Chapter 921: Chapter 920 Fearful Martial Emperor_1
"The difficulties ahead are numerous, and the entire world is hunting me down. It’s hard to ensure my identity won’t be exposed, I’m afraid..."
Shi Xiaole had decided to go, but still seemed hesitant.
Han Yanfa chuckled with a sleazy look, "Hall Master Shi, the Sect Leader has said that if you complete this mission, the Saintess will be promised to you as a bride."
"I’m not interested in the fairer sex."
Remembering the temptation exuding from Xi Xianglei’s very bones, and her proud disdain at considering all men beneath her, Shi Xiaole felt a strange stirring in his heart and quickly suppressed that emotion.
Han Yanfa eyed him with suspicion from left to right, then laughed again, "The Sect Leader also said, once Hall Master Shi is successful, you will be promoted to the fifth Protector, with the authority to command any of the sect’s twenty sub-halls at will, acting first and reporting later."
These words did, in fact, move Shi Xiaole.
Although those in the Divine Sect he had dealt with were far from normal, he couldn’t deny that each was an exceptional expert in their own right. Han Yanfa himself, for instance, was definitely much stronger than the likes of the Dark Lance Emperor and others.
One could easily imagine the plethora of experts hidden within the nineteen sub-halls. In such chaotic times, every bit of extra strength meant a better chance of self-preservation.
Moreover, the people of Nine Heavens Mountain could not remain cloistered forever; they had to make contact and cooperate with the outside world at some point.
"Hall Master Shi, opportunities like this do not come often, and once missed, they may never return. Action speaks louder than words. If Old Han wasn’t forced into recruiting disciples due to his overwhelming handsomeness, how could it be your turn?"
Han Yanfa was anxious on the side.
Shi Xiaole automatically filtered out his ramblings and nodded, "It is both honor and duty to exert oneself for the Divine Sect. I accept this mission."
Han Yanfa seemed to breathe a sigh of relief and gave a thumbs-up, "Hall Master Shi is truly loyal and righteous!"
After praising each other for a while, Shi Xiaole suddenly asked, "By the way Old Han, where did Bai Lingsheng go?"
After the battle in Sky City, the sixth-ranked expert in the world had vanished, which also piqued Shi Xiaole’s curiosity.
"That old geezer got beaten by me so badly he was rolling in his own filth. Probably licking his wounds somewhere. A mere defeated underling, not worth mentioning."
Shi Xiaole had a gut feeling Han Yanfa was lying, but since the old geezer was notorious for bragging without batting an eye, it was hard to tell the truth from falsehood and Shi Xiaole had to let the topic slide.
Apparently having urgent matters to attend to, Han Yanfa left after resting for one night. Three days later, Shi Xiaole also left Nine Heavens Mountain through a secret passage, disguised as a sallow-faced, middle-aged man around forty years old.
...
The Great Xia Dynasty, located to the south of the Flying Horse Dynasty, shared more than half of its borders with it, while the other half was separated by layers of steep mountains.
Now, border frictions between the two great dynasties had intensified, with both sides reportedly deploying large armies that could start a war at any moment; checkpoint inspections had become ten times stricter than before. Shi Xiaole decided to take the mountain path, since his traveling speed meant little delay.
Half a month later.
Shi Xiaole arrived at a border town within the Great Xia Dynasty, Willow Leaf Town.
"Hmm?"
Upon entering, he immediately felt as if he were being watched by some ferocious predator in a flood. It wasn’t that someone was deliberately following him—it was the intense spiritual force scanning every person entering or leaving the town!
"Oh my son, how miserably you have died!"
On the roadside, a woman was kneeling and wailing in grief, beside her lay a gaunt corpse, skin and bones, its face twisted and cold, seemingly subjected to some terrible suffering before death.
As he walked on, Shi Xiaole noted dead bodies all over the town, with deaths matching the one he had seen earlier. The sound of crying, wailing, gongs, and drums filled the air, along with paper money for the dead drifting in the sky, adding an eerie touch to the town.
Occasional constables and martial artists weaved through the crowd, all hastening on their way.
It was only when Shi Xiaole extended his spiritual force that he learned from overheard conversations that these people had fallen into great misfortune. They had intended to help the citizens, but within just a few days, one after another of their companions had died mysteriously.
Fearful, most had chosen to leave. Those who remained were either newcomers or exceptionally courageous.
Without a sideways glance, Shi Xiaole took a tour around the town, and as the sky darkened, he walked without any apparent concern toward the forest outside the town.
"Esteemed guest, the night here is quite dangerous. You might as well squeeze into Yizhuang for the night and depart tomorrow."
A spirited and impressive voice suddenly rang out, followed by a flash, revealing a young woman blocking Shi Xiaole’s path, with two men accompanying her.
Shi Xiaole’s pupils contracted.
It was not the woman’s martial skills that were particularly impressive, but because, to his shock, she was an old acquaintance.
Years ago, when Shi Xiaole was venturing through Cold State in search of clues about Shi Xuanzhong, he had entered Red Jade Temple (Chapter 300) and uncovered a base of the Three Talents Association there, where he met Black Hibiscus, a woman who loved to uphold justice, along with her two younger brothers.
Looking back, those were years gone by. He had thought they would never meet again, yet they had unexpectedly crossed paths here. It was just like Black Hibiscus; knowing about the situation here, she would undoubtedly want to step in and help.
"Tomorrow is no safer. My advice is for you to leave as quickly as you can," urged Shi Xiaole.
A decade ago, Black Hibiscus was in the eighth layer of the Xuanqi Realm, and now she had merely reached the first level of the Spiritual-Passage Realm—a sadly meager improvement. The two younger brothers were only at the ninth level of the Xuanqi Realm, and one of them, the man with the date-colored face, had even lost his right arm, showing the ravages of time.
This was the reality for most in the Martial World: risking life and limb amid blades and swords. Missing an arm or leg was common, and losing one’s head just meant being covered by a few inches of earth. Forgotten in an instant, as if they had never existed.
Black Hibiscus said, "Thank you for your concern, but as martial artists, we are meant to be chivalrous. How can we cower in fear? If you’re intent on leaving, go now, and remember not to linger on the road."
The trio turned to leave.
"Hey."
Shi Xiaole smiled, "I’ve suddenly lost the desire to leave. May I join you?"
Black Hibiscus looked skeptical, and the man with the amputated arm, with a flash of anger, drew his sword and said, "Boy, are you trying to take advantage of my sister? Hide your vile ambitions!"
The bald man’s expression turned cold.
In those years, they had encountered many such incidents, and several times their sister had nearly been violated. Consequently, they were naturally wary of strange men.
Black Hibiscus stopped the two of them and said to Shi Xiaole, "The people from the Martial World here are resting at Yizhuang, where they can watch out for each other. If you don’t mind, come join us."
How could Shi Xiaole not hear the warning in her words? He smiled and, despite the cold looks from Zhang Wu and Lin Cheng, followed the three of them to Yizhuang.
Looking around, there were a total of sixteen martial artists there, with the highest cultivation being the third layer of the Dragon Gate Realm and the lowest being the seventh layer of the Xuanqi Realm—all a bunch of daredevils.
Shi Xiaole sighed inwardly.
The sixteen were naturally curious about Shi Xiaole’s arrival and somewhat vigilant. Shi Xiaole introduced himself as Le Yan, a wanderer who just happened to pass by and decided to rest here.
A few of them nodded their heads, acknowledging each other, and then went back to chatting amongst themselves.
That night, seeing Shi Xiaole sitting alone without anyone to talk to or any food to eat, Black Hibiscus brought him a roasted chicken leg and then returned to her original spot.
Not long after, she walked out of Yizhuang with Zhang Wu and Lin Cheng.
Shi Xiaole quickly asked for the reason.
"By the rules, every night some people take turns standing guard to prevent the killer from attacking by surprise. Tonight, it just happens to be their turn,"
a man who looked like a beggar said.
At midnight.
Suddenly, the sound of a chilling wind rose within Yizhuang, faintly accompanied by the wails of tormented spirits.
"The killer has come!"
"If you have the guts, stop hiding in the shadows and come out!"
The sixteen experts sprang up from the ground, unleashing powerful Vigorous Air and Internal Power, but the wailing grew louder instead of subsiding. A flash of blade light tore through the sky, as Black Hibiscus and her companions rushed back from the streets upon hearing the commotion.
Shi Xiaole sighed. This woman really had an overwhelming sense of justice—anyone else would have probably fled long ago.
"Offer up your spirit, qi, and soul, and I will grant you eternal life,"
a voice from the darkness declared, pouncing toward a square-faced man, who swung his sword in response, only to have his attack dissipated by a single breath from the attacker. The crowd was horrified; Fang Zhen was the strongest there, yet he couldn’t stand against the assailant’s breath. How could they possibly fight this?
The sense of righteousness in their hearts seemed insignificant in the face of life and death. Some fled desperately, some made symbolic gestures with their swords, but only two or three people shouted and charged forward.
Black Hibiscus was also a bit afraid, but after only a moment’s hesitation, she gritted her teeth and boldly charged out. Seeing this, Zhang Wu and Lin Cheng had no choice but to follow.
But one was even faster. With a sword thrust, he illuminated the entire Yizhuang. The highly restrained sword light, like a Meteor from the Sky, struck heavily on the shadowy figure.
Thump...
The shadowy figure was smashed into a row of walls and collapsed thousands of meters away.
Hiss!
Those rushing forward and those retreating all stared at Shi Xiaole, dumbfounded.
Shi Xiaole had already approached the shadowy figure, engaging in close combat. With his current level of power, he was unmatched below the Void Origin Realm. Unfortunately, this shadowy assailant was a genuine Void Origin Realm Martial Emperor.
Upon entering the town, Shi Xiaole had noticed this, but fortunately, it seemed the shadowy figure had a serious injury that greatly reduced his strength.
"Damn!"
The Fearful Martial Emperor’s face turned ashen.
The martial arts he cultivated were unique, requiring the absorption of the fear emanating from humans to grow stronger and heal. Hence, he had been creating terror to slowly devour the spirit, qi, and soul of the people. With his real strength, he could have easily wiped out the town.
But at such a crucial moment, an obstacle had emerged.
"Fearful Demon Nightmare!"
Stretching out his hand, the Fearful Martial Emperor’s body was shrouded in demonic qi, plunging the entire town into a deathly stillness. Even thousands of meters away, Black Hibiscus and the others looked ashen.
Thankfully, at the critical moment, a sword beam shattered the fearful atmosphere; otherwise, the people in the town would have been scared to death alive.
"I’ve memorized your aura; wait for me!"
Severely wounded and unable to fight for long, the Fearful Martial Emperor dropped a ruthless threat and vanished with a few flashes.
Shi Xiaole shook his head and, using Vigorous Air, swept up Black Hibiscus and the other two, taking them to the outskirts.
"Swordsman..."
At this moment, the minds of Black Hibiscus and her companions were blank, utterly unsure of what to say.
"What happened here is not for you to deal with; leave as soon as you can. Here are some secret manuals for you to cultivate. People like you who stand up for justice should live longer."
Looking at the secret manuals in their hands, the three of them felt as if they were dreaming, while the noble figure had already departed. Black Hibiscus shouted, "Swordsman, who exactly are you?"
He was called Le Yan.
Le Yan, Shi Xiaole, could it be...
Black Hibiscus was hooked by a memory from many years before, trembling all over.
Shi Xiaole, of course, wasn’t showing off but was tracking down the Fearful Martial Emperor by following his aura, leading to another day and night of fierce battle, during which they overturned mountains and created vast wastelands.
The Fearful Martial Emperor was badly injured, which drastically affected his performance. Ultimately, he managed to narrowly escape using a secret technique.
"I’ve done all I can."
Killing a Void Origin Realm Martial Emperor was still too much of a stretch for Shi Xiaole. Looking at the trail of destruction, he finally understood the importance of the Golden Abyss Alliance.
