Chapter 912: Chapter 911: I’ll Take You Out_1
The Heartless Sword King’s reputation wasn’t widely known, not because his martial skills weren’t profound, but rather because he belonged to the Jixia Martial Academy, and the Divine Strategy Academy didn’t widely promote him.
Gui Nanyan often traveled to and fro from Sky City, and having served under Wei Langyi, he was well-versed in the inner workings and understood better than anyone just how extraordinary the three great swordsmen of Sky City were.
After decades, it was clear that the Heartless Sword King had advanced to the brink of the Void Origin Realm, his dazzling Sword Qi, even from a distance, emitted a piercing killing intent that caused Gui Nanyan’s pores to open, and instinctively he wanted to dodge.
But as if he had thought of something, he burst into decisive laughter and cleaved with his blade toward the Sword Qi.
Clang!
The sword was knocked from his hand and flew away, as Sword Qi sheared off a large piece of flesh and white bone from Gui Nanyan’s left shoulder, causing blood to spurt like a fountain, with even the tendons showing.
At that moment, several sharp weapons approached from all around, forming a moving net of swords and blades, intent on cutting the Gui siblings to pieces on the spot.
"Gui Nanyan, since you’ve picked up a dog’s life, you shouldn’t have come back. Unfortunately for you, not even God can save you today."
The Heartless Sword King said indifferently, as he continued to strike at Gui Nanyan, aiming not for vital points but instead slicing towards his right shoulder, legs, abdomen, and other places.
"In the past, Lord Wei favored Brother, yet he didn’t take note of you. Heartless Sword King, you must be filled with regret and shame. I swear, if I escape today, I’ll personally seek revenge!"
Seeing his brother’s flesh torn from his body as if he were being dismembered, the usually stoic man let out a pained, uncontrollable roar. Gui Zhihang’s heart felt like it was being cut to pieces, and a bone-deep hatred flared in his cold eyes, a hatred for another he’d never felt before.
"Revenge? The courts and their armies serve at my command, and no one here today will escape."
Somehow, the Heartless Sword King felt a sudden chill and, enraged and humiliated, thrust his sword towards Gui Zhihang’s eyes. The Sword Qi was imminent, and Gui Zhihang had nowhere to evade, his eyes experiencing an infinite stinging pain, and his vision suddenly went dark.
"Don’t harm the old turtle!"
Thump thump.
A lion’s silhouette and the phantom of a phoenix sprang into the fray, tearing through the crowd and successfully blocking the Sword Qi. Then, in a flash of orange, Duanmu Keren, with her Vigorous Air, dragged the three Gui siblings to safety on another side.
In today’s great battle, it was inevitable that true skill would be exposed, so Mu Ling and Duanmu Keren didn’t bother to disguise themselves and presented their true faces with dignity.
"Duanmu, you shouldn’t have come!"
Seeing his two old friends, Gui Zhihang was both moved and ashamed, shaking uncontrollably. He had always admired and competed with them, but what had he done to deserve their risking their lives for him?
"Old turtle, I wouldn’t be able to sleep if I didn’t come," Mu Ling said, bursting into laughter.
Duanmu Keren clapped her hands together, "Stop talking nonsense; it’s crucial to break through. I’ll deal with the Heartless Sword King, you take them and leave." With that, she resolutely charged towards the Heartless Sword King.
The Heartless Sword King mocked, "So the two demons dare to do this. Aren’t you afraid of implicating your families?"
"Don’t you know? Recently, I broke ties with Heaven and Earth Surprised Swan Castle. From now on, I’m a lone wanderer without a family," Duanmu Keren retorted. She did not dare to intercept the Sword Qi head-on but instead used her Flying Skill to maneuver around and stall the opponent.
"To go to such lengths for the sake of foolish sentiments, very well, I shall send you all to meet the King of Hell together. Heartless Triple Execution!"
The long sword trembled three times, the Sword Qi shifting and switching places, striking faster each time like a venomous snake, penetrating three parts of Duanmu Keren’s body. With the shadows dispersing, it was but her afterimage that remained in the original place.
"Phoenix Dance of Nine Heavens!"
Her delicate body spinning, an orange phoenix charged at the Heartless Sword King, only to be bisected by his sword. The two exchanged blows in the blink of an eye, and the more the Heartless Sword King fought, the more alarmed he became.
Having heard of the five great demons, at first, he didn’t take them seriously, but now he knew how terrifying they were. The Heavenly Phoenix, at the eighth level of the Divine Barrier Realm, was stalling his onslaught. It seemed that to defeat her, he would need at least a few hundred more moves.
Mu Ling led the critically injured Gui Nanyan, along with Gui Zhihang and Gui Fuling, punching their way forward with unparalleled Lion Fists, repelling all higher-ranking Earth Immortals and those at their peak, as his demonic power caused many to shudder in fear.
But he paid a heavy price.
After advancing several tens of meters, his body bore sixteen wounds of varying depth, the shallow ones half an inch deep, and the deeper ones reaching over two inches, exposing white bone amid bloodied flesh.
It’s difficult enough to counter two hands with one’s fists, let alone in this case, where it wasn’t merely two hands but a murderous battlefield on all sides, with blades and spears everywhere. Every inch he moved, he had to defend against a blade that could strike at any moment; even gods and demons would struggle to cope.
If it hadn’t been for the exceptional combat prowess and keen senses of Mu Ling, another master of his level might have died countless times over.
Even so, his situation was dire. With worsening injuries, his movement inevitably slowed. After several more tens of meters, his body acquired dozens more cuts, one nearly severing his right arm.
Swish!
An eerie Sword Qi, taking advantage of the chaotic battlefield, suddenly aimed for Mu Ling’s neck. Mu Ling was aware early on and swung his fists, but the Sword Qi was so sharp that it cut through the punch and skimmed off a slice of skin from Mu Ling’s neck as he dodged just in time.
"The Jade Lion’s grace is admirable—Azure Cloud Sword King, at your service."
Upon hearing this, the three Gui siblings felt dizzy.
The Azure Cloud Sword King, one of the three great swordsmen of Sky City, was as renowned as the Heartless Sword King, a peerless swordsman from decades past.
"Straight to the Azure Clouds!"
The gradual sword light shot straight at him, like a blue cloud that seemed slow but was actually so fast that one could not react in time. Jade Lion’s palm was instantly penetrated, and he almost had his chest pierced as well.
Unlike the all-encompassing approach of the Heartless Sword King, the Azure Cloud Sword King’s offensive was the foremost among the three great Sword Kings. It was said that since his debut, no one could withstand ten moves from him.
For his Azure Cloud Swordsmanship only had ten moves, and to block all ten was to be no weaker than the Azure Cloud Sword King himself.
Mu Ling was already seriously injured and was facing the sharpest swordsman in the half-step Void Origin Realm. It was quite an achievement to survive a move from him.
As the second move of the Azure Cloud Swordsmanship approached, Mu Ling was prepared to fight to the death when suddenly a knife light surged from behind, shaking the Sword Qi off its original path.
"Sister!"
Gui Zhihang looked at Gui Fuling in surprise.
At this moment, Gui Fuling held a blood-stained long knife in her hand, emanating an ancient and timeless knife aura that seemed neither righteous nor evil, neither hard nor soft.
Who would have known that back at the ruins of the Blade Slaves Sect, Gui Fuling accidentally ingested a mysterious knife seed. It was because of this that the Golden Armor Guard Pacifying Envoy Yan Kai gave her so much trouble, ultimately dying due to Shi Xiaole’s stratagem.
Over the years, Gui Fuling had merged with the knife seed, and after the toxins in her body were eradicated, she finally stopped hiding and unleashed her true power.
"Young Master Mu, let’s join forces."
Gui Fuling’s expression was icy cold as she slashed horizontally with her knife, the blade light flowing like water. The Golden Armor Guards and Imperial Guard experts within a thirty-feet radius on both sides were affected and scattered.
"Jade Lion Open Heaven Fist!"
Although he didn’t know the situation with Gui Fuling, Mu Ling didn’t hesitate to strike; his huge fist transformed into a lion’s shadow with a gaping mouth, swallowing towards the Azure Cloud Sword King.
"Futile effort, Azure Cloud Severing the Heavens."
The azure cloud gradually expanded, absorbing the knife and punching energies. Just as it was about to burst, the Azure Cloud swordsman emerged with a cruel expression, transforming the giant cloud into a translucent sharp sword, thrusting straight at the two of them, leaving a torrent of blood in its path.
Boom! Boom!
Mu Ling spit blood, his ribcage shattered in twelve places, sending three Golden Armor Guards flying. Gui Fuling struggled to defend with her long knife, her left hand rotating to divert the residual Sword Qi towards herself, protecting her brother and younger brother from harm.
Crack.
The long knife broke in two, and Gui Fuling spewed a mouthful of blood, stumbling and falling to the ground. The power of the mysterious knife seed made her an apex Earth Immortal within a few years, but it still fell far short of the half-step Void Origin, too much to make up for.
Looking around, several other half-step Void Origin Realm masters had appeared among the imperial ranks, and as for the Invincible Earth Immortals, there were over twenty, pressing down on the Devil Path, Tang Sect, and many Martial World experts. The situation was overwhelmingly one-sided.
The depths uncovered by the court in this battle shocked and frightened everyone. The iceberg hidden beneath the ocean was gradually revealing itself, sending chills across the Martial World in this upcoming era of turmoil.
"Brother Mu, please go quickly. I, Gui Zhihang, owe you in this life and can only repay you in the next."
Gui Zhihang held Gui Nanyan, who was at death’s door with only her eyes still moving, watched Mu Ling being besieged by several Golden Armor Guards, and saw Duanmu Keren, who was in dire straits against the Heartless Sword King. He looked at his sister, who was frail but desperately standing in front of him with a knife braced to the ground, and tears of blood slowly streamed down his eyes.
The greatest tragedy of life is the imminent loss of loved ones and friends, and even more tragic is that he could only watch it happen, powerless to prevent it.
I’m too weak!
Gui Zhihang let out a bitter laugh.
"You brought this upon yourselves. Time to send you on your way."
The Azure Cloud Sword King, expressionless, swung out the fifth style of the Azure Cloud Swordsmanship. One sword down, and Gui Fuling felt a thick aura of death, her arm stiffened, unable to swing the knife.
Just as the unrivaled beauty was about to be beheaded, suddenly a breeze passed by, and a man stood in front of her, waving his hand to shatter the attack.
"Miss, follow me, I’ll get you out of here."
The man had an ordinary face, his body stained with blood, and his voice wasn’t loud but it was exceptionally clear in the deafening battlefield. He looked at Gui Zhihang with an expression of pity and sadness.
"Azure Cloud Across the Vast Expanse!"
Knowing that anyone who could block his swordsmanship was not to be underestimated, the Azure Cloud Sword King looked serious and without a second thought, unleashed the eighth style of the Azure Cloud Swordsmanship.
"Careful!"
Gui Fuling recognized the terror of this sword and loudly warned.
"A fine sword, but I do not have the leisure to accompany you."
The man was of course Shi Xiaole in disguise.
To oversee the overall situation and prevent unexpected circumstances, he had not infiltrated this place yesterday, which caused him great effort and many battles to break in.
Fortunately, he was not too late.
Facing the enveloping Sword Qi, Shi Xiaole advanced instead of retreating, drawing his own sword from its sheath—not the Spring Fury Sword, but another mid-grade spiritual sword. As he swung the long sword, illusions abounded, as if countless people were swinging it, striking forward.
