Chapter 915: Chapter 914 The Trump Card Revealed_1
The Martial World experts who were blocked off dared not even breathe heavily.
Under the oppressive aura of qi, they could easily detect that they were surrounded by thirteen half-step Void Origin experts and thirty-one ninth peak experts of the Divine Barrier Realm. As for the Earth Immortals, they were everywhere one looked.
Was this the result of more than six hundred years of accumulation by the imperial court? No, perhaps it was just a part of it.
"Surrender faithfully, swear fealty to the imperial court, or you may be spared from death."
On the eaves to the west, a middle-aged man with a mustache and twin sabers on his waist spoke coldly.
He was one of the six great God Catchers of the Six Fan Gate, ’Qi Penetrating Bloody Sea’ Tie Wangui, commanding two million imperial catchpoles. His martial prowess had long reached a peak few in the Martial World could rival.
"Tie Wangui, you were originally a disciple of the Dreamy Sect, fully nurtured by the previous Sect Leader. Yet after his death, you defected to the imperial court, willing to be their hound. How can someone as ungrateful and treacherous as you still have the face to live in this world?"
Uncle Lu suddenly pointed at Tie Wangui and burst out laughing. Only then did everyone realize that the renowned Iron God Catcher had once been a member of the Devil Path.
"To abandon darkness for light is the way of the just! Lu, do not resist stubbornly, you will never overcome the imperial court."
Tie Wangui, whose past was exposed publicly, remained undisturbed, his gaze unflinching.
"Why waste so many words, these people must die. Golden Armor Guards, attack!"
Zhao Huanzhi’s gaze at Shi Xiaole was like that of someone facing the killer of their father. That previous battle was undoubtedly a humiliation for him, and he wanted to wash away this disgrace with Shi Xiaole’s blood.
Whoosh whoosh whoosh.
Numerous spheres of Vigorous Air hurtled toward them. The Martial World experts, whether injured or disabled, as long as they had a breath left in them, all grasped their weapons and charged forward.
The bloody battle erupted once again.
"Returning Vitality Divine Palm!"
A strike from the palm flew, tossing an Earth Immortal of the Six Fan Gate through the air, drawing the attention of many around.
"Old tortoise, since when were you so strong?"
Mu Ling and Duanmu Keren couldn’t help but be astonished.
After being saved by the Tang Sect experts, the toxins within the prisoners were cleared, and their powers were all restored. This was the first time Gui Zhihang took action, to which he replied, "I’ll explain later."
Who could have known the pain and torment Gui Zhihang suffered while imprisoned? It was precisely this experience that led him to reflect on his past and gain a deeper understanding of the mysteries of returning to simplicity and truth.
"Thousand Sail Shattering Crystal Hand!"
A pale hand struck towards Gui Zhihang. The assailant was thin and gaunt; none other than ’Thin Impermanence’ Chao Long from the Twelve Supervisors of the Golden Armor Guard.
Facing the strike of an Invincible Earth Immortal, Gui Zhihang did not dodge or evade, punching out instead.
Boom!
Both men retreated at the same time, quickly engaging in close combat. Seeing this, ’Fat Impermanence’ Shi Guangwei, who had previously interacted with Gui Zhihang at the Blade Slaves Sect, also rushed forward. His martial skills were inferior to Chao Long’s, so he mainly focused on sneak attacks.
On another front, Mu Ling and Duanmu Keren were also entangled with their opponents. Perhaps inspired by Gui Zhihang, the two became increasingly stronger as they fought, and there were signs of a breakthrough.
"Stay close to me, don’t stray even half a step."
Shi Xiaole suddenly grabbed Gui Fuling.
With her martial prowess, she would have difficulty surviving the battle, not to mention protecting the gravely wounded Gui Nanyan. Shi Xiaole was acutely aware of how important these two were to Gui Zhihang.
"I will never forget the swordsman’s kindness for the rest of my life. Fuling would repay you in any way possible, but at this juncture, please don’t concern yourself with me."
With teary eyes, Gui Fuling showed a touching smile. It would be a lie to say she wasn’t moved. That ordinary face of his held an irresistible attraction at that moment, making her yearn for one more glance.
But she understood even more that with herself and her Brother as a burden, his slim chances of survival would become even slimmer.
With a trembling voice, Gui Fuling telepathically spoke, "Fuling only asks that you take Gui Zhihang and leave. I know this is selfish, but he is the last direct descendent of the Gui Family line; the lineage must not be broken! Even if Fuling were to descend to the underworld, I would pray every day for the swordsman’s health and well-being!"
During their conversation, a circle of people had formed, involuntarily enclosing Shi Xiaole, Gui Fuling, and Gui Nanyan.
The previous hesitation to attack was due partly to the chaos of the battlefield, fearing to accidentally harm their own, and partly to apprehension, but thankfully, everyone was extraordinary and quickly adjusted.
"Is this person really as formidable as you say?"
Looking at Shi Xiaole, Tie Wangui was somewhat disbelieving—not in reason, but in emotion. According to Sima Wu’s description, this man’s prowess was even above the Kirin’s.
"Just try an attack, Lord Tie, and you’ll see."
Zhao Huanzhi spoke coldly.
"Attack!"
Sima Wu was very decisive; his left-handed iron palm was the first to furiously slap forward, creating waves that tugged at the soul.
As one of the three top deputy commanders of the Golden Armor Guard, Sima Wu already had a Vigorous Air Vortex comprising sixty percent of his power within him. He had dominated the Devil Path’s giant, the Heaven-Shaking Fist King, and his strength was far above Fujiki Naotsugu’s.
This realization dawned on many that it wasn’t that the Central Plain lacked able men; it’s just that there were too many, lurking unseen.
Meeting the attack head-on, Shi Xiaole gripped his sword in one hand, unleashing the ’Stop and Observe’ from the Ten Stoppages Tribulation. With his left hand’s index and middle fingers together, he lightly flicked upward, and countless finger shadows sprang out of nowhere, converging into a spike that thrust towards Sima Wu.
Clang!
The void trembled.
Sima Wu retreated five steps, while Shi Xiaole took three.
"Hmm?"
Tie Wangui narrowed his eyes.
"No Tricks in Sleeve, Reversing World Kill!"
Just as the two experts stabilized their stances and before they could regain their strength, Zhao Huanzhi swung his robe, shooting out beams of Vigorous Air, intending to pierce through Shi Xiaole.
Three other Half-step Void Origin Experts, as well as Tie Wangui, were not a step behind, each unleashing their lethal moves, attacking Shi Xiaole from different directions.
There were no preliminaries, no fair duels, only the naked intent to kill.
The onslaught had not yet arrived, but the intense pressure had already awakened the unconscious Gui Nanyan. She felt an endless pain all over, as strands of blood seeped through the bandaged wounds.
Gui Fuling desperately wanted to swing her sword, to lighten the burden on the hero in her heart, but to her sorrow, she found that her own abilities could only protect Gui Nanyan.
Only a Void Origin Realm master could withstand such a deadly attack, but unfortunately, a master of the Void Origin Realm could not exert their full strength, so no one in the world could withstand it!
Not to mention the burden of having her brother and herself to protect.
"Swordsman!"
All Gui Fuling could do was gaze at the figure shrouded in Vigorous Air, her heart leaping to her throat.
The wind whistled past.
Without warning, the sky resounded with thunder, and dark clouds hung low. Drops of rain the size of beans began to fall without warning, quickly turning into a torrential downpour, but it could not wash away the bloodstains and severed limbs on the ground, on the walls.
On the contrary, the rain made the stench of blood even stronger, spreading it across the long street, penetrating the noses of everyone present.
People’s vision became blurred.
It was at this moment that Shi Xiaole was engulfed by the attack.
Then came the howling wind, which suddenly swept up Shi Xiaole, Gui Fuling, and Gui Nanyan, breaking them out of the encirclement of the six Half-step Void Origin Experts.
"Who is it?"
Zhao Huanzhi’s face turned pale with shock, but her eyes were fixed on Shi Xiaole with a blank stare, as if he was not a mortal, but a god, a devil, a sheer terror!
Tie Wangui, Sima Wu, and the three other Half-step Void Origin Experts, as well as those particularly concerned about Gui Fuling and Gui Nanyan – Gui Zhihang, Mu Ling, Duanmu Keren – all trembled with intense shock, their thoughts frozen at that instant.
Wind swirled around Shi Xiaole.
The ethereal yet sharp aura, like numerous Wind Swords, became even more fierce and bold amidst the storm. This was not the Illusion Martial Way but the Wind Sword Way!
This ordinary man, who had been shocking everyone since his arrival, sighed helplessly.
"Who, exactly, are you?"
Sima Wu’s voice squeezed out of his throat, suppressed and trembling. He was drenched, but his gaze was sharp enough to pierce through the curtain of rain as if he wanted to see into Shi Xiaole’s soul.
Many have grasped the Wind Sword Way, but only one in the entire world has mastered it to more than ninety percent and reached the level of nearly Supreme Lord!
"Shouldn’t you have guessed it by now?"
The man’s voice changed, and at the same time, the mask was torn off, turning a counterfeit into an out-of-print treasure, revealing a devilishly handsome face to all before him. His body also grew taller with cracking sounds, returning to his true stature.
What a man he was.
Standing in the rain, the downpour became his background, the long street diminished in his presence, and he stood like a divine sword that reached the heavens, unique in the universe, invincible across the world.
He has surely never truly been defeated; a man who has known failure could never possess such a presence, a man who alone is worth a thousand troops, insurmountable, unstoppable.
"Old Shi, you bastard, haha..."
Mu Ling burst into laughter, not knowing whether the wetness at the corner of his eyes was rain or tears.
Duanmu Keren’s chest heaved wildly, her face red with excitement.
"Brother Shi, I owe you too much!"
Gui Zhihang was overwhelmed with emotions, feeling a boundless touch of gratitude and shame that seemed ready to burst him open.
He deeply understood what Shi Xiaole’s actions meant – that gods and mortals alike, across time, it was unheard of for anyone to master two ways of martial arts to their highest realms, not even the Martial Emperor had achieved it!
Shi Xiaole could have quietly cultivated until the day he was invincible, unrestricted by the world. Yet, for their sake, he had revealed his biggest secret.
What kind of trials and dangers would he face from now on?
"Young Hero Shi..."
Gui Fuling was stunned, looking up at the divine profile of Shi Xiaole, her voice dreamy.
The woman in the black veil turned her head repeatedly, cursing, "What an idiot!"
"Kirin Young Emperor, it turns out that the entire world has been deceived by you. Only today have you shown your true face. Well, don’t even think about leaving here alive!"
Tie Wangui’s heart trembled, unsure whether from excitement or fear. Allowing such an enemy to live would be everyone’s nightmare, and he must be exterminated at all costs.
The other experts felt a mix of shock, fear, and joy, and words failed to describe their emotions.
Shi Xiaole said nothing.
If he could, he would not want to reveal his identity because it could affect not only himself but also extend to Nine Heavens Mountain. Fortunately, the defensive array at Nine Heavens Mountain was far beyond what others could imagine – without offensive power, yet enough to withstand any attack. However, after this, people from Nine Heavens Mountain would not be able to venture into the Martial World for a long time.
Unfortunately, Shi Xiaole had no choice.
Since he had already been revealed, he no longer wanted to hide his strength. With the Spring Fury Sword unsheathed and the power of the Heart Sword added, he swung his sword towards the front.
Boom! Boom! Boom!...
The torrential rain turned into bombs. The whitish curtain of rain was like a rolled-up galaxy, as countless raindrops shot out in all directions under the force, each carrying a sharp Wind Sword.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
Three Half-step Void Origin Experts were pierced through, turning into bloody messes.
Tie Wangui recoiled violently, Sima Wu recoiled, Zhao Huanzhi recoiled, and all the other affected experts, each carrying varying degrees of injury, recoiled as well.
