Chapter 920: Chapter 919: The 3rd 4-star Mission_1
After congregating eighty-six Vigorous Air Vortices, Shi Xiaole concluded his seclusion.
Cultivation is hardly instant, and he could clearly feel that his spiritual power had been greatly depleted; his condition was far from as good as before and required adjustment.
Upon returning to Wuling Villa, Shi Xiaole learned of the major events that had recently occurred in the Martial World.
"The constraints of the Golden Abyss Alliance have disappeared?"
Thousands of years ago, the dominators of the Martial World were still Martial Emperors of the Void Origin Realm, but due to their immense destructiveness, which exceeded worldly boundaries, every sect, including those that housed Martial Emperors of the Void Origin Realm, grew weary of their disruptions.
To ensure relative peace in the Martial World, numerous Martial Emperors spent half a year negotiating and engaged in a secret grand battle at the legendary Golden Abyss. After that, the Golden Abyss Alliance was established, with Martial Emperors of the Void Origin Realm withdrawing from the world.
More than six hundred years ago, when the Great Battle between Good and Evil occurred, numerous Martial Emperors of the Void Origin Realm reemerged, sparking another war that affected the masses.
As a matter of fact, even up to now, people still couldn’t understand how those Martial Emperors of the Void Origin Realm could circumvent the heavenly might of the Golden Abyss Alliance during that time. This had become a great unsolved mystery troubling the Martial World.
Shi Xiaole couldn’t help but wryly smile; he could imagine that without the Golden Abyss Alliance, those Martial Emperors of the Void Origin Realm wouldn’t stay idle—chaos would ensue in the Martial World!
Fortunately, the Nine Profound Array was impregnable, so there was no need to worry about his family and friends falling prey and becoming his weakness.
"Hall Master, a few days ago, someone attacked the Array System. It’s suspected to be a Martial Emperor of the Void Origin Realm."
Zhu Ling’s face was grave as she relayed another piece of news.
Logically speaking, even if the imperial army of a million soldiers couldn’t break the Nine Profound Array, there should be no one else targeting it, but this was not the case.
Although a million soldiers sounds like a lot, their strength couldn’t be concentrated in one place. At least half would be mutually consumed. The remaining strength, spread over the vast surface of the Array System, had much less concentrated power than outsiders imagined.
However, a Martial Emperor of the Void Origin Realm exerting full strength could undoubtedly produce a single-point destructive force many times stronger.
"Persistent thieves! Was it recorded on the Retaining Image Stone?"
"Yes."
Below the Yinfeng Pavilion, at the core of the Array System, Shi Xiaole saw two figures from the three-zhang high Retaining Image Stone.
One wielded a black lance, and the other held an iron sword. Each of their moves were extremely restrained, yet each hid a powerful force capable of astonishing feats, as if they could overturn heaven and earth—clearly, they were two Martial Emperors of the Void Origin Realm.
Every attack would create depressions of dozens of zhang on the surface of the Nine Profound Array, giving the impression that it was about to be breached. Zhu Ling had watched it many times, yet she still felt her heart racing with fear.
"These two come every night, and have been attacking continuously for ten days."
Zhu Ling bit her lip in frustration.
For ten consecutive days, Nine Heavens Mountain had been rocked as if struck by thunder; the villa’s inhabitants hadn’t slept well. Fortunately, after repeated trials, everyone had become extremely tough, otherwise they would have been scared to death.
"Hall Master, now that the news of your dual martial paths has spread throughout the Flying Horse Dynasty, I fear more Martial Emperors of the Void Origin Realm will rush here. The Nine Profound Array might not withstand it; should we make preparations in advance?"
Shi Xiaole shook his head, "Let them come! By the way, how is the construction of the two villas to the north progressing?"
Zhu Ling didn’t understand Shi Xiaole’s focus but she had great faith in him, so she replied, "They will be completed within three days."
"Good, the sky won’t fall. Miss Ling, Nine Heavens Mountain will become one of the safest places in the entire world."
Shi Xiaole turned around, blinking his eyes.
Zhu Ling was infected by his powerful confidence, and her worries vanished instantly. There was no reason and no need for an explanation; Shi Xiaole was never wrong.
The situation continued to develop for the worse. Over the next two days, on top of the original two Martial Emperors of the Void Origin Realm, three more arrived. Five Martial Emperors of the Void Origin Realm joined forces in an attack that pushed the Nine Profound Array inward by nearly a hundred zhang.
Many disciples of Nine Heavens Mountain even saw cracks appearing on the surface of the Array System, their hearts lifted to their throats.
On the third day.
The sixth Martial Emperor of the Void Origin Realm arrived.
"How many Martial Emperors can your turtle shell hold off? If you don’t want your people to suffer, come out obediently. I’ll just ask you a few questions and leave. Otherwise, once the array breaks, don’t blame me for being ruthless!"
The old man holding the iron sword was Iron Sword Emperor, hailing from Dragon View Ridge, as Gui Zhihang secretly informed Shi Xiaole.
"Shi Xiaole, we have come to seek your guidance out of respect for your reputation. Why do you refuse visitors? The longer it takes, the more people will come, and if it provokes someone with a bad temper, then it will be troublesome."
Another white-haired old man, standing thousands of zhang away from Iron Sword Emperor, spoke amiably. However, his words were clearly laced with threat, hiding a needle within cotton.
This old man was Heart Transformation Martial Emperor, who rose to the Void Origin Realm over three hundred years ago and came from the Oblivion Assembly.
The other four remained silent. But the distinctly different auras they exuded enveloped the area in all directions, convincing Shi Xiaole that he would immediately be surrounded the moment he stepped out of the Nine Profound Array.
Seeking guidance? The repeated merciless attacks—if the Nine Profound Array hadn’t been so solid, it would have been hard to imagine what would have become of Nine Heavens Mountain.
"Please return, everyone. When I ascend to emperorship one day, I will surely issue invitations far and wide, inviting you all to my humble abode."
Shi Xiaole responded.
The faces of the six froze over.
Their greatest concern was precisely this issue. The Kirin being invincible among peers was not a mere saying but a truth almost universally acknowledged in the Martial World.
Even the high and mighty Martial Emperors of the Void Origin Realm, upon hearing of the Kirin’s various feats, dared not take it lightly. This is why, on this occasion, the six individuals had already reached an unspoken agreement: since they had offended the Kirin, after obtaining the secrets of the dual martial paths, they must crush this chaos-bringing abomination!
The previous words were just to lower the Kirin’s guard.
"Obstinate fools, you possess dual martial paths, which defies the natural order of heaven and earth. I believe you must be descendants of Outer Heaven Demons, and we must eradicate you!"
The man, wielding a black lance, danced with both hands, and it seemed as if he split the heavens and earth in half. A pitch-black bolt of lightning struck the Nine Profound Array System, tearing a long and deep gash in it.
This individual was the Dark Lance Emperor, who had claimed his title over eight hundred years ago and participated in the righteous-demonic battle over six hundred years earlier, originating from the lair of the Blood Emperor.
Once the Dark Lance Emperor made his move, the other five ceased their chatter and attacked together. Killing intent shone in the eyes of all six, clearly prepared to stop at nothing.
Under the relentless barrage, the Nine Profound Array System began to crackle, giving the impression that it was on the verge of collapse, sending chills down the spines of everyone within the villa as their blood seemed to freeze.
"What Void Origin Realm Martial Emperors, nothing more than a bunch of charlatans! If I, Mu Ling, perfect my cultivation, I shall crush you all beneath my feet!"
Mu Ling’s eyebrows stood on end, his face, unmatched in valor, filled with towering rage.
Gui Zhihang, however, looked at Shi Xiaole with concern.
The situation seemed to have reached its most perilous juncture again.
"Nonsense."
Amidst the worried and angry gazes, Shi Xiaole soared into the air, his green robe fluttering, exuding the air of a carefree immortal. With a series of hand signs, strands of light weaved through the night sky beneath his command.
Whoosh!
In an instant, the nine great mountains of Nine Heavens Mountain, including two that had just been completed, each lit up a beam of light that surged into the sky, fusing into the Nine Profound Array System. The thickness of the barrier increased eightfold at a rate visible to the naked eye.
The full-force strikes of the six Martial Emperors of the Void Origin Realm hit the barrier, but couldn’t cause even a ripple.
"Impossible!"
The Dark Lance Emperor and the other five were flabbergasted.
Not even the top powers of the Flying Horse Dynasty possessed such an Array System!
"If you have the energy, keep attacking. On the day Shi Xiaole claims the title of emperor, I shall seek each of you out to catch up."
Leaving behind those words, Shi Xiaole flew off, leaving only the bright moon in the sky above.
Had this great danger been resolved just like that?
Everyone looked up to where the great villa master had disappeared, their eyes filled with fervent admiration and hope.
With such a person to protect them, how could Nine Heavens Mountain not prosper?
So, those who were sleeping went back to sleep, those who were cultivating resumed their training, and those who were drinking continued their drinking. Everyone left, their actions enraging the Dark Lance Emperor and the other five, who almost popped their eyes out, yet a chilling fear also arose within them.
If Shi Xiaole continued to hide and broke through to the Void Origin Realm, wouldn’t that spell their doom?
Afterward, several other Martial Emperors of the Void Origin Realm arrived secretly, but upon seeing the Nine Profound Array System, they turned around without revealing themselves. People came and went, and only the Dark Lance Emperor and his cohort, persistent as ever, attacked for nearly a month before they could only leave in frustration.
As the news spread, everyone in the Martial World was shocked by Shi Xiaole’s fortune. Many said that the Kirin Young Emperor was unstoppable and bound to sweep across the world, becoming one of the absolute protagonists of this great era.
Yet no one knew that just as Nine Heavens Mountain returned to peacefulness, another Martial Emperor of the Void Origin Realm arrived, and it was Shi Xiaole himself who had personally welcomed him.
"My Hall Master Shi, you’ve got quite the secure little nest here; how about moving the Divine Sect over?"
Han Yanfa looked around in wonder, clicking his tongue in amazement, his eyes bright and gleaming like green beans.
Shi Xiaole jumped in shock. How could he possibly allow a bunch of lunatics from the Divine Sect to come here and turn the place upside down? He quickly changed the subject, "Protector Han has come a long way; it must be for something important."
On mentioning important matters, Han Yanfa immediately became serious, "He who knows me, Hall Master Shi. It’s like this: in years past, a significant branch of my Divine Sect was lost in the Daxia Dynasty, so the Sect Leader hopes you can act on her behalf to subdue this branch."
"Why doesn’t the Sect Leader go herself?"
"Not to hide anything from you, Hall Master Shi, but our Sect Leader is busy managing a myriad of tasks day and night, and is currently at a critical juncture in her training – she simply can’t spare the time."
"What about the four Protectors?"
"Tian Jizi hasn’t returned yet, and Witch Granny’s killing intent is too strong; I’m afraid the branch members might not know any better and end up being slaughtered by her. Murong San is a cracked melon and a split date - he would tarnish the image of the Divine Sect. As for me, old Han, I am the most handsome and amiable. Yet, tasked with the great duty of recruiting disciples and overseeing nineteen sub-halls, each with its own missions, so..."
Shi Xiaole stared at the chubby Han Yanfa, finding it impossible to associate him with handsomeness; shameless was more like it.
He was about to refuse instinctively when, at that moment, the system issued a sound and categorized it as his twelfth task, also the third four-star task.
Shi Xiaole had already experienced the difficulty of four-star tasks. Therefore, reclaiming a branch of the Divine Sect was far from the simple task Han Yanfa made it out to be. This guy was setting a trap!
But for Shi Xiaole, four-star tasks were rare opportunities that had to be fulfilled, especially as he was edging closer to the Void Origin Realm, and aiming for significant achievements, he needed to cultivate top-grade martial arts.
This was the third four-star task. Upon completion, he would gain the authority to purchase top-grade martial arts!
