events spread, the shock they would cause in the Martial World. Likely, countless people would gape in disbelief.
High-ranking experts from all sides rushed forward to greet him, eagerly vying as if a moment’s delay would drag them into the King of Hell’s palace, just shy of coming to blows.
For them, Shi Xiaole was like the clouds in the sky, encountered but not sought after, and perhaps this was the closest they would ever get to Shi Xiaole. How could they miss such a golden opportunity?
If they were lucky enough to say just one word to him, that would be enough to boast about for a lifetime.
"Ladies and gentlemen, I have urgent matters to attend to, so I’ll take my leave."
Unfortunately, their enthusiasm was so overwhelming that it frightened Shi Xiaole. He immediately used his qi to lead everyone and soared towards a distant ship. The Sea Leaf Gang’s female disciples, who had received news of his coming, giggled charmingly as they steered the boat and sailed down the river.
After a long separation, Shi Xiaole and Hua Yuan had much to talk about.
The three of them discussed the recent situation at Wuling Villa. Yuan Yuying indicated that everyone in the Villa was doing well, and their talents had soared as if by magic, with their powers advancing by leaps and bounds.
What made Shi Xiaole especially delighted was that originally, only five of the mansions on Nine Heavens Mountain had been completed, but in recent years, under the management of Elder Zhu Ling, the Villa’s finances flourished, and they had just completed the seventh mansion. He believed that within five years, the remaining three mansions would also be finished.
"She really is a capable manager. I underestimated her."
Thinking of Zhu Ling in her white clothes, Shi Xiaole couldn’t help but sigh; he thought that his nine billion fortune would act as timely help, but it seemed that the other party had already become self-sufficient.
Hua Yiyun inquired about Shi Xiaole’s experiences, to which Shi Xiaole briefly recounted.
Upon hearing about his experiences on Rainbow Island, Hua Yiyun’s eyes shone with excitement. And when they learned that Shi Xiaole had defeated both the Yellow Jade Sword Emperor and the Asura Martial Emperor, Hua Yiyun and Yuan Yuying were so shocked they nearly fainted.
Even as the most seasoned of Shi Xiaole’s enthusiast supporters, they found it hard to believe this earth-shattering news.
As the three chatted and drank, they were completely unaware that the Martial World outside was nearly turned upside down.
The news of the battle at Surging Wave Island, as witnessed by the crowd of the Righteous Path, spread like wildfire, from one to ten, ten to a hundred, and in a few days, it had spread throughout the nearby lands of the Martial World.
At this rate, along with the compound effect within the Martial World, within a month, the entire Flying Horse Dynasty would know of this event.
For a moment, the Kirin’s name reigned gloriously once again.
In teahouses, inns, and taverns, everywhere that Martial World figures touched foot, there was lively discussion. Some slapped the tables and laughed, some refused to accept it, and others stubbornly doubted the authenticity of the events.
However, just half a month later, with the latest issue of the Martial World assembly publication, everyone saw the confirmed news of the battle at Surging Wave Island. In the rankings of the Nine Heaven Kings, Shi Xiaole had suddenly risen to the second spot, with a line of commentary next to his name.
"His peerless presence at Divine Border, unmatched in the world, aspires to never be second in a thousand years!"
One short line sent the Martial World into an uproar.
The Kirin’s supporters were naturally ecstatic, celebrating widely. Those Jianghu clients who had adamantly denounced the Kirin fell silent, no longer mentioning the matter.
Major sects, clans, aristocratic families, and even government departments, from the top tier to the third-rate, were all equally shocked, with the voices of discussing Elders and disciples heard everywhere.
Even many rumors stated that many top forces held secret meetings specifically because of Shi Xiaole, to discuss their policies towards him.
The evaluation from Divine Strategy Academy was truly terrifying, virtually declaring that the Kirin was a more formidable genius than the Martial Emperor and Young Dragon, without parallel!
And don’t underestimate the Invincible Earth Immortal; at the level of the Void Origin Realm, where Martial Emperors are restrained by various rules and cannot directly take action, the pinnacle of a top force’s combat power is still only that of an Invincible Earth Immortal.
If one had to describe it, in the hearts of many, Shi Xiaole had already become the second-most supreme expert in the open within the Flying Horse Dynasty. Only the Young Dragon could contend with him, but as time passed, even the Young Dragon would likely not be able to compete.
In short, during this period, the Kirin eclipsed everyone else’s fame, captivating the world just as in years past.
Xuanwu State, Nine Heavens Mountain.
Wuling Villa bustled with unprecedented excitement. Disciples ran around spreading the news, Elders hurried about, and everyone’s face was aflame with uncontrollable excitement and tension, the atmosphere more animated than any festival.
Chou Hentian, the senior disciple who regarded martial arts practice as his life, exceptionally did not train today. Instead, he had meticulously cleaned himself and donned brand new apparel, preparing himself with pristine care.
"Senior Brother, do you really need to go this far?"
A handsome young boy with a foxtail grass in his mouth teased lightheartedly from the side.
"It’s a mark of respect to Master!"
Chou Hentian had only this one reply, his voice carrying an imperceptible tremor.
Though Qi Yuanzheng appeared nonchalant, his heart was beating at a faster rate than usual.
All of this was because their Master, who had disappeared for years but whose reappearance had triggered a storm in the Martial World, was coming back!
The world knew only of the glory and honor of becoming the Kirin’s disciple, but behind that glory and honor lay a pressure incomprehensible to ordinary people.
Yes, pressure!
The halo of their Master was too dazzling; anyone standing before him would pale in comparison, and as his disciples, every move was under the scrutiny of the entire Martial World. If they performed too poorly, it would shame not only their Master but themselves as well.
So over the years, whether it was Chou Hentian or Qi Yuanzheng, they had been practicing like madmen, not striving to catch up to Master but hoping to uphold the honor of Kirin’s disciples!
Now that they were about to meet their Master, it was natural for them to worry that their progress would be deemed unsatisfactory.
