Chapter 917: Chapter 916 A Huge Secret_1
Sky City, inside a dimly-lit room.
"Your Highness, they’ve broken through."
Clad in a silver robe, a person wearing a silver mask hurried in and said respectfully with clasped hands.
"Man proposes, God disposes. Who would have expected a Kirin to disrupt this king’s plan, truly an unexpected turn. However, the main objective of this king has been achieved; you all have worked hard this time."
A cultivated voice came from the darkness.
The three major lines of defense designed for people of the Martial World were the results of coordination among various powers. If one could break through, they would be as free as a bird in the sky. It is not that the court lacked the strength to encircle and suppress the people of the Martial World, but rather the current court had long been infiltrated by various powers, splitting into different factions.
Each faction had its calculations, like scattered sand, with none willing to sacrifice their own strength.
"It is the highest honor for the Silver Robe Alliance to serve Your Highness."
"Mm, where are the people we captured?"
"They are now held outside the secret chamber, just awaiting Your Highness’s summons."
"Take them down and do not see them for now. After this battle, I believe all parties will be aware of that greatest secret, and those people should know that the world will be in great chaos again! Silver One, how goes the negotiation with the Undying Alliance?"
"Reporting to Your Highness, those monsters are insatiable, still fantasizing about greater benefits, but I see that they can’t wait any longer, they are merely putting on a strong front."
"Leak some information, press them. This prince has no patience to wait for them!"
"Yes!"
The residence of King Jin.
"Where is the person I asked you to capture?"
King Jin sat at the top of the hall, his face handsome with a gentle smile like a spring breeze.
Ookubo knelt below, his face pale, his head lowered as he said, "Young Master, your subordinate deserves death. Those people were intercepted by unidentified individuals on the way."
"What? This is a serious matter, how could you make such a rookie mistake? You must understand that secret concerns Father’s expedition across the Central Plain, the grand plan to conquer the world!"
King Jin suddenly rose, his expression fierce as if to devour someone, a cold, murderous intent emanating from his being.
Ookubo stealthily observed the Young Master from the corner of his eye.
Honestly, he suspected that those unidentified individuals were actually the Young Master’s men, but he had no evidence. Besides, judging from the Young Master’s present demeanor, he seemed genuinely unaware.
"Investigate, go investigate! Those people are core individuals, well-versed in the secrets involved with various factions. They must be recaptured at all costs, or else prepare to commit seppuku!"
King Jin drew his Demon Blade, its light stopping just half an inch from Ookubo’s head. He truly wanted to strike down and rid himself of this thorn in his side, but the opponent’s background, as well as his own strength, prevented King Jin from taking the risk.
"Rest assured, Young Master. If Ookubo does not catch those individuals, you may deal with me as you please!"
Ookubo gritted his teeth, the movement of bowing his head concealing the fierce and flickering glint in his eyes.
The news of the Jixia Martial Academy’s principal, ’Innocent Old Man’ Bai Lingsheng, disappearing without a trace after a battle with a mysterious person, his life and death uncertain, spread throughout Sky City the day after the incident.
People of the Martial World were privately shocked, and ordinary citizens were curious and worried alike.
This was the sixth greatest master in the world, one of the guardian deities of the Flying Horse Dynasty. Should anything happen to him, it would be a tremendous blow to the court.
Some said Bai Lingsheng had secretly returned to Jixia Martial Academy. Others claimed that the National Master personally divined his fortune, and the divination indicated that Bai Lingsheng met with misfortune... Various rumors spread widely.
At this juncture, the Jixia Martial Academy’s Vice Principal, Zhou Ting, was entrusted with the crisis and became the new Principal. Upon taking office, he promptly initiated reforms, and within a mere month, dismissed many old staff and promoted newcomers to their places.
The whole process was executed with the decisiveness and swiftness of Swift as Lightning Wind, as if it had been rehearsed many times over in advance.
...
Skywater River, the largest river of the Flying Horse Dynasty, starting from the southeast side of Sky City and extending all the way to Mirror State, spanning a hundred thousand miles. There were many long and short tributaries in between, passing through many states.
On the vast expanse of the river, one could occasionally spot little black dots, which, on closer approach, turned out to be boats coming and going.
On a common three-tier pleasure barge, at the forefront of the deck, stood a young man in green clothes as brilliant as jade.
Having left Sky City several days ago, everything had been calm, but Shi Xiaole dared not take this lightly. Aside from daily cultivation, his greatest wish was to rush back to Nine Profound Mountain immediately, only there could he find absolute safety.
Footsteps sounded from behind.
Gui Zhihang, Duanmu Keren, and Mu Ling approached him.
Though the previous life-and-death battles were dangerous, the benefits they brought to the three were unmistakable. After a few days of consolidation, each of them had seen significant improvement.
Gui Zhihang, the strongest of them, had now impressively reached the Ninth Tier Earth Immortal, and due to age, Duanmu Keren and Mu Ling were slightly behind but also tipped the scales as top Eighth Tier Earth Immortals.
Given these achievements at around forty years of age, one could imagine how brilliant their futures could be.
Of course, when compared to Shi Xiaole, all of this seemed rather insignificant.
Mu Ling called out, "Old Shi, it’s rare to see you not cultivating."
"Cultivation is also a practice of the mind, and what I have perceived is the realm,"
Shi Xiaole didn’t even turn his head, leaving the three men taken aback.
The three of them had no idea that Shi Xiaole had already begun preparing for his advancement to the Void Origin Realm. Creating a Vigorous Air Vortex may appear similar, but the methods are diverse, and they can lead to vastly different outcomes.
Of course, given that the talent of a Martial Emperor in the Void Origin Realm is considered the pinnacle of humanity, the differences are minimal, hence the strength of the Vigorous Air they manifest is also roughly similar. However, Shi Xiaole clearly was not content with being ’average.’
He intended to devise a flawless method for creating a Vigorous Air Vortex to maximize the advantage of his Vigorous Air.
The four stood on the deck chatting for a while, most of it idle prattle. Beyond cultivation, a bit of jesting was necessary from time to time, else life would be too dull.
Suddenly recalling something, Mu Ling asked, "Old Tortoise, why aren’t your father and uncles among those arrested this time?"
Gui Zhihang replied bitterly, "They had already left ahead of time when the court came knocking."
Gui Zhihang’s father, naturally, was the head of the Gui Family, and rumored to be a Martial Emperor of the Void Origin Realm.
From Gui Zhihang’s words, one could deduce that the upper echelons of the Gui Family must have been privy to some situation, which is why they took the key members and withdrew, leaving behind only Gui Zhihang and his sister, using them as a sacrifice to appease the anger of the court.
The lack of compassion within a noble family was indeed as expected.
At this moment, Gui Nanyan and Gui Fuling also came out.
"Our father and the others had no choice but to leave, don’t hold it against them," Gui Nanyan said.
Bearing injuries, Gui Nanyan had a more haggard appearance than his previously spirited demeanor, seemingly aged beyond his years.
Out of curiosity, Mu Ling inquired, "What exactly is the Gui Family cooking up with the Tang Sect to attract the court’s covetous eyes? But it’s just a casual question, you don’t have to answer if you don’t wish to."
In front of strangers, Mu Ling was arrogantly dismissive, but in front of true friends, he was straightforward and candid, without a shred of guile.
Gui Nanyan responded, "You are our saviors, and Brother Zhihang’s life-and-death companions. There’s nothing to hide, but since this matter is of great significance, I hope you will not spread the word."
With that, he led the way into the cabin.
Seeing his serious demeanor, everyone’s curiosity intensified, and all, including Shi Xiaole, followed him in.
Once in the cabin’s lounge, they all took seats. At Gui Nanyan’s signal, Gui Zhihang immediately set up a Vigorous Air barrier around them to prevent their voices from spreading.
"Brother, go ahead,"
It seemed Gui Zhihang himself was unaware of the details.
Gui Nanyan revealed, "To be honest, while the Gui Family is a Martial World power, we’ve also amassed immense wealth in secret, unmatched by few families. For decades, a huge sum of our family’s money has gone missing each year, with the accounts doctored to cover our tracks. In fact, all of this money has been flowing to the Tang Sect."
The Tang Sect?! Shi Xiaole had heard fragments of information from Mu Qianji before, and though he had yet to react, the others were stunned. No wonder the Tang Sect had also sent experts for a rescue effort previously.
"Not just the Tang Sect, but other Martial World powers are also involved. Some provide funding, some supply manpower, and others contribute defensive capabilities. These powers are very secretive; even I don’t know who they are. Only my father and a few others do," Gui Nanyan murmured. Because of this matter, his family had been destroyed, but Shi Xiaole saw no regret in Gui Nanyan’s eyes, only an unyielding determination!
This was getting interesting.
"Brother, what exactly are our Gui Family and Tang Sect trying to do? Tell us quickly," urged Gui Fuling.
After a few days of recovery, she had regained her stunning beauty, her skin smooth and translucent, her face delicate beyond compare, like a peony nourished by water, each movement mesmerizing.
"We are researching a medicine that can detect the bloodlines of beings from beyond this world!"
As soon as Gui Nanyan finished speaking, the cabin fell silent enough to hear a pin drop.
In the Martial World, there was never any talk of beings from beyond this world, but the few present were all from prominent families, privy to information beyond the ken of ordinary people.
Legend had it that long ago, a cataclysmic battle had erupted on the East Victory continent, countless heroes had spilled their blood in defense of their homeland, fighting the enemy until the sky darkened and the sun and moon lost their light. In that battle, innumerable valiant souls perished, many heroes were laid to rest.
The martial civilization of the entire East Victory continent regressed by centuries due to this war.
But amidst the unyielding sacrifices, the forebears finally defended their home and repelled the invaders. Those invaders were the beings from beyond this world!
"Could it be, the beings from beyond have resurged from the ashes?"
Mu Ling asked.
All eyes landed on Gui Nanyan’s face, heavy with gravity.
"Indeed! The truth is, they’ve never hidden. Some of them hold high positions in the Martial World and the court, wielding immense power!"
"Yet, their appearance is identical to ours. Hence, thousands of years ago, the Tang Sect set out to develop a medicine capable of detecting these beings from beyond. Through tribulations and intermittent progress, the research continued until recently, when the toll became so great that even the Tang Sect’s resources were strained. Owing to some connection with our Gui Family, the Tang Sect secretly approached us for assistance," Gui Nanyan declared.
Eagerly, Duanmu Keren inquired, "How far along is the research on this medicine?"
Gui Nanyan’s face lit up, "Reportedly, it has reached the most critical phase!"
